Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-09-12

! turned my eyes IN that direction,
and behold sight which made my
hair stand on end. That ''roguo"
elephant was on the plain about hall
mile away and making bee line
for our camp. lie was swinging his
trunk In an angry way, and his speed
was something terrible. Three or
four OF us sprsng TO our riaes. but no
would have boon among us before we
could have fired shot had not an &C.
cident happened He charged at VS.
over the marshy ground, and two
hundred feet from the wagons the
ground grew so soft that he
sunk TO his knees, iloundered ahead
few feet and thon rolled over on his
left side. He was out OF breath with
his run and his fall, and thor was the
time to take him. As he lay there
roaring his dismay and anger, we got
out the ropes and chaiES and dashed
for his legs. We got nooses over both
hind legs and carried the free ends to
the nearest tree, and then wo had the
old fellow for sure flo was so mad
that he actually shed tears, and no
trumpeied until no tired his machine
out After we had him fast every
man cut stick, and for two hours we
beat every part OF the beast we could
reach. Moreover. we walked on
him. kicked him. called him
names, and degraded him in every
possible way. This was by the advice
OF the natives. who said II would soon
break his spirit and cause him TO give
up All day long the monster lay on
his side in the muck. boiling over with
rago, but helpless. He put in tho
night there, too, and next morning his
spirit was broken. We cast the moose
free from one leg, got pry under his
hip, and after an hours hard work
put him on his feet and got him to
solid land. The fight had all been
taken out of him, and he would cowor
whenever any one shook a club at him.
When the natives Washed him up a
dozen great scars were revealed on his
shoulders and fanks as proofs that he
was a fighter, and my head man, who
had lived In the elephant country all
his days. computed the beasts age at
one hundred and ten years
No animal becomes docile and
tractable as quick as the elephant
He must FIRST be conquered by fear,
and when once he gives in you have
only an occasional tantrum to look out
for. We kept right at our captive.
hogging and bulldozing and giving
him TO understand that we were boss,
and at the end Of three days he was
as humble as pie. We could make no
use Of him as hunter, as VIC had no
rig, and as none OF the men had had
and experience in driving an elephant;
but we should have no trouble in get
ting him to the coast, and he was worth
several thousand dollars
1t was ten days after his capture
that one Of our scouts brought word
that troop ofelephants had appeared
in the forest We had suspected this
by the uneasy movements OF our cap
tive. IL did not seem possible that he
could scent his kind four or FIVE miles
away. but his actions went to prove
that such was the case. We had him
securely fastened by one hind leg, but
he did not try to break away. On the
contrary, he acted vexed and out of
sorts, and now and then uttered a
blast Of defiance. II was easy TO see
that he would have a hostile greeting
for any elephant that came our way.
The troop OF elephants reported by
the scout numbered thirteen. and were
five or six miles above us. MIR. Will
Jams, my assistant, took portion OF
the men and made a detour so as 10
strike in behind the troop and drive
them down, and five or six OF US sta
toned ourselves at the southern limit
OF the forest. 1t was hoped that in
driving the beasts back and forth
along the narrow neck at least one
Of them might get a tumble into "a
pit, and ii was with great anxiety
that we waited their coming. Il
was about four o'clock in the
afternoon when we caught sight
OF them. After they had crossed
the neck we closed up and sought 10
drive them back, but they had become
frightened, and the job was too great
for us. They broke of TO the right
and left the cover OF the woods for
the open plain, and we felt some
anxiety as we saw that they held a
straight course for our camp. The
three OF us who were mounted pur-
sued at gallop, and we were Wit
nesses OF a curious incident The
troop were headed for the grove in
which we had encamped, and were
about hall a mile away, when our
captive "rogue" uttered three or four
shrill blasts and suddenly appeared in
sight, having broken the rope which
held him to tree. He made straight
for the troop, challenging as he came,
and the beasts no sooner saw him
than they exhibited fear and con-
fusion They halted, turned 10 the
right and the left and were all mixed
up when the old chap came down upon
them like a landslide. The first one
he struck was half-grown elephant,
and he knocked him fiat on the grass
and rolled him over and over. Then
he sailed in TO clean out the shanty.
and the blows from his trunk could be
heard a mile away.
Such a cloud Of dust was kicked up
that we soon lost sight Of particulars.
but In few minutes the troop bolted
of at right angles and soon entered a
grove, and we drew near 10 find the
old ''rogue" standing over the one he
had rolled over He seemed 10 bo
waiting for us TO come up. and after a
little the native VINO had most 10 do
with him ventured close up. l rode
of and got a rope and this was made
fast to the captive's legs and he was
encouraged TO get on his feet Then
the old chap steered him straight for