Wichita eagle., 1889-09-26

u4o uOI al dcciutHC HapESue1. no CHdISeu
at us over the marshy ground, and two hun
| bred feet from the wagons the ground grew
| SO soft that he sank to his knees, foundered
ahead few feet, and then rolled over on his
| eft side He was out of breath with his run
and his fall, and then was the time to take
him. As he lay there roaring his dismay and
anger, we got out the ropes and chains and
dashed for his legs. Wegot nooses over both
hind legs and carried the free ends 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 had him fast
every man cut a 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 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 helpless. He put
IN the night there, too, and next morning his
spirit was broken. 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 natives washed him up a dozen great scars
were revealed on his shoulders and TANKS 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 ITO
years.
No animal becomes docile and tractable as
quick as the elephant. He must 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, fogging 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 We had
no rig, and as none Of the men had had any
experience in driving an elephant; but we
should have no trouble in getting 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 a troop of
elephants had appeared 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 contrary, he acted
vexed and out Of sorts, and now and then ut
tered blast of defiance. 1t was easy to see
that he would have q hostile greeting for any
elephant coming our way.
The troop of elephants reported by the
scout numbered thirteen, and were five or
Six miles above us. Mr.. Williams, my assist
ant, took a 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 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 tumble into
a pit, and it was with great anxiety that we
waited their coming. 1t was about O'Clock
in the afternoon when we caught sight of
them After they had crossed the neck we
closed up and sought to drive them back, but
they bad 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
straight course for our camp. The three of
us VINO were mounted pursued at gallop,
and we were witnesses of curious incident.
The tire p were headed for the grove in which
mile away, when our captive rogue" uttered
three or four shril blasts, and suddenly APP
peared in sight, having broken herope 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 confusion They halted, turned to the
right and the left, and were all mixed up
when the old chap came down upon them like
A. L. a.
half grown elephant, and be knocked him fat
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 q
mile away.
Such cloud Of dust was kicked up that we
soon lost sight Of particulars but in a few
minutes the troop bolted off at right angles
and soon entered a grove, and we drew near
to find the old rogue" standing over the one
he had rolled over. He seemed to be waiting
for US to come up, and after little the ma
tive who had had most to do with him VEN
tured close up. / rode off and got a rope,
and this was made fast to the captive's legs,
and he was encouraged to get on bis feet.
Then the old chsp steered him straight for
camp while we followed, holding TO the
ropes Once or twice the kid showed dis
position to bolt, but the big one gave him
resounding whack with his trunk and curbed
his ambition. We made him fast TO a tree,
and the rogue" then took his old place with
out a hint being given him and was re-
fastened.
Ii was next morning before we could eI
anime our pits, and then we found another
captive. A big bull elephant was lying on
his side in one of them, while the other had
been avoided This animal was in the Lon
don Gardens for twenty years under the
name of ''Old Royal and was afterward
sold TO so TO Germany. We got him out of
the pit by digging around him, ana then
using block and tackle 20 lift him TO his
feet. He had been three days without food
or drink when we got him out, and his spirit
was pretty well broken His great size not
only made him an attraction in Europe. but
one of his tussss was so singui&riy marked as
TO excite the attention OF ali naturaEsts
About midway OF It's length the left tusk had
a blood STAN as big as silver half dollar. Il
looked as fresh II spstterei on only mo-
ment before, but il was found 10 extend
clear through the tush. Our three captives
were got down to the coast without the least
trouble, and our luck in making three such
captures II the short space Of twenty DAYS
hiss never been equaled oT rnenaeeTie men
in any lsnd The Odd rogue VINO SET out 20
I'll L.