Elephants like to explore



Topsy from Sole Brother's Circus pushes a truck out of the bog.

 Circuses have come to Tasmania  to provide entertainment  to the people for many years. Early circuses consisted of both human and animal performances. People had few opportunities to see large cats, elephants and camels and these were always a drawcard. Without today’s safety standards (and lack of animals in circuses), there were many accidents and escapes. I looked at newspaper reports during the thirties, forties and early fifties and discovered that (a) it was not a good idea to pat the lions and tigers, (b) you should keep back from the elephants and (c) the animals don’t know the rules. Nobody was eaten in Tasmania but on the mainland, several were killed and crushed. Children and adults tried to pat and feed animals or just chanced their luck

It was reported in the Examiner in January 1929, that an elephant from Wirth’s Circus with an attendant on its back did not want to wait and charged into a moving train at Pedder Street Campbelltown and smashed the railings but was thrown clear of the train. The attendant was thrown clear but was hospitalised with a broken foot. On return to Melbourne a few days later, six elephants bolted when being removed from the vessel Loongana at South Melbourne. They were being driven along the road by foot when they seemed to sense that they were almost home and took off at a trot. Elephants already at the Olympia sensed that they were coming and set up a trumpeting which was answered by the excited animals. Needless to say, traffic was somewhat disrupted.

In 1930, it was the turn of the bears. Again, Wirth’s Circus was involved, this time at Wynyard.  As animals were being moved prior to the show, a bear managed to bolt for freedom. People scattered in all directions as the animal foundered in a deep drain. It was held there by attendants with poles until its cage was pushed to the locality by elephants and it was recaptured. (Mercury 8 Dec 1930)

Stanley was the scene of excitement in September 1936 when an elephant slipped its moorings on the Friday night and could not be found in time to catch the train to Smithton next morning. Imagine the surprise of Mrs R Mollison who discovered it in her garden at 7 in the morning, or in what little remained of her garden. Her spring veggie crop had seen better times.

Devonport was not to be starved of excitement either. In 1947, an elephant really got busy, breaking into a house and raiding the larder. No mention was made in the newspaper of demolished walls  or other damage. This well trained pachyderm, broke down the back fence, then the back door and stole butter, sugar and other items from the pantry. I think most of us would expect a few more indications that an elephant was on the loose in our house. The police were called. What were they going to do, use trunkcheons? A keeper from the zoo managed to remove the recalcitrant animal and return it to the circus. (Examiner 15 may 1947)

Elephants had their good points too. In 1952, three elephants from Wirth’s circus were used to remove a building in Hobart so that the new railway station could be built on the spot. Mechanised equipment brought in, had not been able to complete the task and had broken down.

Safety standards have changed a little since the following article was written in 1951

1. When The Circus Comes...

The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954) Thursday 25 January 1951 p 5 Article Illustrated