The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-07-14
Written for the Telegraph.
WIIIIItII- TOT tH5 ItItg IIJI.
SNOW BOUND I'M THE SIERRA
NEVADAS.
CONTINUED.
CHAPTER vn-CLosE QUARTERS WITH AN
ELEPHANT.

4 The Doctor had adventures with other
animals besides tigers, and he related the
following with an elephant
ut isn't often" he began, that man
gets tossed by an elephant, and lives to
tell of it but such has been my fortune.
AT one time during my rowing life,
visited South Africa, and made an expe
dition into the interior. | had young
American as companion, and we took
everything needlul in a vast wagon, drawn
by six yoke of oxen. Of course we were
each provided with a small arsenal, in
the way of rifles, smooth bores, and pis-
tolls. l had the Colts rifle that had done
such good service in India, and | had
been so much pleased by its performances
| that had had another made, of larger
bore, for the larger game of Africa. This
was wonderful gun; it carried a conical
ball weighing nearly three ounces, and
was chambered to hold half an ounce of
powder, though seldom used used more
than six drachms. With this rifle I could
bring down anything in the way of game,
and with it in my hand / feared nothing.
| have it yet, but it is too heavy for this
country, where there is nothing bigger
than buffalo. 1t never failed me but
once, and then don't believe anything
would have served my purpose, short ola
twelverpounder. *
4" 1t was my second encounter with ele-
plants: In the first Bone-smasher.' as I
called my pet rifle, had done beautifully,
and had brought down a noble COW.
I" A few days after, my companion and
II being out in search of Gland, we came
upon fresh trail Of a very large elephant.
I'VE were not expecting to meet such
large game, and were mounted on wild
young horses. However, as the trail was
VERY fresh, and that Of very fine ele-
1phant, we resolved to push on, and when
we had overtaken the game, to attack it
on foot. The trail led us over mostly
level country for several miles, and finally
disappeared in a dense thicket of thorny
trees and bushes. We had decided to
leave our horses and enter the thicket Oh
foot. I had just dismounted, when with
Ia scream like steam whistle, and ire
mendous crash of bushes, out rushed a
mighty bull elephant. He was certainly
larger than the average Of Asiatic ele
phants with such ears AS they stood
out on each side Of his huge head, they
were certainly fourteen feet from tip to
3 tip He came on at wonderfully swift
pace, making the earth tremble at his
; heavy tread his head was thrown back
. and his trunk ~curled up, showing hi
enormous tusks to great Advantage
However grand and imposing such ;
spectacle might be to spectator at ;
safe distance, our situation didn't permi
us to enjoy it; our horses evidentl,
thought SO too, for almost at the first sigh
LOT the beast, my horse gave loud snort
jerked the bride sfIom my hand, AM
bolted, closely followed by my compan
ions steed, with him on It's back, leayin,
me afoot and alone, right in the path Q
the charging monster Things locke
squally, but stood my ground, expectin
to serve this elephant ash had Others i
India, and bring him down by shot i
the forehead. AS he came nearer, he low
cred his head. and poised his tusks t
Cd give me 3 toss. I might have dodge
bbehind tree, and taken a shot at hi
shoulder as he passed, but had the u,
most confidence in my rifle, and stood M
3ground. didn't believe anything in til
way oil bone could stop my three ounc
ball. When the elephant was With
e about ten yards, sighted just above tn
"a root of the trunk, and fired The bal
> lstruck with loud spat as though it ba
struck rock the huge animal staggere
a moment, and / thought he was don
for, but to my astonishment, he recovere
instantly, and came on Again I fred a
the same point, but with no better sue
cess. ! was astonished had hit hir
with two very heavy balls eachIdrive
by seven drachIns Of powder, IN. the yer
spot i'll which | had killed several ele
plants in India, and here this unreasor
able monster was tearing down upon m
as though had only fired boiled peas a
L.,