Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1921-04-14
When Circus Elephants Go Bad.

assumption is the first rule OF training.
No animal can be trusted. TIE mos
tractable and obedient beast will turn
and attack at any time the mood seizes
it. Trainers know this well, and the
successful ones are always prepared
for a sudden spring or a sweeping
stroke of unsheated claws. But. I'M
ill an animal has once rebelled sue
cesfully-broken down mans mastery
temporarily-it is not dad" in the
sense that trainers use the term. A
bad elephant is ever hiding his time to
kill or watching for a chance to lead
other elephants into stampede. And
nothing in circus life is so fraught
with terrifying possibilities as an ele-
plant stampede.
OF all the bad elephants ever in
America, Snyder, the tusker," came
nearest to dying Gin character" as
theatrical slang has it. For Snyder
died with "his boots on" 1t was at
Salina, Kan, Monday, Sept l3, 1920.
Snyder had done nothing unusual
since the engagement of the circus at
the Chicago Coliseum. However, one
of his trainers had been left i'll in
hospital along the route. The boss
elephant man was the day before call
ed home on urgent business. This
left trainer in charge who had not
Nt,itl thn E1r
This change made the herd restless,
especially Snyder. After the parade
that Monday forenoon, the general
manager of the show ordered a re-
hearsal of the middle-ring elephants.
among which was Snyder, the pre-
eminent feature. No sooner had
Snyder reached the ring than he turn
ed and raced out, with two attendants
clinging TO him with bull hooks lab
bed deep into his trunk. Out of the
big top in the menagerie Hoped the big
tusker, the men fighting him at every
stride. Through the wall of the me-
nagerie tent Snyder plunged and
shook off the attendants, striking at
them with his trunk. The tusker's
small eyes were red with blood lust,
and circus men, forming line of Skin
mishers, headed the crowds on the lot
onto the streets outside the fences
| Others, led by the elephant men. formed
a great circle about the elephant l.
order that he might be headed if he
turned toward the townspeople. For
three hours the big elephant spent
his time in turning over immensely
heavy pole, seat and baggage wagons
Once he picked up cage of lions and
hurled it 80 feet. He started for den
of leopards, but the snarling cas-, rear
ing against the bars with their claws
extended, scared him off. All during
the excitement, the elephant needed
his name. So, as he would start a
charge, the circus men would divert
him by calling to him. Thus, the
field of his activities was restricted
Outside the menagerie was a small
tent in which the elephant men were
wont to rest between shows. This
the elephant knocked over, stamping up-
on every square foot Of the aattened
canvas in the apparent hope that some
one OF the men was underneath.
Once he rushed for the great six
pole top in which 300 Of the shows
finest draft stock were stabbed. As
the elephant approached. a quick whis-
per from the boss hostler brought 60
drivers and grooms with pitchforks
into line in front Of the tent. There
were men in that line who had driven
ana nursed their six and eight-horse
teams for years. They were there tc
die rather than see their pets harmed
The sun glined on the thin line of steel
Snyder, charging with long, numbering
strides, saw and understood. He
came to a full stop, turned and went
back to the menagerie tent, where he
wrecked the candy stands.
Meanwhile the general manager had
sent for rifles. He also had prepared
apples with cyanide of potassium
lheSe were thrown to the elephar.
He ate one and then tossed the others
aside. 1t is likely that lie detected the
poison. That contained in one apple
had no effect on him. The manager
had managed to get "Trilby," Snyder's
mate, chained at one side OF the show
lot where people would not obstruct
the line Of fire, il he should decide to
shoot the mad brute. When the
poisoned apples failed to slow I'D Sny-
der's rushes, he gave the word. 1t was
then matter Of lurian a.