Edmonton's Elephant Stampede

A colourful time in Edmonton's history sees elephants stampede through the City.

The headline for the article in the Evening Bulletin from August 3, 1926 says: “TINY FOX TERRIER WAS INNOCENT CAUSE OF ELEPHANTS STAMPEDING”. Apparently, the sharp barking of the tiny dog startled the elephants as they were being unloaded from the Sells-Floto circus train car at the C.P.R. freight shed. At 3 pm on Sunday, August 1, 1926, 14 elephants stampeded for liberty “going on a rampage through west end gardens, fences, and outbuildings.”

An excerpt from the Bulletin article is presented below:

“The bigger members of the herd were soon brought under control, but the younger animals became outraged and started west… One of the beasts struck a freight car, but was unable to move it ... Others damaged sidewalks and fences. Sweeping through the general hospital grounds, fences crumbled like paper, small trees were trampled down and gardens beaten down.

Taking up the charge with a small group of circus officials Chief Shuto and police officers drove through lanes, round corners and crisscrossed about in an effort to come up with the maddened animals. The car showed 36 miles registered.

Numerous outbuildings were damaged in the wanderings of the herd, several veranda posts were reported swept aside, even garages pushed from their foundations as they rushed hither and thither. Keepers say that according to their jungle habit when highly alarmed, they close their eyes and stampede aimlessly which accounts for their devious wanderings.

Trumpeting and whining their rampage alarmed peaceful homes. Freed at last from almost all the harness and equipment, the beasts were well-nigh exhausted when rounded up by keepers and headed back to the big top at the exhibition grounds. One of the elephants at liberty weighed 8,800 pounds, explaining at once how easily they brush aside opposition in their mad run.

Late into the evening, their chase for the last outlaw continued and it was reported in the bush west of 117 Street about 106 Avenue. Men climbed the government elevator in an endeavour to locate it by the waving of treetops. Finally, Trilby, the old head of the herd, was hurried to that area as a decoy.

Crossing through the Edmonton Cemetery, the last outlaw smashed through the Cushing yard gates and doors of the planing mill. When the elephant was sighted by the old leader, it rushed out to it and fondled it with its trunk like a lost and whining child. Damages were not extensive, running to $75 at the general hospital, $35 at Cushing’s and other amounts being small. A circus man was left behind to settle other claims.”

Original story posted by Gary Dick to an internal Edmonton website.