Circus Elephants Escape, Go on Mini Rampage

Three circus elephants got a little taste of freedom and hooliganism yesterday when they apparently slipped their handlers at Moolah Shrine Circus and went on a mini rampage in a St. Louis parking lot, reports StLToday.com. At least two vehicles were damaged, though one witness makes it sound more serious. "Things started shaking," she tells KMOV. "When I looked up I saw three elephants coming toward us. These huge elephants literally went through these huge RVs. Then they went through two trucks, breaking mirrors off, and panels off and breaking the windows. You could tell they were upset."

The circus president downplays the incident, saying that they were loose for a "brief period" before handlers were able to occupy the animals and they are resting comfortably at this time." The elephants were scratched from last night's performance, and the circus leaves town after two shows today. (More circus stories.)