STRANGE ZOO TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20088, 27 October 1928, Page 2 (Supplement)

STRANGE ZOO TRAGEDY.

WHITE ELEPHANT STORY.

SUGGESTION OF A CURSE.

DEATH OF A MAHOUT,

ANOTHER IN MENTAL HOUSE

Has the legendary curso of tlio Sacred Whito Elephant—a curso that natives havo believed in for countless centuriesfound another victim 1 Throughout tho mystic East while elephants aro objects of veneration, and superstitious natives look on them as a reincarnation of Buddha. A coincidence verging almost on tho miraculous occurred recently when it was loarnod that, on tho very day when news was rcceivod from Calcutta of tho death of Pa Wa, tho whito elephant which was in England two years ago, his mahout, a Buimeso named Sandy Wee, has figured in a mysterious alTai" at tho London Zoo, which lias rosulted in tho death of another mahout. Sandy Weo himself has been placed in a mental ward.

'lho tragedy is unprecedented in the strangeness of its circumstances. Tho first indication of anything amiss canio fiom a man who had beon driving a motor-car in tho outer circle of Regent's Park, shortly after midnight. As he was passing through tho dark, tree-lined road ho suddenly hoard strange cries, and then saw a man. dressed in white night clothes, dancing and gesticulating in the middlo of tho road.

Uttering his weird cries, tho man seemed to tho startled motorist liko a malignant ghost. The motorist quickly drove toward a point where he had proviously seen twe policemen on tho road and told them of the apparition. Tho. policemen returned with him to tho spot, where thev found Randy Wen, ono of the Zoo's elephant drivers, lying under an open upper window, from which lie had apparently fallen. Pickaxe and Sledge Hammer. After taking charge of Weo they roused Mr. Ilicks, the assistant superintendent of tho Zoo. " Weo was gesticulating and crying liko it madman." said Mr. Hicks lator. " I thought it was strange that Snid Ali, who shared his apartment with him, had not gone to his assistance, and I entered their house. I found Ali lying in the bedroom apparently dead." Although ho was not then actually dead, Ali's body was terribly mutilated, and it was immediately obvious that he was in a serious condition. Both men wero rushed to a hospital, but Ali died on tho way.

Tho second man, Wee, who did not appear to be seriously hurt, was temporarily admitted to the hospital and afterward transferred to an infirmary, where ho was placed the mental ward. A pickaxe nnd a sledge hammer had been discovered near Ali. and police and officials of the Zoo searched the grounds, but. it is understood, found nothing to throw any light on the strango affair. Tho two men lived together in a flat over tho Tapi* House, slanting the outer circlo in Rogent's Park. None of the Zoo officials had ever seen them quarrelling, although they were members of different religions Said Ali was an Indian Mohammedan, whilo Wee is a Burmese Christian. They were both known to thousands of people who had visited tho Zoo. and were regarded as the most popular mahouts in tho 'amous Gardens. . A Famous White Elephant. Said Ali. who was about 40 years of ago, was tho finest elephant trainer in the world, according to the Zoo authorities Wee is in his,early 20's. He came to tho Zoo from Burma with the famous white elephant two years ago. When the white elephant left ho was allowed to stay on owing to his usefulness at tho Zoo in the training of baby elephants. It is a curious coincidence that the death of the white elenhant was reported from Calcutta, on the day of the tragedy at tho Zoo. Dr. Vevers, superintendent of (he Zoo. was called to tho scene of the tragedy from his house in St. Mark's Square, Regent's Park, and did everything possible to assist the police in their inquiries, " Ali was a native Mohammedan from Calcutta." ho stated later. "Ho came to us years ago, nnd quickly showed himself to bo one of the most expert elephant trainers cvei known at the London Zoo. Ho did not like tho English winter, however, and used to go back to Calcutta every year. i Expert in Training Animals. Somo months ago wo had trouble with two elephants. Ali was in Calcutta at tho time. Wo immediately sent for him. and he soon had the animals under control. He was duo to go back to Calcutta in October. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that he was the bestknown keeper at the Zoo. Tens of thousands of children have ridden on tho elephants with him. He used to sit astride the elephant's neck, and must have been known to nearly everybody who visited tho gardens. He was marvellously expert in training animals, and was riding with the children only the day before the mishap. "Wee came from Burma. Ho, was a Christian, always appeared to bo of a most peaceful disposition. It is known that ho had been studying a lot lately, and ho went to a music hall yesterday, but he seemed to be in his usual spirits last night. Ho came to us with tho famous white elophant, which he later accompanied on a tour in America, returning last November. Whon tho white elephant left us wo kept Wee, as ho was exceptionally expert in training young animals, and ho had chargo of tho baby elephants." Both men hud earned good names with tho Zoo officials, not only for their cleverness with tho elephants, but also for their kind treatment of tho animals. History oi Pa Wa. Said Ali probably headed the children's list of Zoo heroes and magicians. Apart from riding the elephants, ho was also a favourite for tho clever manner in which ho trained tho animals to pick up buns and pennies. If a penny and a bun had been obtained ho used to placo them in front of ojio of his elephants, who would immediately eat the bun, and then, without hesitation, pick up tho penny with its trunk and give it to All. , Tho trick invariably caused roars of laughter, and it was a favourite among both children and adults. Pa Wa. the white elephant, went to England two years ago, and was in Sandy Wee's chargo. Ho was treated with tho greatest respect, and it was understood beforo ho arrived that he would not bo allowed to work, and that no one would bo permitted to r'do on him. Only Burmeso kcepors wcro allowed to look after 111 Later Pa Wa went to tho United States for a tour, but last November went to London for a fortnight's visit. Wlnlo he was in America somo of his attendants wcro ill, and a mysterious illness caused the death of two black elephants.