An interesting story behind Picture #8

We joined the show mid-season 1944 but my mother and I continued on home to put me in school but I was there long enough to remember Zack Terrell saying, "Well Bill, now we might have someone here that can help Arky with "Tony", who had become increasingly dangerous and he was the only one that could get around her. She's seen here fifth in line, along with the four remaining 101 Ranch elephants who made up the center ring five act. Years later I heard my dad mention that the first thing he did was ask Smitty, his old buddy from the Floto Show, what he thought and who replied "Don't even think about it!" He must have followed that advice because while at home the following winter he received a wire from Terrell with instructions to report to Wichita immediately, Arky had been seriously injured just as he had begun to unload the act the show had booked at the Orrin Davenport Shrine dates. On arrival my dad managed to get the other four unloaded but "Tony" was red hot and couldn't be approached so after watching this for a while Mr. Terrell ordered that she be shot, despite objections from Mrs. Terrell who had performed with her at the Chicago World's Fair ten years earlier. The execution was carried out by a rifleman stationed in the other end of the baggage car. I might add that our during remaining years with the show the center ring act remained at four, a clumsy number.