The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-01-27
EXPERIENCE WITH ELEPHANTS
\ Camp Eaidcd at SiEht-An Elephant ia
a RAGE

Rage
IN instance OF clephantinc ferocitv,
combined with stealth and shrcWdness
occurred on our trip. Six of us were
scattered through a wood in search OF
signs OF the presence OF elephants, when
4 SOLITARY sncakcd ont of 4 Jungle
whore he had been hiding and rushed
upon my horse. / WIS two miles away,
but one Of the natives saw the perform
ance. lie said the elephant broke cover
as stoalthily rs Il man, carefully ap-
preached the horse, and WAS only a few
wards away when discovered. Then he
trumpctrd an made Il rush. His sud
dcn appearance seemed TO strike the
horse with terror, and he made no move
70 escape. The great trunk. hnld a oft rs
die beast charg II, struck the hOrss
"siac wipe" and Knocked him fiat, and
he WAS no sooner down than he elephant
kuc,t upon him anl l,n 'a1cl him into
hopIv pHlp. When his vengeance was
satisfied he rose up and r.Tr'ated To the
same Ticket, sncakjng along aS il he
was scchiny TO hide his trail. II ws an
hour later when ] reached the spot, and
/ was so angry over the death OF my
stccd that nothing the men could say
would SO me from entering the thlckct
IN search OF the destroyer.
loe followed me, bearing a gun, and
both OF us were ready for any trick the
beast mi ,ht he up to, but We were too
lite We found the spot where he had
sto 81 for hours, and from which n had
4 led out To attack the horse, hut hy
had quietly sneakeI oil. The elephant
when pursuing an ordinary course
through the forest, leaves a broad trail
behind him. lie breaks down branches,
a. roots small trees and the prints o! his
hia feet could be followed On horse back
Il a nallnp. This fellow hal cone o so
O.tiV HAT we were half an hour IN pick
ing up his trail. There was not a broken
branch, and hc had set his loot down
with the utmost care, and selected the
hardest soil. After getting quarter OF
4 mile away he had selected a rocky
ridge To travel on, and we soon lost him
entirely.
Our camp WIS about three miles from
the pot where the horse was killed. We
always had one guard and Il couple OF
fires and as there VS. only the wild beasts
t. look ont for, we had slept IN perfect
content
ON thisnight, soon after Midnight, the
guard awokc me, and stated that some
,angcr mrnaccd the camp. lie had
, heard what he believed WIS a boiv OF
men lurking about and the builoc.ls
seemed greatly excited. The camp was
@T1Uscl rs gWctly as possible, the fires
were allowed TO burn low, anI IN 4 short
uma the statements OF the sentinel were
VUlI.ci. Somebody or something was
lGrl5ing about We were in the hon
country. bat the movements were too
heavy for the king OF beasts. The noise
passed clear around the camp and back,
amt then all was quiet. We were un3Cr
arms tor half an hour and then all being
stll, We lay down, and all but the sen
tlnel were soon asleep. An hoGr later,
Il suddenly, aS IL shot from the gun, the
Old solitary OF the day charged into our
! t.UrFp trg1Iunatipu li-,. tb. blaGts trar1,
| lOCOLOtlvc, AMI evidently in a great
rage. 1t was lac who had been lurking
! about for two or three hours. He La
approached the camp as carefully rs
! man could walk, and had passed around
! 1t TO locate everything and decide on
/ point to charge from. When we got the
arm, nc placed himself in the shadow
/ ol some bushes, and the natives, who
! examined the spot, said he stood there
/ Tor an hour and hall without moving
/ u loot.
/ Bloody and destructive work followed
! the charge OF the elephant. lie stepped
! On and crushed sleeping native, picked
.. : -,ond up and dashed him TO otHc earth
! a COrlse and broke the back OF a third
! who WIS trying to get out OF his way,
! lie was soon among the bullocks, knock
! ing them right and lett with his terrible
! blows, ana Just then | got my gun ready
! Ills charge nd been so sudden and fierce
! mat We were All uclnOfallLeU lOr tNO or
! three minutes. Fortunately for Us all
some one had the sense to throw lignt
| brush on one of the dying fires and
| started big blaze. This seemed TO DIS
! concert the elephant, and he showed
signs OF retreatng. Inthis he was en-
| Couragcd by two of our bullocks, who
| dashed at him for a fight, and raked HIM
| severely with their stout horns.
| was dancing about waiting to get q
shot, AMI III tell you what | saw that
CIeI Ihant DO. lie picked up a bullock
wclgh NJ at least 90 pounds, and that
win has trunk alone, and swung him
| aloit a. easily as you can lit an axe over
! your head. lie held him in the air a
minute, and then flung him clean over
! oar Cape Colony wagon to the ground.
T. he bull aliahted on a large heap OF
freshly cut grass, and was but little in
! Jurcd.
l opened on the elephant Just as he
| flung the bullock, and he at once lolted
out Ul camp, carrying three bullets with
! h.In. lie Lad scarcely got clear when he
stepped into a hole in the ground, lurched
forward, and went down with broken
leg. Ielore he could get on his iert
again / had given him his death blow.
| lie had killed three men and iour bull
ocks and MS death gave us deep sat.s-
faction.