Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-07-27
Hunting the Ostrich.

Captain James Fewsmith and Thomas
Harrod went ostrich hunting:
The friends rode to the top of q
ridge, halting and taking careful sur
vey of the country before them; the re-
suit was one that awakened hope and
delight. Less than half mile distant
was ridge parallel with the one on
which they had halted, and between the
two run valley several miles in extent.
Near the middle of this two ostriches
were grazing, while gentle breeze was
blowing from the east. Instead OF
separating and attempting to flank the
birds, the borsemen rode at leisurely
gallop in the direction of the eastern end
OF the valley. This was narrower than the
opposite opening, which therefore Of.
fered the very best chance in the world
for the birds to escape, for they could
speedily dash through it into the open
country beyond, where they would be
safe against harm during that after
sions that the ostrich gives an exhibition
OF stupidity which approaches the mar
velous. The sight of the hunters
making for the eastern opening of the
valley seemed to give the ostriches the
belief that their enemies were trying to
cut off their only avenue of flight
and instead OF turning the opposite
way, they instantly started on their
long, swift trot toward the point at
which the hunters were also heading
with much the start of the birds. The
two ostriches displayed still more
marked failure to "grasp the situa-
ton" The singular chase could not
have lasted long, when the birds, run
ming almost side by side, must have
seen that the horsemen were sure to
reach the opening ahead Of them. But
not only did they refuse to turn back,
but they also failed to swerve in
the slightest degree from their
course on which they hal started:
they simply increased their speed
and, with their ungainly necks
outstretched, struck a two.minute trot
and sped away for the most dangerous
point on the horizon. AS the pursuers
were quite certain of their game, they
now slackened their gait somewhat, and
each fred shot. The bullet OF Captain
Fewsmith went through the brain Of
his bird, which ran few steps in a
wild staggering way and then went
down, its head plowing quite furrow
in the sand. Leaping from his saddle,
the captain hurried forward and cut the
throat of the ostrich, 80 as to end its
sufferings.
1t was almost at the same instant that
Harrod discharged his rife, and seeing
the bird acting strangely, he was con-
fident OF having inflicted a mortal
wound, and wss scarcely behind the
captain in springing to the ground to
dispatch his prize.
But he had made a slight mistake
for when he had placed himself directly
in the path of the bird and held his
hunting knife ready to give him the
finishing touch, the ostrich seemed to
brighten up. Before the gentleman
suspected his intention he delivered
terrific kick which tumbled the
hunter over on his back, as il
struck by falling tree. The ostrich is
capable of kicking with such force as
kill the panther or iackal, and he
does it by throwing his foot forward,
the same as man. In the present
instance Mr.. Harrod fell so quickly that
Captain Fewsmith ran forwardI IN alarm.
Assisting him to his feet, he was found
to be little injured, although he de-
clared, with grim smile, that he knew
more about ostriches than he ever did
before.
The bird kept on trotting straight
away until he vanished in the twilight
and was seen no more, while the hunters
we're glad enough to go into camp and
wait till the morrow.
There are different methods of hunt
ing the ostrich. Every sohoolboy re-
calls the picture Of the bushman awk-
wardly disguised as one of the birds,
who is thereby enabled to approach
close enough to herd to bring down
several with bow and arrow. In other
cases the hunter lies in wait and uses
poisoned arrows. In North Africa the
game is pursued en- horseback, the
chase being kept up for several days,
until the bird is literally run down and
incapable OF going further or making
resistance. Sometimes herd is forced
into the water, where il is an easy matter
A. 4. - =. L I.