The sun., 1908-04-18
MAD ELEPHANT KILLS WOMAN
CORES HER WITH HIS TUSKS
AND TRAMPLES HER BODY.

Circus Beast, Scared by OIL Tank Explosion,
Clears Roadway for Mile, DemOliShes
Barber shOp, wrecks Dry Goods store
Captured by -Four Other Elephants.
RIVERSIDE, Cal, April IA bull ele-
phant driven mad with fear following the
explosion OF several tanks Of oil In the
Standard oil Company's storage plant here
Yesterday afternoon killed woman, serious
" injured three men, partially wrecked the
ground floor Of the Hotel Olenwood and
kept the whole town under siege for several
hours.
Miss Ella Gibbs, a deaooness Of the First
Congregational Church, who came to River
side three years ago from Chicago was the
woman killed. The elephant gored her
with his tusks and Tampled her under his
feet
A circus had set up on the outskirts OF
town three blocks from the oil tanks and the
afternoons performance was about to
begin when a barrel Of oil on a delivery
wagon driven by j, j, Wormser exploded
inside the Standard oompany's yards
Wormser was hurled into the air and his
clothing caught fire from the blaze While
rescuers we're eXtingulshing the fire In the
mans clothing several other barrels OF oil
went on and the flames spread to n large
oil tank, which blew up before the fire com
panies could get to the scene
Al the sound Of the big explosion the ele-
plants in the circus menagerie began to
trumpet and strain at their chains, The
keepers tried to quiet them, and othOr DIR
Gus attaches hastily cleared the arena OF
the people who had taken their seats there
Before the tent was cleared the herd OF ele-
plants broke their iastenings and charged
, through the side OF the menagerie tent out
into the open fields The beasts, headed
by one big tusksr, ranged through orchards
in the vicinity, breaking fences and tipping
over sheds and farm machinery,
After hard work and an exhibition OF
fine daring the circus men managed to
round up all the elephants but the big
leader. He grew madder with every minute
Of freedom. Turning into turnpike lead
ing to town he ran toward the centre OF
the city, causing general rout among all
the vehicles there After running mile
| the mad elephant turned into the court
ward OF the Glenwood, one Of the newest
| and best known Of the California winter
/ hotels.
Miss Gibbs happened to be crossing the
open Spanish court Of the hotel. lhe ele-
| phant saw her and charged, Inc termed
woman had no opportunity TO ma doof-
way. She was caught by the animal
| II. n ~ hOtnl
and gored and trampled so badly that she
| died within a few minutes.
After the elephant had killed the woman
| he seemed to he possessed with greater
! fury. D. p. Chapman, one OF the hotel
Ulests who had run into the court to Miss
! Gibbs's assistance was picked up in the
! elephants trunk and thrown violently to
| one side He managed to crawl away
| out Of further danger, although several
| ribs we're broken by the fall After tossing
! Chapman the mad beast walked through
| the door OF the hotel barber shop, carrying
! the frame with him
He waded through the shop, leaving
wreckage behind him, crossed the main
street OF town and smashed his way into
A dry goods store Here he trampled
! clerk. though not seriously, and leaving
| the store ran down the street to livery
| stable
There the circus men, who had been m
| hot pursuit Of the runaway with four OF
! the auieter elephants Of the herd managed
| to get the wild fellow IN a corner and chain
! him but not before one man was thrown,
| the entire town was in terror and the local
J police force we're preparing to turn out with
/ riot guns. The circus men managed TO get
/ out Of town with the beast before steps
| could be taken to stop them.
The oil fire which had started the trouble
4 IL. r I.l, fu ma
we're check ed at a total loss Of $1,000
Miss Gibbs, who was killed, was well
! known work er in the Japanese and Chinese
missions here and had done much to help
penniless cOnsumptves who come here from
| the Fast seek ing a cure