HANGING AN ELEPHANT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9307, 9 March 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

HANGING AN ELEPHANT.

Adam Forei-augii's elephant Chief was executed lately by strangulation because of his murderous disposition. The dangerous and diflicult task of putting a rope about the elephant's neck wa.s promptly assumed by Adam Forepaugh, jun. A rope half an inch in diameter and 12 feet long was .secured, ami the showman .stopped fearlessly into the stall occupied by Chief, who was in a frightful rage, and could have crushed him with a single stroke of his great trunk. But happily the habit of obedience at the moment prevailed over the brute's rage, and with a deft movement Mr. Forepaugh slipped the big ropo over his trunk and hitched it with a slip knot over the tender part of his neck and over the jugglar vein. Four feet of the rope was left dangling upon either side, and lmving accomplished this, the most dangerous part of the business, Mr. Forepaugh rushed out of the stall. Two of the trained elephants —Bismarck and Busil — were then brought in, and one placed on eacli side of Chief. Chains were attached to the ends of thy rope about Chief's neck, and they were fastened securely about the shoulders of Bismarck and Basil. A keeper took position at the side of each of these elephants, and at a sign from Mr. Forepaugh gave the word to them, and the animals started to run in opposite directions. The shock threw Chief to his knees. The two trained elephants pulled the rope taut. The noose closed tightly over Chief's jugglar vein and windpipe. He struggled with a great convulsion for a moment, and then rolled over dead. Chief was one of the best known elephants on exhibition in this country. He was purchased nine years ago by Adam Forepaugh in Germany when lie twenty-four years of age. He has in his career killed eleven men ; i and on October S, in a fit of anger, broke from his keeper in the Forepaugh quarters at Lehigh Avenue and Edgemont-street, and came near killing several people then. At that time a cowboy put ten bullets in his body, which only had the affect of send- ; ing him back to his place with a disdainful I .snort. —Springfield republican.