Year: 1871

From the New Haven (Ct.) Register.


O'Brien's menageric exhibited in
Meriden, yesterday, according to


advertisement, at the usual grounds


on State street. just after the close


Of the afternoon performance, the


great elephant, Mogul, took it into


his head to enact tragedy not on


the bills, SO, walking majestically


out of the inclosure, he went for


his keeper in a fit of rage. The


keeper sought refuge under the


cage containing kangaroos, which


Mogul disdaintully turned over in a


jitfy, and walked through the can


vass out Of doors. Then he went


on tour Of inspection, and if not


"seeking whom he might devour,' -


he certainly seemed willing to ac-


commodate anybody or anything


that might wish to set to. Meeting


a pile OF lumber in an adjoining


yard, he quickly spread the boards


in good shape for seasoning. Then


meeting in his path one of the mules


belonging to the company, he ran


his tusks completely through its


body, pinning it to the ground. The


next obstruction in his majesty's


path was a wagon belonging to


Messrs. Grether & Hall, which he


scornfully seized with his trunk,


and, raising it, smashed it to pieces.
Then he returned to the dead mule,


and again planged his tusks thro'
it, and breaking off one of them
close to the jaw, sauntered careless
ly into State street, with none to
molest or to make him afraid, the
crowd following at safe distance
behind, while before and about him
everybody seemed to be very busy
in getting out of his way. The
keeper and other attaches of the
menagerie soon rallied, and by
strategy and good tactics he was
induced to enter a field belonging
to Mr.. Camp, thence into an orchard,
where he INDUCED in the pastime
of tearing and smashing whole
lengths of picket fence. The novel
mode Of subduing him, temporarily,
by shooting him in the face and
trunk with buckshot, was adopted.
Some fifty heavy charges were fired
at him; the singing effect acted
well as slight check upon his
operations, during which his keep
er fearlessly approached and
chained him to an apple tree about
twelve inches in diameter, which
was no sooner discovered by the en-
ragged animal than he Instantly, and
without apparent effect, but with
the greatest case, tore it up by the
roots, and again created the great
est CONSERVATION among the i'm
mense crowd who had now collect
ed in the immediate vicinity. All
went, and stood not on the order of
going, but some tall running was
done, and some laughable incidents
occurred in the stampede, leaving
the ground free to ,Mogul and his
would-bc captors. lie was, by
great daring and agility on the part
of his keeper, again secured by
his feet to very large
tree; here he was left for the night,
and guard stationed with rifles
loaded with bail to kill him should
he again break loose during the
night. He was much chagrincd t
his confinement, and continued to
snort" and struggle to break the
chain, affording much excitement
throughout the city during the en-
lire night, but fortunately he was
held until five o'clock this morning,
when his keeper, with the assist
ance Of the entire force Of the con-
Germ and about 500 citizens, under
.ook the job of furnishing the mon
ster. Large ropes and chains were
and after many attempts,
IN which the same were broken
quite easily, he was finally, at the
end oftwo hours, thrown down and
secured in that position, when
simultaneously his beating began
by a dozen strong men with clubs,


ron bars, spears and pitchforks,
md continued until the men were
and again renewed from
line to time for about two hours, ut
which time, after many wounds
and pounding enough to seemingly
kill him, he was as obstinate as
ever. Refusing to surrender, he
was left to his own reflections in
his condition, and the beating
abated for a time. At the present
lime Of writing Twelve hours) he
seems determined not to succumb.
A choice he has Of doing so or be-
ing killed, as in his dangerous mood
he will not be allowed to rise with
out evidence OF change of heart.
1t is estimated that the damage
done in his tantrum will cost over
800. Fortunate it is that no lives
.vara lost