Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-28
LOOSE in STREETS
Nine Elephants Escape from
Keepers and Cause Panic
at Danville.
DAMAGE IN THE THOUSANDS
Big Beasts Make Dash While Being
Unloaded and Rush Pellmen
Here and There.

Danville, ILL.,, April 2S-A female
elephant, by making a dash for liberty,
caused a stampede among the Ringing
shows herd of the huge animals while
the circus was unloading near the Big
Four freight house here yesterday
afternoon, and for three hours nine of
the powerful beasts escaped from their
keepers, ran through the streets of
the city, terrorizing residents of the
northern and northwestern sections.
Several persons were sligtly injured,
a horse was killed and fences and
walls were wrecked by the animals in
their mad fight. The total property
damage is estimated at several thou
sand dollars.
One Three Miles Out of City.
An elephant chase that would have
interested even Colonel Roosevelt fol-
lowed the escape of the pachyderms,
eight of which were ponderous bulls.
Automobiles were used by some of
the pursuers, of whom there were
several hundred, made up of animal
trainers. policemen and citizens The
chase led through dooryards, over up
turned trees, along the streets and
even into the country. The last of the
animals was captured three miles from
the city, after the others had been
caught, chained and returned to the
show grounds.
When the breakaway occurred three
of the elephants trumpeted their way
toward North Chandler street from the
railroad yards, while fourth went
west along the railroad tracks. The
others made a tour through the fash
ionable residence district south of the
Big Four tracks.
Caused Two Runaways.
The trio that took their way through
the northwestern part of the city
caused a runaway soon after their
start. A team driven by Barney
O'Neal, a house mover, took fright
and dashed down a side street, throw
ing O'Neal from his wagon and wreck
ing the vehicle. William Miller's team
ran away few minutes later.
When three big bulls pushed through
City Fireman Hebe Swanson's door
yard the family and neighbors fed in
alarm. The elephants, unopposeG,
moved down high fence between an
cA0 LL1C . ~ c1nSOu
and continued on their course. Swan
son, who was at home, rushed to the
Lincoln school and warned the princi-
pal to keep the children inside until
the elephants could be captured
XIII Horse, Injure Man.
The three monsters stepped over a
four-foot stone wall at the home Of
Joseph n. PEBBLES, former city build
ing superintendent, crushed two coops
containing a hundred little chickens,
killed horse and then picked UP Mr..
PEBBLES and hurled him against the
side of his residence. He was badly
bruised.
Truck gardens and orchards were
absolutely ruined in the outskirts of
the city by the elephants, while shade
trees and shrubbery nearer the bust
ness district suffered greatly.
The elephants were all finally cap
tured, those of the herd which had not
escaped being used by the keepers to
lure the runaway beasts within reach
of their chains.
T. Krabbe and James Hicks, two of
the keepers, who were assisting in
taking three Of the bulls into. their
quarters after their recovery, were
hurled against the side of barn and
injured.