Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-07-28
OSTRICH STUPIDITY.
An Exciting Chase on Ihe Plains
OfSOuth Africa.

A correspondent of the PHILADELPHIA
Press writing from Bietermaritzbnrg.
Natal, says: Captain James Fewsmith
and his boon companion, Thomas
Harrod, recently returned from an
ostrich hunt beyond the Transvaal. in
the neighborhood of the Orange river.
The Captain is a veteran, and his ac
count of little experience of himself
and Harrod is interesting. The game
inhabits the dry portions of Africa.
from Egypt and the Barbary States to
the cape, and were he not the most
ldiotic game in the world, it would
it would have been almost impossible
to capture or shoot him. The ostrich's
sight and hearing are wonderfully
keen, and he can run at the rate ofa mile
In two minutes for long time, but,
with every advantage on his side, his
own stupidity proves his destruction
Captain Fewsmith and his friend were
well mounted, but, as the day was ex-
tenslvely hot, they pieketed their an.
lmals under shade trees, and threw
themselves On the ground to smoke
and rest, until the sun should descend
lower in the sky. The friends then
rode to the top of the ridge, halting
and taking careful survey of the
country before them; the result was
one that awakened hope and delight.
Less than half mile distant was a
ridge parallel with the one on which
they had halted, and between the two
ran valley several miles in extent.
Near the middle of this two ostriches
we're grazing, while a gentle breeze
was blowing from the east. Instead
of separating and attempting to flank
the birds, the horsemen rode at a
liesurely gallop in the direction of the
eastern end of the valley. This was
narrower than the opposite opening,
which therefore offered the very best
chance in the world for the birds to
escape, for which they could speedily
dash through it into the open country
beyond, where they would be safe
from harm for that afternoon al least;
but it is oD such occasions that the
ostrich gives an exhibition of stupidity
that approaches the marvellous. 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 fight, and, in
stead Of turning the opposite way,
they instantly started on their long,
swift trot towards the point at which
the hunters were also heading with
much the start OF the birds. The two
ostriohes displayed still more marked
failure to grasp the situation" The
singular chase could not have lasted
long, when the birds, running almost
side by side, must have seen that the
horsemen were sureto reach the open
ing ahead Of them. But, not only did
they refuse to turn back, but they also
failed to swerve in the slightest de.
gree from the course on which they
had started they simply increased
their speed, and, with their uu gainly
neeks outstreohed, struck two min
ute trot and sped away for the most
dangerous point on the horizon. As
the pursuers were quite certain of
their game, they now slaekened their
gait somewhat, and each fred a shot.
The bullet of Captain FeWsmith went
through the brain of his bird, which |
ran few steps in a wild, stag
gering way, and then went down, its
head pleughing quite furrow in the |
sand. Leaping from his saddle, the !
Captain hurried forward and cut the |
throat of the ostrich, so as to end its |
suferings. 1t was almost at the same |
instant that HarrOd discharged his
rife, and seeing the bird acting
strangely, he was confident OF having |
inflicted a mortal wound, and was
scarcely behind the Captain in spring.
ing to the ground to dispatch his |
prize. But he had made slight mis- |
take, for when he had placed himself |
in the path Of the bird and |
his hunting knife ready to give him |
the finishing touch, the ostrich seemed !
to brighten up. Before the gentlemen !
suspected his intention, he delivered |
a terrible kick which tumblsd the hun.
ter over en- his back, as it struck by a
falling tree. The bird kept on trot. |
ting straight away until he vanished |
IN the twilight and was seen no more,