An elephant hunt was on in Northwest Ohio.
County officials through this section of Ohio have been asked to join in the search for for two elephants that escaped from the Coop & Lentz circus in Defiance.
The animals have been out of the jungles of Africa but three years and the trainers with the circus are fearful that freedom has brought back their natural wild and ferocious temperament.
Strenuous efforts are being made to recapture the beasts before they can harm anyone.
Armed parties in automobiles went out early in the morning from a dozen Northwest Ohio cities and towns. They went prepared to shoot if the mammoth beasts proved defiant and refused to surrender their new found liberty.
The posses of searchers have been handicapped by the attitude of farmers all the roads, who refused to take the elephant hunt seriously.
"You're several thousand miles from Africa", replied one farmer as he stood up from hoeing his garden to answer a query asked by a party of searchers, to see whether the farmer had seen any traces of elephants.
Another farmer thought a party of searchers were joshing him and still another telephoned to the Sheriff Stailey that a party of crazy men from Defiance were out in his neighborhood searching for imaginary elephants that had disappeared.
The missing elephants, with keen sense that all has seen in circus performance, developed to such a high degree seem to realize that chains and stakes awaited them, upon their return, and they have succeeded in eluding all their pursuers.
Elephants foot prints were found at the farm of John Ruehle near the edge of Defiance, and further trace of the animals was found near Ayersville, but since that time nothing has been seen or heard of them.
The animals appear to be acting on the theory that all mankind is their enemy and that their main object is to remain under cover. The forest in this section are being searched, as it is believed the animals have retreated to a safe place to await until darkness falls that they may continue their migration.
In one place one of the elephants wrapped his trunk around the bottom of a fence post and lifted it from its foundation. Then the fence was torn down.
The place that served as the bed for the animals was discovered. Or rather there were two beds; for both of the mammals leaned against trees and went to sleep. It was definitely established that elephants are unlike human beings and do not snore, for no one in the neighborhood heard any such noises that evening.
In another place elephant tracks were discovered leading to the river, and it is thought the beasts went to get a drink.
Shortly after the performance, a herd of three elephants and two camels made their escape from the circus. A troop of cowboys rushed out and lassoed the camels and succeeded in finding one of the elephants. These were led back to the circus grounds and put on board the show special train for transportiont the next stop.
There were rumors that a dissatisfied trainer had turned the animals loose because the company owed him back salary.
Officials of the circus say that the beasts strayed away. They have placed no charges against any of their men, although two of them were arrested and held for a time in the city prison.
The elephants at large are chained together.
More later Dave
The posses of searchers have been handicapped by the attitude of farmers all the roads, who refused to take the elephant hunt seriously.
"You're several thousand miles from Africa", replied one farmer as he stood up from hoeing his garden to answer a query asked by a party of searchers, to see whether the farmer had seen any traces of elephants.
Another farmer thought a party of searchers were joshing him and still another telephoned to the Sheriff Stailey that a party of crazy men from Defiance were out in his neighborhood searching for imaginary elephants that had disappeared.
The missing elephants, with keen sense that all has seen in circus performance, developed to such a high degree seem to realize that chains and stakes awaited them, upon their return, and they have succeeded in eluding all their pursuers.
Elephants foot prints were found at the farm of John Ruehle near the edge of Defiance, and further trace of the animals was found near Ayersville, but since that time nothing has been seen or heard of them.
The animals appear to be acting on the theory that all mankind is their enemy and that their main object is to remain under cover. The forest in this section are being searched, as it is believed the animals have retreated to a safe place to await until darkness falls that they may continue their migration.
In one place one of the elephants wrapped his trunk around the bottom of a fence post and lifted it from its foundation. Then the fence was torn down.
The place that served as the bed for the animals was discovered. Or rather there were two beds; for both of the mammals leaned against trees and went to sleep. It was definitely established that elephants are unlike human beings and do not snore, for no one in the neighborhood heard any such noises that evening.
In another place elephant tracks were discovered leading to the river, and it is thought the beasts went to get a drink.
Shortly after the performance, a herd of three elephants and two camels made their escape from the circus. A troop of cowboys rushed out and lassoed the camels and succeeded in finding one of the elephants. These were led back to the circus grounds and put on board the show special train for transportiont the next stop.
There were rumors that a dissatisfied trainer had turned the animals loose because the company owed him back salary.
Officials of the circus say that the beasts strayed away. They have placed no charges against any of their men, although two of them were arrested and held for a time in the city prison.
The elephants at large are chained together.
More later Dave
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