The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1889-04-27
AFRICAN PaIzE-FIsNIfRs.
Daagsr Of Hunting the Gorilla in the
Forests Of the Dark Continent

Danger Of Hunting the Gorilla in the
Forests Of the Dark Continent
The gorilla is the prize-fghter
of Africa" said Carl Steckelmann,
who has personal knowledge of the
Dark Continent. He had been
speaking Of a leapord-skin on ex-
hibi6on in his window, and he had
been telling of the danger encoun-A
tered in fighting with the original
owner af the skin.
Contests with all wild animals
pale in comparison with that ia
which one must engage in meeting
the gorilla" he said. "The gorilla
is found in only comparatively
small portion of Western Africa.
He Turks in the woods along the
coasts for several hundred miles
north Of the mouth Of thesCongo.
l have never Decn q gorilla in the
open country, and, By the way,
think that the fact that he stays in
the woods accounts for the fact
that he is almost biped instead OF
a quadruped. You see, the gorilla,
in passing through the forests,
reaches out with his long arms,
and, seizing the branches of trees,
rises on his hind legs and walks on
them, supporting himself with his
hold on the branches. Habit has
thus almost male an upright crea-
ture of him.
1.-THE gorilla is as brave as brave
can be. The male gorilla does all
the fighting for the family. If you
approach a pair of gorillas the fe-
male will run, screaming, through
the woods, or will climb the highest
tree, uttering all the while cries not
unlike . woman in great fright.
But the male gorilla will come
straight at you He does not know
what fear is. He will fight any
number of men,"
"How do you fight them?'
With pistols. 1t is very unsafe
to trust to gun or poor weapon
of any kind. The gorilla is so fierce
and powerful that you have but one
chance at him at the best. The
woods where he is found are Sc
thick that it is impossible to SCI
him accurately at any distance. l
lyou fire at him as he comes at yol
down the tree limb may turn tn
course of the bullet. Before yo,
can fire a second time he will b
: upon yon. He drops from limb t
, limb, and comes at rapid swing
ing pace. The safest way is to hol
your fire until he is at arms lengt'
!. and then fire steadily into him wit
a pistol.
"The gorilla is easily killed A
ordinary pistol shot will have abou
the same effect upon him as it ha
upon man. The hunters DANCE
: is in not making the shot tell. One
| was passing through the fores
E with bodv-guard of natives. Th
t natives are furnished by the Dutcl
;. traders with a miserable gun, tn
|. barrel of which is made of gas-pipe
n1 The natives have learned to be sus
: picious of their guns. When the.
: fire at anything they point in th
8 general direction, pull the trigge
i and fling the gun at the object
e They throw the gun because the
are afraid it will explode in thei
d hands, as it very frequently doe
i Well, we came upon a gorilla.
e native saw him dropping from
e tree, coming at US. Aiming at the d.
i scending form, be fired and missed
e He had not turned before the grin
" monster was upon him. Standin
and throwing his arms around tt
is negro's neck, the gorilla seized h
throat in his man-like jaws, an
o was crushing the life out of hil
when we came up and fred pisto
d ball into him at close range. Bl
the wounds inflicted were morta
1t and the native died in great agony
,e "Are the gorillas numerous
K, the strip of country where they al
l. found?"
ID "They are scarce. In making
c. trip once l saw two in one day, b
that was unusual. They are Il
fiercest and bravest of animal
:. The male gorilla in going into ba
20 tie sounds terrible warning
- beating his breast and giving for
n sounds that make the forest ]
nc sound. He is dangerous antae
q, a.. mist, and you are all the time
re y" minded by his appearance that y
y are contesting with creature tt
- has mans faculties and appe;
~ ~ ance, a giants strength and me
=, q. keys agility.-1ndianapolis Ne'
is Poor Little PrinceletA
%, Those who think that being