KILLED BY AN ELEPHANT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7979, 7 April 1904, Page 2

KILLED BY AN ELEPHANT.

+ DEATH OF MR LOCKHART, THE FAMOUS TKAINER. ' HIS FAVOURITE ANIMAL. Mr George Lockhart, the famous trainer of elephants, was accidentally killed by one of his own animals at Walthamstow on January 23. It was no tragedy of temper, such as often attacks these ponderous beasts, but a singular illustration of the fact that elephants, when even kindly disposed, are unaware of the power of their own weight and bulk — a fact, of course, much relied upon in training them. Four of Mr Lockhart'a elephants had arrived at iHoe Street goods station, from Norwich at. about two o'clock, and at a quarter to four Mr Lockhart was superintending their removal from the cattle-trucks in which, they had travelled. Three of the elephants, all in their normal state of good humour, made their deliberate and blundering exit from- the train, each one putting out a mighty pad to feel if mother earth were strong enough to support his weight. Each one, too, trumpeted shrilly, and placed his trunk in Mr Lockhart's hand, this being the accepted method of rejoicing at his appearance. and at their release from the trucks. The fourth elephant, a female, the largest, and at ordinary times the leader of the four, also stepped from her conveyance. She did not omit her customary salute, but contrary to her general usage, lagged behind the' others and trumpeted a second time, and in a deeper note. Then, perceiving what she apparently presumed was a convenient exit from the goods yard, she quickened her pace, and at a trot made her way towards it. To check her career, Mr Lockharfc and a keeper used the only puny method— the guide-goad — by which one man can argue with the mammoth. Their guide-goads were useless as a method of suasion. The elephant plunged on, and tried to pass between the train and a waggon. It was now a quick question of getting out of trouble for the two men. The keeper released his hold of the goad, and jumped back. Mr Lockhart was evidently thinking more of a favourite animal going wrong than of his own personal danger. He held en. TRAGEDY OF A MOMENT. This elephant loved him, and would have obeyed any of his behests. But now, unknowingly, she caused his death. Plunging on, she crushed her trainer between her bulky side and the wheel of the waggon, even as an eggshell is crushed under the careless foot. It was the work of a moment. Mr Lockhart fell broken and unconscious, and expired before anyone realised the tragedy. His son, who was with the foremost elephant, ran back to find his father dead. Overcome with shock, he was carried to his lodgings in a cab. There a task well-nigh as sad as the witnessing of his father's death necessitated his pulling himself together. He had to travel immediately to Brighton, to break the dreadful news to hiß mother, who is in very feeble health. Meantime, another and a little elephant, the baby of the quartette, all unconscious of t.he tragedy his blundering mother had caused, had broken loose. He made his way through the booking office of- Hoe Street Station, and bo gained the platform, which was then thronged with people. Calm and unheeding, and witTi the air of one perplexed and harassed by his surroundings, the baby elephant moved down the platform. Everyone gave way before him, and women fled shrieking through the first , door that offered shelter. Passing to the platform's end, the baby pachyderm went down the descent, and crossed the line casually, nearly colliding with an incoming train. Then he strolled , Tip the further bank. His keepers ran alter i him, and led him back. I Afterwards the four elephants, including the great beast whose trifling resistance had fiaused all the mischief, marched quietly through a vast crowd to their stable at the new Palace of Varieties. And while they passed so contentedly along, their dead master was being borne to the temporary shelter of the nearest mortuary. The late Mr Lockhart was one of the chief ' elephant trainers in the world. He has taken bis "troupe" to all the-conti-nent^, &fld when he was not showing them, he was training new ones. Marvellous patience and great kindness were his methods, and the way "in which he has lost his life is the more sad because genuine trust and affection regined between him and his elephants, _ ___» - ___^ >- _,