Page 8 - 14 Wabash County Visitors Guide

Modoc drew

nation’s attention
to Wabash

By Joseph Slacian

No one knew it at the time, but a group of barking dogs and three elephants brought nationwide
attention to Wabash County in November 11, 1942. For it was on that day that the Great
American Circus came to Wabash to stage a fundraising event for Wabash High School.
Among the acts in the circus was famed animal trainer Terrell Jacobs and his three Indian
elephants, Empress, Judy and Modoc. The animals were tethered outside the big top when
barking dogs spooked the animals, causing them to break free and begin what would be a five-
day rampage through Wabash and Huntington counties.

Judy and Empress wandered the impersonates Jacobs, complete in Street.”
nearby neighborhood, but Modoc animal tamer uniform, telling the The elephant stopped at a
bolted toward the downtown area. tale of Modoc to area groups.
As the 12-year-old giant elephant business across the street, the Union
strolled downtown, it startled those According to coffee shop’s Cigar Store, but then continued on
who were tending to their daily webpage, Modoc “chased Chauncey down the street. Today, the Market
routines in the business district. Kessler, who wore a long muskrat Street Grill is located in the former
As Modoc neared the Bradley coat, through the 42-inch door on cigar store.
Brothers Drug Store, a patron Miami Street and using her long
opened the door, and the scent of trunk rolled Mrs. Kessler onto the While Judy and Empress were
roasting peanuts soon attracted the floor, all the while flabbergasting quickly caught by circus personnel,
1,900-pound beast. pharmacy clerk Helen Myers Modoc managed to evade captors
into shear fright behind the soda for five days. The animal wandered
Michael Beauchamp co-owns fountain. through Wabash and Huntington
Modoc’s Market with his wife counties, reportedly crossing the
Angie. The now coffee shop is “Modoc knocked over the peanut Wabash River five times.
located in the former Bradley roaster and scared up her fill of the
Brothers Drug Store. Beauchamp little shelled delicacies, and then Michael Beauchamp portraying
has researched the life of Jacobs bidding ado, she smashed through Terrill Jacobs, the handler for
and the story of Modoc. He even the back door, frame and all, of the Modoc.
New Bradley Building onto Market
Photo: Wabash Plain Dealer

8 | WABASH COUNTY GUIDE