Tusko

It is no great feat for an elephant to get newspaper space, but Tusko, reputed to be the world's largest captive elephant (six tons), has had more than his share. Despite this, and though he is grey, not white, Tusko has been a trial & tribulation to a succession of owners. Because he ran wild in Sedro Woolley, Wash., the Al G. Barnes Circus gave him to a carnival operator. The carnival operator left him at the Oregon State Fair. Two months ago the fair board sold him to Elephant Trainers Bayard Gray and Jack O'Grady for his board bill ($200). Messrs. Gray & O'Grady kept him in a barn in Portland, tried to teach him manners. Last month he had a cold, drank a potion reported to contain ten gallons of moonshine whiskey, got the hiccups and more publicity. Last week he was in the newspapers again.

Tired of captivity, Tusko broke out of his chains, butted down one wall of his barn, wandered outside. There he amused himself by tearing a door from the barn, tossing it around, while Owners O'Grady & Gray telephoned for police. Ten police sharpshooters went to the scene, hesitated to shoot because of the crowd. Amateur marksmen had to be restrained. Mayor George Baker forbade an execution, but ordered a machine gun squad to stand guard while steel cables were fashioned into nooses. Hay was spread over the nooses, the cable ends fastened to trucks. Tusko reached for the hay, the trucks pulled the nooses tight around him. Police remained on guard while Mayor Baker called his council to decide whether to build Tusko a steel cage or to execute him legally.

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