The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-11-08

may and anger, we got out the ropes
and chains and dashed for his legs.
We got nooses over both hind legs and
carried the free end to the nearest tree,
and then we had the old fellow for
sure. He was so mad that he actually
shed tears, and he trumpeted until he
tired his machine out. After we lad
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, kick
ed him, called him names and degrad
ed him in every possible way. This
was by the advice of the natives, who
said that it 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 rage but help
less He put in the night there, too,
and next morning his spirit was brok.
en-. We cast the moose free from one
leg, got pry under his hips, 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 cover whenever any one
shook club at him. When the ma
tives washed him up dozen great
scars were revealed on his shoulders
and ianks as proofs that he was
fighter, and my head man, who had
lived in the elephant country all his
days, computed the beasts age at 1l0
years.
No animal becomes docile and tract
able 80 quick as the elephant. He
must be conquered by fear, and when
once he gives in you have only an oc.
casional tantrum to look out for. We
kept right at our captive, fogging and
bulldozing and giving him to under
stand 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
a hunter, as we had no rig, and as
none of the men had any experience in
driving an elephant; but we should
have no trouble in getting him to the
coast, and he was worth several thou
sand dollars.
1t was ten days after his capture
that one of our scouts brought word
that troop of elephants had appear ed
in the forest. We had suspected this by
the uneasy movements of our captive.
1t 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 con-
trary, he acted vexed and out of sorts,
and now and then uttered a blast
of defiance. 1t was easy to see that
he would have a hostile greeting for
any elephant coming our way.
The troop of elephants reported by
the scout numbered thirteen, and We're
FIVE or six miles above us. Mr., Will
liams, my assistant, took portion of
the men and made detour so as to
strike in behind the troop and drive
them down, and five or six of us
stationed ourselves at the southern linn
it 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 tumble into pit. ard il
was with great anxiety that we wait
ed their coming. 1t was about 4
o'clock in the afternoon when We
caught them. After they had crossed
the neck we closed up and sought tc
drive them back, but they had be
come frightened, and the job was toe
great for us.
They broke off to the right and lef
the cover of the woods for the oper
plain, and we felt some anxiety as VIZ
saw that they heldia straight course fo
our camp. The three of US who were
mounted pursued at a gallop, and w
were witnesses of curious incident
The troop were headed for the grow,
in which we had encamped, and wer,
about half a mile away, when our cap
tive "rogue' uttered three or foui
shrill blasts and suddenly appeared il
sight having broken the rope which
held him to tree. He made straight
for the troop challenging as he cam
and the beasts no sooner saw him thar
they exhibited fear and confusion
They halted, turned to the right anC
left, and were all mixed up when tn,
old chap came down on them like ;
landslide. The first one he struck wa,
a half grown elephant, and he knock
ed him Hat on the grass and rolled hin
over and over. Then he sailed in tt
clean out the shanty,and the blows from
his trunk could be heard mile aSay
Snch cloud of dust was kicked NJ
that we soon lost sight of the particu
lars, but IN few minutes the trool
bolted off at right angles and soor
entered a grove, and we drew near tC
find the old 'rogue' standing over th'
one he Lad rolled over, He seemed tC
be waiting for us to come up, aud aftel
little the native who had the most Il
do with him yentured close up. Irod,
off and got a rope, and this was mad,
fast to tho captive's legs, and he wal
encouraged to get on his feet. TbeI
the old chap steered him straight fo
camp while we followed, holding t.
the ropes. Once or twice the kiC
showed disposition TO bolt, but tn,
big one gave hlm resoundlng Whacl
with his trunk and curbed his ambi
ton. We made him fast to a tree
and the "rogue" then took his pIac
without hint being given him au'
was re fastened.
1t was next morning before we coul'
examine our pits, and then we founC
another captive. A big bull clephan
was lying on his side in one of them
while the other had been avoided
This animal was in the London Gar
dens for twenty years under the nam
of "0ld Royal" and was afterward
sold to 90 to Germany. We got hiu
out of the pit by digging around him
and then using block aud tackle T.
lift him to his feet, He had been tire
days without food or drink when W
got him out, and his spirit was prett,
well broken. His great size not onl,
made him an attraction in Europe, ba
one Of his tqsks was 80 sipgulsrl
marked as TO excite the attention Q
all naturalists. About midway of il
length the left tusk had blood stat
as big as a silver half dollar. IL look