294 WILD ANIMALS. 



confined enclosure in tte menagerie. In March, 1826, he appears 

 to have had a worse fit than usual, and the whole place being 

 endangered by his great strength and destructive tendency, his 

 owner had reluctantly to order him to be killed. This the men 

 carried out probably to the best of their ability, but with dis- 

 gusting cruelty. Some soldiers were called in, and the attendants 

 being armed with rifles, an hour's incessant fusillade was kept up 

 before they succeeded in killing him, and no less than 152 shots 

 were fired at the poor brute. 



The extraordinary details of this execution are given in Hone's 

 " Every-Day Book," and constitute a chapter in history that is 

 probably unique, at least let all humane people hope so. As soon 

 as the fury of the animal made it apparent that his death was an 

 imperative necessity, " Mr. Tyler went down to Mr, Clarke, and 

 acquainting him with the danger arising out of the immediate 

 necessity, suggested the instant removal of every person from the 

 Change below, and the closing of the Change gates. Mr. Clarke, and 

 all belonging to his establishment, saw the propriety of their speedy 

 departure, and in a few minutes the gates were barred and locked. 

 By the adoption of these precautions, if the elephant had broken 

 down the floor, no lives would have been lost, although much 

 valuable property would have been destroyed ; and in the event 

 contemplated, the animal himself would have been confined within 

 the basement. Still, however, a slight exertion of his enormous 

 strength could have forced the gates. If he had made his entry 

 into the Strand, it is impossible to conjecture the mischief that 

 might have ensued in that crowded thoroughfare, from his 

 infuriated passion. 



" On Mr. Tyler's return upstairs from Mr. Clarke, it was evident 

 from the elephant's extreme rage, that not a moment was to be 

 lost. Three rifles therefore were immediately loaded, and 

 Mr. Herring, accompanied by Mr. Stevens's assistant, entered the 

 menagerie, each with a rifle, and took their stations for the 

 purpose of firing. Mr. Tyler pointed out to the keepers the 

 window places, and such recesses as they might fly to if the 

 elephant broke through, and enjoining each man to select a 

 particular spot as his own exclusive retreat, concluded by showing 



