Just arrived. Village deserted, except sick and aged. Elephant passed through three-quarters of an hour ago. The anti-temperance mass-meeting was in session; he put his trunk in at a window and washed it out with water from cistern. Some swallowed it--since dead; several drowned. Detectives Cross and O'Shaughnessy were passing through town, but going south--so missed elephant. Whole region for many miles around in terror --people flying from their homes. Wherever they turn they meet elephant, and many are killed.
BRANT, Detective.
I could have shed tears, this havoc so distressed me. But the inspector only said:
"You see--we are closing in on him. He feels our presence; he has turned eastward again."
Yet further troublous news was in store for us. The telegraph brought this:
HOGANSPORT, 12.19.