The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-10-31
From Camming's "African Tour
Elephant Fight.

In few minutes one of those who had gone
oil 10 our lett came running breathiessiy To say
that ne had seen the mighty game. | halted iof
Il minute, and Instructed Isaac, who carried the
big Dutch rifle, to act independent of me, while
kiemboY was 10 assist me in the chase; but, as
usual, when the row began. my followers thought
only Of number one. barred my arms to the
shoulder, and having mbbed draught of aqua
para from the caiabash of one of the spoorers, ]
grasped my trrsty two-grooved rifle and told my
guide to go ahead. We proceeded silently as
might be, for a few hundred yards, following the
guide, when he suddenly pointed. exclaiming,
"kiow!" and before us stood a herd Of mighty
bull elephants, packed together beneath shady
grove about hundred and fifty yards in advance.
rode slowly towards them; and as soon as they
observed me, they made loud rumbllng nose.
and, tossing their trunks, wheeled right about and
made of in one direction, crushing through the
forest, and leaving a cloud Of dust behind them.
! was accompanied by detachment OF my dogs,
who assisted in the pursuit
The distance had come, and difficulties had
undergone to behold these elephants, rose fresh
before me. determined, that, on this occasion
at least, would do my duty, and dashing my
spurs into Sundays ribs, | was very soon much
too close in their rear for safety. The elephants
now made an inclination to my left, whereby |
obtained good view Of the ivory. The herd con-
sisted of six bulls; four Of them were full grown
hrst rate elephants; the other two were fine fell
lows, but had not vet arrived at mature stature.
Of the four old fellows, two had much finer tusks
than the rest, and for few seconds was unde-
cded which of these two would follow; when
suddenly, the one which fancied had the stout
est tusks broke from his comrades, and at once
felt convinced that he the patriarch of the
herd, and followed hun accordingly Cantering
alongside, was about To fire, when be instantly
turned, and, uttering trumpet so strong and
shrill, that the earth seemed to vibrate beneath
my feet, he charged furously after me for several
hundred yards in Il direct line, not altering his
course in the slightest degree for the of the
forest, which he snapped and over,hrew like reeds
in his headong career.
When he pulled up in his charge, Likewise
halted, aud as he slowly turned to retreat, let
fly at his shoulder, Sunday capering and prancing,
and giving me much trouble. On receiving the
bail, the elephant shrugged his shoulders, and
made of at a free majestic walk. This shot
brought several Of the dogs 20 my assistance,
which had been following the other elephants; and
ON their coming up and barking, another headlong
charge was the result accompanied by the never
falling trumpet before. In his charge, he pass
ed close TO me, when saluted him with second
bullet in the shoulder, Of which he did not take
again until could make a steady shot; but al
though the elephant turned repeatedly, Sunday
invariably dlsanno.::.:c11 me, capering so that 1t
was impossible to ire Al length exasperated,
became reckless of the danger, and, springing
from the saddle, approached the elephant under
cover OF a tree, and gave him bullet in the side
OF hs head, when Tumpeting shrilly that the
forest tremhled, he charged among the dogs, from
whom he seemed to fancy that the blow had come !;
after which he took up position in a grove of
thorns, with his head towards me. l walked up
very near, as he was In the act of charging,
(being in those days under wrong impressions as
TO the impracticabiity of bringing down an ele-
pbant with shot in the forehead, } stood cooy in
his path until he was within fifteen PAGES of me,
anu let drive at the hollow of his forehead in the
VAIN expectation that by SO dong should end his
career. The shot only served to increase his
fury-an effect which, had remarked, shots in
the head invariably produce; and continuing his
charge with incredible qulckness aud impetuosity
he all but terminated my elephant hunting for
ever. large party of the Bechuanus, who had
come up, yelled ont instantaneously, ina gning
was killed, for the elephant was at one moment
almost on the top of me; however escaped by
my activity, and by dodglng round the bushy trees.
As the elephant was charging, an enormous thorn
ran deep into the sole of my foot--the old Bade-
noch brogues, which | that day sported, being
worn through, aud this caused me severe pain,
laming me throughout the rest of the conflict
The elephant held on through the forest at a
sweeping pace; but he was hardly out Of sight,
when | was loaded and in the saddle, and soon
once more alongside. About this time | heard
Isaac blazing away at another bull; but when the
elephant charged his cowardly heart failed him,
and he very soon made his appearance at a safe
i Il
along at steady pace, with blood streaming from
his wounds; the dogs, which were knocked up
with fatigue and thirst, no longer barked around
him, but had dropped astern. 1t was long before
again fired, for was afraid to dismount, and
Sunday was extremely troublesome. At length
fired sharp right and left from the saddle; he got
both balls behind the shoulder, and made long
charge after me, umbling and trumpeting as be-
ore. The whole body Of the Bamangwalo men
mad now come up, and were following short dis
ance behind me. Among these was Mollyeon,
who volunteered to help; and being very swift
and active fellow, he rendered me important SER
vice by holding my fdgetty horses head while l
fred and loaded. l then fired six broadsides from
The saddle, the elephant charging almost every
time, and pursuing us back 10 the main body in
our rear, who fed in all directions as he ap-
preached.
trees; it would soon be very dark and the ele-
phant did not seem much distressed ,notwithstand
ing all he had received. / recoected that my
time was short, therefore at resolved to fire
no more from the saddle but to go close up to him
and fire on foot. Riding up to him, dismouni-
ed, and approaching very near, gave it HIM right
and LEFT in the side of the head, upon which he
made long and determined charge after me; but
was now very reckless Of his charges, FOR lsaw
that he could not overtakc NE; and in twinkling
was loaded, and again approaching, fired
sharp right and left behind his shoulder Again
he charged with terrific trumpet, which sent
Sunday flying through the forest. This was his
last charge. The wounds which he had received
began to tell on his constitution, and he now stoo
at bay beside thorny tree, with the dogs bark
ing around him. These, refreshed by the even
ing breeze, and perceiving that it was nearly over
with the elephant, had once more came to my
assistance. Having loaded, ] drew nea., and
fired right and left at his forehead. On receiving
these shots, instead Of charging, he tossed his
trunk up and down, and by various sounds and
motions, most gratifying to the hungry natives,
evlnced thar his demise was near. Again load
ed, and fired my last shot behind his shoulder; on
it, he turned round the bushy tree be-
side which he stood. and ran around to give him
the other barrel, but the mighty old monarch of
the forest needed no more; before could clear
the bushy tree he fell heavily on his sde and his
spirit had fed. NV feelings at this moment can