The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-05-01
ELEPHANTS CO ON
DEADLY RAMPAGE
Circus Brutes, Frightened BY Fire,
Kill One and Injure Many
In Wild Flight
DEACoNNEss GIBBS IS KILLED.
The Stampede Was Caused BY a
Fire In the Standard
Oil Tanks.

RIVERSIDE, April 16-As a result of
a fire which started early this after
noon at the Standard Oil Companys
storage tanks, Miss Ella Gibbs, a
church deaconness, is dead and l.. ].
Worsley lies at the city hospital fatal
ly burned.
A sullen boom which was heard at
1870 marked the explosion of the first
large oil tank. Worsley was a driver
OF the delivery wagon from which the
fire communicated to the tanks and
was hurled many yards from the spot
and was picked up with his clothing
ablaze. The fire spread Immediately
to the tanks, which instantly became
a mass of flame.
The Sells-Floto circus, three blocks
distant, was about to open for the af-
ternoon performance. The herd of ele-
plants became uncomfortable and they
| dashed to the East Side of town,
knocking down fences, Outhouses ana
despoiling orchards that lay in their
path. Many persons narrowly escaped
the Infatuated animals.
The leader OF the herd changed his
course and entered the center of the
city, one mile distant. He entered the
court of the Glenwood Hotel, one OF
the famous hostelries of the coast.
Miss Gibbs was in the yard in front OF
the house. The elephant pinned her
against the house between his tusks,
threw her to the ground and trampled
upon her, crushing her chest and in
flicting fatal injuries.
The animal then proceeded to the
courtyard, the guests rushing, panic
guest of the house, attempted to
swerve the animal from the court. He
was knocked down and had several
ribs broken and was otherwise injured.
The beast crashed through the door,
walked through the barber shop and
out onto Main street, crossed the
street and crashed through the heavy
plate glass window in a store.
Before being rounded up at a down
town public stable, the animal tram
pied on another man and seriously
gored him with his tusks.
= One of the keepers attempted to sub
due the animal but was hurled ovel
5 high fence, sustaining painful in,
, juries. Not until four other elephants
were brought to the stable was the
; huge beast gotten under control anC
J taken to the circus grounds.
The keeper of the elephants, whose
: name Is not known, was the means Of
saving at least two lives before the
big brute was again under control. Al
Orange and Seventh streets the ele.
. plant had thrown Frank A. Bril- and
was about to crush him with his full
weight, wheu the keeper came up close
, behind aad fired three Fshots from 9
=. revolvG- into the elephants neck. This
. caused the bis beast to swervC
1, around, his attention being distracted
f. from his intended victim. In thu
: meantime, however, Bird had sustain
: ed broken leg and other injuries.
= The left trousers leg of the keepe
E was ripped wide open by the 'infuriatet
beast and the leg was painfully Nc
rated. The flesh from the keeper
right hand also was skinned away.
At the Glenwood Hotel Eva Howe, ;
: guest, was sitting in a swing. whel
b the Infatuated beast made full at her
y She was about to flee, when the ele
= plants keeper, who was close behind
advised her to sit still AS a resul
the elephant rushed by her withou
: molesting her.
E'-4 Job PrIntinn. Star Office.