Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-09-12
TRAPPING ELEPHANTS.
An African Sport Not without an
Element of Danger.
hut tho Profits More Than Connterbaiancs
the Periis-Iow n Biood-Thlrsty
Euomy Was Converted Into
Devoted Servant


Devoted Servant
-Four days march inland from
Quiloa, which is on the cast coast Of
Africa aud two hundred and fifty
miles above Madagascar, we came
into the elephant country and made a
permanent camp. My orders from
the Hamburg house wore TO secure at
least five elephants alive and deliver
them on board ship at Quiloa. Our
party consisted OF three white men
and forty-two natives, and we had
seven horses and six teams Of bull
locks. Among the natives were sever
al fellows who had hunted tho big
game with white men, aud who were
rrctty thoroughly posted rs TO the
creatures habits. II would have been
almost as easy TO shoot m elephant as
a buffalo, but TO capture one alive and
get him down TO the coast was differ
ent matter.
We had our camp la a thick grove
about two miles from a forest through
which We knew elephants ranged. and
ord0rs were given against firing guns
or moving about more than was
necessary. An elephant will take the
alarm as quick as a deer, and when
once frightened he may not cool down
for hours. After a couple OF days
four or five OF us made a scout TO the
forest, and we were delighted to find
evidence that 1t was favorite resort
This forest was strip about nine
miles long and two miles wide, thrust
ing itself down into great plain like
u tongue. About opposite our camp
it narrowed 70 a width OF half mile,
and further down cut short of, though
there were groves scattered all over
tho plain.
We were rejoiced TO find that this
strip Of forest was veritable highway
for the elephants passing back and
forth. while the foliage was their
choicest food. We spent two whole
days getting the lay OF the forest for
several miles, and we finally selected
a particular spot TO work On. 1t was
in tho narrowest portion OF the strip,
and here We dug two pits and con-
cealed them so nicely that the sharp
est native would have mistrusted
nothing. When all was ready we re-
tired from the forest and posted
native in the.nearest grove to act as
sentinel for the remainder OF the day.
This grove was about an acre in ex-
tent. with tho trees standing very
thick. and we were about moving of,
after instructing the native when we
heard trumpet blast and mighty
rush The blast OF mad elephant in
his native wilds Il a sound never TO be
forgotten. Each one OF us instantly
realized that we had come up
on an old 'rogue." and that we
were in deadly peril. An elephant
who has become a crank and deserted
his troop or been driven away is more
dangerous than any other living thing.
His sole thought is TO destroy. and he
loses all sense Of fear. Had we been
mounted we could have scattered and
outrun him, but we were all on foot,
and our only safety was in sticking to
the grove. When we heard him COM
ing we lodged right and left and hur-
ried deep into the grove The old fel-
low had the eyes OF lynx. and, wheel
ing from his first charge. he seemed
determined TO hunt US all down. Each
ono OF us lodged on our own account,
thus distracting his attention, but he
finally pursued one OF the natives so
closely that the man had 10 take to a
tree. He didn't have his choice,
either, and was unfortunately driven
10 shelter in a tree about as large
around as a mans body. He was
barely out OF reach when the mad
brute arrived at the trunk. was in
a much larger tree about forty feet
away, and could plainly see the move
monts OF the beast He was an old
bull, carrying a large pair OF tusks,
rnd he was mad all over He Aied
hard 10 push the tree over. and though
he could not succeed, he shook the
native around 30 as 10 give him bad
fright.
In order 20 call the brute of fired
- him several times with d revolver
Each bullet hit him, but OF course did
no damage. He, however, refused to
leave the tree, and after standing for
moment In thought he put his shoul-
dor against II, surged forward. and,
after swaying back and forth half
dozen times, the tree broke short of
about ten feet from the ground The
native was expecting II, and as the
top crashed through tho trees he
caught at limb and pulled himself
into a large tree. The elephant soon
became aware OF his escape, and like
wise recognized the fact that all OF us
wore out Of his reach. and. after
trumpeting his disappointment, he
slowly retired and gave Us opportunity
10 como down We left the grove as |
quietly as possible. and made haste
back TO camp We must move ut once.
lhe ''rogue' elephant docs not travel
pnN|' much. aud his being In the
NlN vas \ menace 10 US. Should he
.|II| n1f camp he would attack us
''1|N we at once hitchod up our
leulH SIfnck our tents. and removed
10 q efoiA four miles away. While |
moi eatlroly safe here, We might es-
cape observation. On two sides Of us
the approach was marshy. while on
the others Il was rather broken. Next
day nftor our roin0val It raIned.
ana none Of Us left tho grove.
90 She morping Of lho second day.
i'|al a. we wero rolling 0ni OF our
R|ppkeN' q cry from tall 4 dozen