Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1892 — A DRUNKEN ELEPHANT. [ARTICLE]

A DRUNKEN ELEPHANT.

Raises a Big Rumpus in a Circus in Indiana. The mistake of a careless keeper in the menagerie of Ringling Brothers’ circus, while exhibiting in Frankfort, Ind., recently, almost resulted in the killing of one of the attendants and the breaking loose of the wild animals of the menagerie. “Babe,” the biggest elephant of the circus, was taken with cramps, and the veterinary surgeon of the show prescribed a tablespoonful of peppermint in a pint of whisky once in half an hour. Ryan, the elephant keeper, procured a jug containing a gallon of whisky, and Babe was given a dose. Ryan ha'd Occasion to leave the tent, and carelessly left the jug within reach of the elephant, who had had a taste of the Coritents. When Ryan returned he Was surprised to find the jug uncorked and empty. Fearing discharge, should his carelessness be discovered, and knowing full well where the contents of the jug had gone, he hastened to a near-by saloon to have it refilled before the mistake should be found out. But it was not long before the elephant began to develop symptoms of intoxication. The attention of other keepers was attracted by peculiar noises, the like of which they had never heard before. They hastened to the tent to find the huge brute rocking from side to side with a peculiar light in its little eyes. One of the men took an elephant hook and endeavored to calm the excited beast, but the medicine was not of a soothing nature, and Babe became very angry. With a remarkably quick motion the keeper was seized by the elephant’s trunk, and after being held aloft fully a minute was violently thrown about twenty-five feet, fortunately striking against the side of the tent and narrowly missing a pole. With a single mighty effort the chains were broken and Babe was free. Staggering from side to side, the animal commenced a wild rampage through the menagerie. The other elephants were panic-stricken, and the caged animals made mad efforts to free themselves. The tank of the hippopotamus was in the path of the reeling elephant, and with loud trumpetlngs it commenced an attack which would have shortly demolished the cage had not the keepers succeeded in entangling the legs of the elephant in ropes in such a manner that it was rendered helpless. In twb hours the effects of the

whisky had passed off, and Babe was u peaceable as eyer and free from cramps.