FLYING MONSTER.

Patea Mail, 28 October 1880, Page 4

FLYING MONSTER.

One of the most remarkable phenomeiu: over seen in London was witnessed by the passengers on the George Peabody, river steamer, just as Big Ben of Westminster was on the point of striking 7. This was the appearance of a huge white elephant in the sky making straight, as it seemed, for the Houses of Parliament. The apparition rapidly descended through the air, and speculations wore hazarded as to what it was. Men looked up and trembled, while timid women screamed : The end of the world is come, and we are lost!” The captain of the G.P. kindly moored his boat to the pier to give those who desired it a chance of escaping by way of Lambeth Palace. In an instant the monster was close upon the boat, and a chorous of startled voices shouted, “ A white elephant ?” There was no longer any doubt. It was an elephant, whose trunk was rapidly moving from side to side. With furious speed it passed over the stern of the G.P., and dashed into the Thames. The spectators breathed more freely. As soon as the elephant touched the water, half-a-dozen boats dashed from the pier to investigate the phenomenon. One oarsman thrust a hand towards the struggling monster, and in an instant it collapsed—it was a gigantic elephant, made of laths and paper.