The Death of Jumbo.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 247, 24 October 1885, Page 5

The Death of Jumbo.

NewYokk, SeptemberlS.—A "Sun"special from Buffalo of the 17th says: A. Haight, representing Barnum, arrived here this morning oa tho way to London, Ont., to join the circus. He says the truth about tho killing of Jumbo on Tuoeday evening had not been published. After the phow in St. Thomas, Ont., that ovening tho driver started down on tho track with Jumbo and the baby elephant, Tom Thumb, to where the Grand Trunk freight train was standing. There aro a great many tracks at that point, used in switching- cars on tho Grand Trunk Air-Line, which there joins tho main road. On ono side of tho track was a train and on tho other a steep embankment. As tho train carai around the curve the keeper triod to induce Jumbo to go down tho embankments but no would not, Ihe reason at first was not apparent. The baby elephant was in the rear, and as tho train approached Jumbo began to bellow and awing his trunk. The littlo elephant seemed dazed, but did not get cut of the way. As the engine wai almost upon them Jumbo raised on hia hind legs as though to protect the baby, and thon quick as thought dropped down and grabbed him in hia trunk and hurled him with great force over all the tracks and against a freight car twenty rods away, whero he dropped down, whining like a puppy with a sore foot. Jumbo, in saving the lifo of his protege, entirely neglected his own Chance to escape. Tho locomotive struck him with full force in the side, crowding him aoainst some cars on the siding nearest Mm, and fairly squeezing the life out of him When thoy came to tho end of the switch he ong-lno^eft the truck with five.freight cars that stood on theßiding. Then there was a =cono never to be forgotten by thoso .hn witnessed it. The mangled breast Sed with pain, and the little elephant Zltd as lonely as he could n *ympa«iy. The crush was ton heavy to leave^any chance of recovery, and the' bystanders could only wait for Jumbo's death. It was not longs delayed .In three minutes be turned over on his back dead. It was ound that tho baby elephant sußta.ucd a broken leg, and as there was no holp fur „__ oicle.. were giv«. that ho be put out of his misery, which order was carried into effect yesterday afternoon.