The bull Elephant waited on the railway tracks for a face off with a Train on that fateful day of 1894 in Teluk Anson.(now Teluk Intan)
A lot of stories abound about what prompted the sad suicidal episode of the elephant and the train.
Some say it had a score to settle with the 'Iron Beast'.
Rumour has it that it was seeking vengeance for a calf killed earlier by the same train. While others claimed that it was merely defending its herd from the ' new enemy' that has encroached into their domain.
Railway connecting Teluk Anson to Tapah , Ipoh was completed in 1893 and its daily rumbling through the jungle had threatened the habitat of the gentle giants. So it was pay back time. Presumably!
The British Engine Driver could not do anything because it had stood defiantly on the railway tracks and refused to budge in spite of the loud whistling and hooting as the train thundered and hurtled towards it
.
The beast was really huge and taller than the 'Iron Horse' and it collided with it head on at 50 mph (100km).
The impact derailed the engine and 3 coaches. Passengers mostly Chinese Towkays and Business men returning to Kuala Lumpur after visits to Tin Mines in the Kinta Valley.
Many were hurt in the twisted wreck and 2 Indian workers died of injuries sustained in the accident.The Elephant was killed instantaneously.
The then British Govt. erected a memorial to commemorate the heroic last stand of the gallant Elephant.
Was the Elephant greyish white? No confirmation on that.But what we do know is that the poor creature was butchered even in death to be used as a memorabilia for posterity.
The skull is kept by Taiping Museum. Some bones are with KTMB (Railways). But the priceless of all, the Ivory Tusks found its way half way around the world to then British Empire,England.
This place should be in the Tourist brochure of 'must see' places in Teluk Intan, Perak. Lest we forget.Such a beautiful tale should be known throughout the land.
Actually Teluk Intan has a lot of historical and mystifying tales waiting to be unearthed.
Hope somebody out there has more to share.
I came upon this place when I was looking for Rubber seeds as a child and the memory ot it stayed with me until this day. Check this out.
Latest: The site is in Kampung Bahagia formerly called Taman Melor near Teluk Intan. Ask the local folks about the gravesite of an Elephant that collided with a train long ago or "Kubur Gajah dilanggar kerteta api pada Sept 17th 1894 .
To be honest I wanna make a trip there too. It would be so exciting...going into history to experience that poignant moment in time.
A lot of stories abound about what prompted the sad suicidal episode of the elephant and the train.
Some say it had a score to settle with the 'Iron Beast'.
Rumour has it that it was seeking vengeance for a calf killed earlier by the same train. While others claimed that it was merely defending its herd from the ' new enemy' that has encroached into their domain.
Railway connecting Teluk Anson to Tapah , Ipoh was completed in 1893 and its daily rumbling through the jungle had threatened the habitat of the gentle giants. So it was pay back time. Presumably!
The British Engine Driver could not do anything because it had stood defiantly on the railway tracks and refused to budge in spite of the loud whistling and hooting as the train thundered and hurtled towards it
.
The beast was really huge and taller than the 'Iron Horse' and it collided with it head on at 50 mph (100km).
The impact derailed the engine and 3 coaches. Passengers mostly Chinese Towkays and Business men returning to Kuala Lumpur after visits to Tin Mines in the Kinta Valley.
Many were hurt in the twisted wreck and 2 Indian workers died of injuries sustained in the accident.The Elephant was killed instantaneously.
The then British Govt. erected a memorial to commemorate the heroic last stand of the gallant Elephant.
Was the Elephant greyish white? No confirmation on that.But what we do know is that the poor creature was butchered even in death to be used as a memorabilia for posterity.
The skull is kept by Taiping Museum. Some bones are with KTMB (Railways). But the priceless of all, the Ivory Tusks found its way half way around the world to then British Empire,England.
This place should be in the Tourist brochure of 'must see' places in Teluk Intan, Perak. Lest we forget.Such a beautiful tale should be known throughout the land.
Actually Teluk Intan has a lot of historical and mystifying tales waiting to be unearthed.
Hope somebody out there has more to share.
I came upon this place when I was looking for Rubber seeds as a child and the memory ot it stayed with me until this day. Check this out.
Latest: The site is in Kampung Bahagia formerly called Taman Melor near Teluk Intan. Ask the local folks about the gravesite of an Elephant that collided with a train long ago or "Kubur Gajah dilanggar kerteta api pada Sept 17th 1894 .
To be honest I wanna make a trip there too. It would be so exciting...going into history to experience that poignant moment in time.
Posted 18th April 2009 by ky cheah
Labels: heroic elephant 1894
20 June 2018 : 2.38 pm
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