The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-04-05

AAI 4oul VI Us WulJ6 men look on
guns and made our way to the bare knoll
1t seemed to have been thrown up by tn
ants and abandoned. 1t was six or sever
feet high, ten feet across, and twentl
feet long, and was sloping like a housl
roof on all sides. Il was a good post o
observation, but we could see nothing
anywhere in the big swamp to show tina
4 rhinoc eros was on the move.
We could follow the movements of tn,
native as he roamcd about. lie knew,
it being midday, that the big beas
would be asleep and it was not long be
fore he made a discovery. He was thc-
to the east OF us and a quarter of a mile
away, and in path which led directly
past our mound. He carried a flag in his
hand, and when we saw this wave above
the grass we knew that the game had
been sighted. A moment later we knew
it more certainly by the shrill notes oil
the so-called rhinoceros bird, which is
invariably found in the company of the
beast. It is asserted that this bird con-
stituies himself the sentinel of the lum-
bering behemoth, and that its cries are
uttered 10 warn him that danger is near.
The bird IS found with bufTaloes, Gle.
plants, Glands, and often with oxen and
horses. He is simply after insects. Flies,
gnats, and mosquitoes gather about all
animals in great mum ers, and the bird
is there to feast on them. He is wary,
and if disturbed utters shrill cries to
prove his annoyance This is the "warn-
ingn he gives, and it is taken as warn
ing because his shrill notes would
awaken the soundest sleeper among
men. We heard three or four birds
scOlding away, and presently caught the
grunt of the rhinoeeros as he staggered
to his feet. The black showed Himself.
waved his flag, and next moment he had
the old fellow in tow.
Nature made the rhinoceros in the
most clumsy manner, and evidently for
walker, but he beat her at her own
game. Take him on a straight line and
he is a runner not to be scorned. A
horse has got to be sure footed and have
good ground to travel on TO beat him in
a half-mile dash. The native had about
thirty feet the start and when they
passed our mound he had lost five feet
of that, although running like CREASED
lightning The rhinoceros was a big
one, unusually black, and he ran with
snout down and tail erect. We cheered
the native to encourage him, and away
the two went up the trail we had tam
pered with.
Had the race been ten yards longer,
the native would have had to leave the
path to avoid death. As he neared the
pit he ran along the right-hand edge of
IT, while the Thinoceros Numbered along
the centre. He was within twelve feet
of the heels of the runner when his feet
let 90 of solid earth and pitched him
head first into the pit. We heard him
grunt from where We stood, and it was
plain that his tumble had knocked the
breath out of him. As he struck he
rolled over on his right side, and when
we reached the pit he was helpless.
When he got it through his thick head
that he had been fooled he was the mad
dest beast in all Africa, but it was too
late for action.
We had come prepared for just such
job as we now lad on hand The monster
must be got aboard the barge, but we
were in no hurry to begin. We got our
ropes and chains ashore. drove stout
stakes where they would be wanted. and
moved the barge to the lower end of the
bluff. By this time it was dark, and we
tied the old fellows hind legs together
and left him 1t was a mighty uncom-
Portable position for him, but we counted
on that to aid us next day. He was
pretty quiet up TO about midnight, and
then the roars of the lions sngered him.
and he kept us awake with his yells and
saueals. We found tracks of lions all
= 49,, 49,. 49, = daEehst- the King of
The hungriest lion on the
Dark Continent could not be induced
to attack a rhinoceros alive nor attempt
to make meal of him if he was dead.
After breakfast next morning we be-
gan work We first hobbled our pris-
oner, and then hoisted him on of the
pit. The first thing lie did was to make
4 rush, but it was a failure. We got
purchase tackles on him and led them
away to trees and staples, and by their
means we checked him up or warped
him along as we willed. All we had TO
10 was TO keep clear of his wicked horns.
barge, one half of which was given up
to him. We had managed his capture
without inficting an injury. He was
anded in Hamburg without a piece Of
kin rubbed off, and Is no doubt alive
It this writing. His age was estimated
1t thirty years when captured, and he
was consid cred good for fifty or sixty
years longer.
We had captured one rhinoceros so
,asily that we expected to secure another
n a day or two by the same means.
Therefore, great was our surprise next
lay TO find the swamp entirely deserted |
~ the animals. All the signs went to
how that it was rich feeding ground,
md that at least twenty of the fellows
lad been roaming about, but they had |
AIKEN the a'arm aud made off. The |
Dutch hunters assured me that we had |
,nly to hang on and they would return,
md such proved to be the case. We /
ook good care of the one we had secured /
md kept as quiet as possible. and on the /
afternoon of the eighth day We got
urprise. Some OF us were asleep and
ONE loling about, when a black rhinOc-
rios, who had skulked up to the edge
II the swamp and surveyed US for how
oug no one could say, uttered his
wool" and charged the center camp.
lie was within hundred feet of the alb
'atis when the alarm was given, and he
truck it Just as / turned out. 1t had
topped the other, but this fellow went
trough it with a great crash, holding
traight for my tent.
We ran right and left to give the charg-
ng monster a clear field, but he had his
We on that tent alone. He struck and
nocked it fiat. The edge of the bluff
ras only six feet away, and before he
ould check himself he went over. He
ould swim, of course, but he would
ave plenty to think of, and every man
f US, acting on the same impulse, seized
rope or some other ob ,ect to make his
apture. Al the natl es leaped into the
fater, and their splashing and shouting
@ confused the beast that they got the
Opes around his legs and steered MIN
own to a spot where he could land.
he rest of us were ready for him, and
efcre he could figure out what was go.
lg on we had him tight and fast, and
efore dark he had been hauled into the
arge. He was not as large nor as old
s the other, but, nevertheless, a valuable
FEATURE, and we lost no time in getting
he pair down to point whence they
,uId started for tho saacoast Ne,