West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-11-20
PURSUING ELEPHANTS.
Description OF an Exciting. Hut Yer
Cruel, sport.


Cruel, sport.
Elephant-hunting must DO very excit-
ing, very cruel, and, To those not accus-
toned 10 the habits of the great beast.
very dangerous work. But so long rs
ivory is such valuable commodity I'm
the market there will be plenty of pco-
pie willing to risk their lives for the
sake of procuring IT, Captain Parkor
Dllimore describes his experience ia
chasing "tuskers' as follows;
A couple of Kaiiirs led the way, so as
to prevent the spoor being lost; but this
was almost unnecessary, so distinct vas
the path the mighty beast had made
through the forest IL was evident
from this, and their not having deviated
to the right or left TO feed, that they
were in hurry, and probably travel
ing rom one haunt TO another. Such Il
chase is generally a long one not un-
frequently an unsuccessful one; but
Fortune choose TO smile favorably ON
us; ior after about three hours ride.
the kaiiirs declared the game i'm sight
Not a word had been spoken for some
Ilmei now cnsued n hurried consulta-
ton, when the programme decided
upon was for all TO approach as eau
uously ~ possible till the elephants took
the alarm, when we were to charge
each hunter selecting his prey.
For three hundred yards or more, we
silently stole through the forest I'm sin
gle hloi at length tho leading hOrsemen
halted, and we wheeled into line Over
the underbrush lowered tho backs of n
number OF dark animals. Closer and
closer To them we approached, when
one OF the elephants uttered shrill
note, and in an instant the herd was
crashing through the timber, raising n
tremendous dust, and sending rotten
lmD5 OF the br shwood flying far and
VIDE. My poor old horse. who had up
to this moment been regular slug,
TOOK the bit in his teeth. and tore along
in pursuit as well "a the best OF them.
lie needed no guiding-I only sat still
and let him go. II the others were
after elephants. 50 was he, and il his
fore legs only kept him mp. there was
very little doubt that soon / would bo
afforded an occasion 10 use my gun.
wanted big tusker, of course. but
such ] could not see; so, TO rectify the
deficiency, sighted out the largest ami
mai IN the herd. and made q dash 10
-N' HlOhH0lAb VI lt. III lNls i was NiiC-
cessful, for the old nag knew his work.
and required no forcing Holding the
gun AT arms length fred. The
heavy charge nearly sprung it out Of
my hands; but the elephant staggered
recoveted itself staggered again. and
then came to a dead stop. with the
report Of the gun my veteran charger
had sheered of TO the left, expecting
pursuit, and not getting il, he easily
pulled up, so ] turnod him round again
so as TO renew the contest The poor
stricken beast was evidently very sick
blood flowed from its mouth and
trunk. u seemed desirous Of CHARGING.
but was without tho power 10 do Il. So
] jumped of my horse went within ff-
teen yards, and fired at The space be-.
tween the ear and eve. with era b
the poor thing fell, struggled violently
to regain its feet, rolled over on its side.
and Yielded up life u was a COW i'm
the prime Of life, but its tusks did not
exceed eight or nine pounds weight
From T. gHDtore'g &" Grem Ihirgt
Irud. So