Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

About the moment of the Cambria’s departure from Liverpool last Saturday, a dreadful occurrence was taking place at the Zoological Gardens near that town. As one of the keepers was engaged in his usual office of cleaning out the den of the Elephant “Rajah,” he struck the animal a blow with the broom to make him move. The animal took no notice, and the blow was repeated with severity which so infuriated Rajah that he forced the keeper with his tusks against the timbers which form the den, hurting him severely, that as the elephant retired he fell to the ground. The elephant had not yet done with him, but again approached, and placing his great foot, which measured four feet around it, upon his body, and crushed him to death.
The proprietor, who was in the garden at the time, determined upon having the animal destroyed and upon representing the case at the barracks, obtained the services of thirty-six riflemen, and to prepare for the worst, for it is alleged that the elephant was mad, two field pieces, also, two Captains accompanying the men. A dose of prussic acid was administered to the animal, which scarcely produced any effect-at least he soon overcame it. Twelve of the soldiers then fired, but without effect-and upon twelve additional shot’s being discharged, only one took effect. It entered under the fore shoulder-the animal reeled and fell dead. Van Amburgh, who was present at the execution, said, that only one ball took effect. Rajah was a noble animal-the largest elephant in the kingdom, and cost the proprietor of the garden L600, eleven years ago. He was thirty-five years old, was ten feet high, and weighed nearly four tons. This was the second keeper he killed; it was, nevertheless, a pity to destroy so rare an animal.