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*u *■ +■ 4 -e *4It’s as high as an elephant’s eyev -•Reporter Photo by Joe KowalskiBarbara the elephant proved at least two things Monday during her flight to freedom — one, the'cily is no place for elephants: and two, the corn around Fond du Lac really is as high as an elephant’s eye.After six hours of romping in a com field, above, owned by Richard Shingen, Barbara returned to work Monday afternoun in time for the 4:30 performance at the fairgrounds. Her antics proved io be one of the biggest elephant jokes the city has everpen.Barbara does her thing following her other thingBy MICHAEL MENTZEK Reporter Staff WriterQuestion; What does a ts.iWb-pound African elephant do when it gets seared and runs away?Answer: A» thing it wants Io.Despite the efforts of circus workers, city policeman and Fond du La*: County Traffic officers, there was nothing to do but wait Monday as Barbara rampaged ttrough neighboring yards and escaped mm cornfields cast of the city There she stayed for about six hours, uprooting corn and eat mg to her heart's con ten 1.After six houre of running.lodging and charging, she finally gave herself up loauthorities in a farm field east of the cjIv and walked calmly onto a 1 ruck She was back in time in perform with several of the 42 pachyderms at the 4:30 p m. performance of the (arson Barnes Five King Circus.The heroine in this advcnLurcwas Barbara's circus partner another Al rican elepbani named Ka t hey ha ve been 1 ouel her for more than 30yearsKay was taken lo the corn f ieid w her* she promptly hoisted her irunk into the air Thai was all Karbala needed to convince her it was' fine to go homeHid ice Chief Melvin Heller sold. Thi'* tops every tin rig I'*e e\er si*en He said the onl\thing that comes close was the escape of {wo steers back in lilGI when Heller was a motorcycle cop.He remembered lhat the steers were so big they could jump over squad cars Barbara was so big she could probably have flattened one.Heller added. *1 think this is even .stranger than (he time wehad In rescue a pel alligator in a garage.Three erty point* oHleers and two (raflic policemen worked throughout the day to keep the elephant m check and speciators away from the scene. Meantime. circus workers tried to get elii.se enough to collar the elephantOfficers noted the humorous aspects of the elephant’s escape but were aware there was potential Tor tragedyHeller said an officer was standing by with a high powered rifle in case any thing went wrong. A tranquilizer gun was requested from the Milwaukee County Zoo.Hejler slated, *‘We had to be ready in case any thing wen i wrong We were told that Barbara was worth at leasl $35.0(10 and we didn’l want to tio anything to hurt her. Bu! we had to Ik* ready.Residents of the fairgrounds area witnessed first hand the power of thepacbydcrm.of slain woman ratify i,a(tluring trialCing said that he entered the ne through the rear door and liced thai the kitchen was in £ht disorder He then went ough the dining room and o the living room where he r his IB-month-old daughter ng on a couch cushion on the or. The family dog also was the cushion by the little gir!\{ lhat point. King said, he *ned and saw his wife on the itch. She was covered with tod and a large carving kmte is slicking out of her chesl ting said 1 he first thing he did is check to see if his daughterwas all right The girl was sleeping on the cushion about three feet from her mother The next thing King did was call the police King also testified lhat lie and his wife had known Henning for several years He said he thought Henning “was a good friend* Henning had stored se\eral of his guns at the King residence, and King said they lxth were interested in guns and hunling King, said he did nol knw that Henning was in town until Sec Trial. Hager.MADISON, Wis. fAPi - The Wisconsin Stale Employes Union Monday formally raiified a new two-year contract agree* menl that had ended a 15-daystrike bv thcunion Iasi month.*Tom King, executive director of the union, said per cent of the union members voting on the new pad gave their approval lit: refused to give the specific vote lolals The union represents about 23.0UO workers, although not all of those employes arc union members.rVoting liad leen conducted at various locations around ihe state, with the results tallied at Madison.TTie coiUract. with a cost estimated at $41 million, is scheduled to go to the legislature's.Joint Committee on Employ-ment Relations for approval later I his week before going into effect next Sunday.The two-year eonfrael plan calls for annual wage hikes ranging from about 6.5 per cent to 7.5 per cent, with a cost of living increase for lower paid employes, effective about two years from now.During the walkout, which began July 3 despite a state law prohibiting public employes strikes. National Guard personnel filled tn for strikers at some stale institutions.Contempt proceedings are siilj pending against some union members who ignored court orders to return to work at state centersAI the Frank Demellresidence. 521 E Ninth .St.. she squeezed between the ear and house, denting I he car and ripping siding off the house.Al the Michael Thonima residence. 532 Eighth St . she overturned a camper trailer which then si nick the Paul Covering home at 53B Eighth St, A .six lo eight-foot section ol lenec was flxitluicd ai Ihe Mary Carter residence, 552 E Ninlh SIClotheslines were ripped clown and shrubs and trees damaged. AI Ruber Is School. BO I eel of Cyclone fence was damaged as Barbara moved through U like it was threadShe was like a bull in a china shop. said Heller. “Just think if she would have gotten downtown onto Main Street? ’*As the performance proceeded about -l:hj. circus workers relived the day's events ‘Td never want lo be an elephant hunter, said one Another staled. We knew we would just have to wait. She just wanted her own way - damn cranky old lady Today, the circus is on its way to Watertown, then on .to Chicago and back to Milwaukee. Barbara and the rest of the 42 Carson Barnes elephants perform every night for weeks.The day's events mi doubt helped spur attendance at the two performances According to a Fond du Lac Jayeee representative. 2.WW persons attended the circus Monday
Newspaper Details
Fond Du Lac Reporter
Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, US
Tue, Aug 09, 1977
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Outagamie W.
WI, USA 02 May 2020
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