The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-04-11
TRAPPING a RHtNocERos.
A Travellers Exciting adventure in the
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A Travellers Exciting adventure In the
Ir:iHsyaaf@c Country .aes4ss4s@sszssassaza
A traveller with three Dutch hunters
had soTHe=exeit ing aaHentures in the
Transxaal country, few months ago
in attempting to capturesa rhinoceros.
They came upon big two-herned fel.
low suddenly enc morning, and had 10
"climb "a tree" to escape his horps
The animal made for the tent OF the
party, short distance away, but a
system of simple defense, of wirei
brlfshsfoiled him, and he made off. A
pitwas dug in the swamp and a nice
fat native, which is calculatedato make
almost any rhinoceros hungry. sent
out to decoy the prey. Soon after
they heard the shrilt notes of the so.
called rhinoceros bird, which is in
variably found in the company of the
beast. 1t is asserted that the bird
constitutes himself the sentinel OF the
numbering behemoth: and that its cries
are uttered to warn him that danger is
near.
The native came through the. clear
ing with the old fellow in tow. The
native had about, thirty feet. the start,
and when they passed our mound he
had lost five feet OF that, although run
ming like CREASED lightning. The
rhinoceros was a big one. unusually
black, and he ran with his snout down
and his tail erect. We cheered the
native to encourage him, and away
the two went up the trail. we had tam
r,erec
Had the race been ten yards longer
the native would have had to-fe leave
the path to avoid death. AS he neared
tbe pit he ran along the right-hand
edge of it, while the rhinoccros thun-
dered along the center. He was within
twelve feet of the heels OF the
runner when his feet let go OF
solid earth and plunged him head
first into tho 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 maddest beast
in oil Africa. but it was too late for
action.
We had come prepared for just such
a job as we now had on hand. The
monster must be got aboard the barge
bat we were in no hurry to begin. We
got our ropes and chains ashore, drove
stout stakes were they would be want
ed, and moved the barge to the lower
end OF the bluff By this time II was
dark, and we tied the old fellows hind
legs together and left him.
After breakfast next morning we be-
gan work. We first 4hobbled our pris-
oner, and then hoisted him ont of the
pit. The, first thing he did was t.
make rush, but it was failure. We
got purchase tackles on him and led
them away to trees and staples. and By
these means we checked him up or
warped him. along as willed. All we
had to do Ewas to keep clear@of his
wicked horns. By noon we had him
safe aboard the barge! oue-half OF
which was given him. We had man.
aged. his capture without inilicting an
injury. He was landed in Hamburg
without a. piece OF skin rubbed off, and
is no doubt alive at this writing His
age was estimated at thirty years
when captured. and he was. considered
good.for fifty or sixty years more. IN