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

w NeHtnO INV WIZ Rhdhb SVubbil
made a permanent camp. My orders
from the Hamburg house were to Sc
cure 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 sew
tn horses and six teams OF bullocks.
Among the natives were several fel-
lows who had hunted the big game
with white men, and who were pretty
thoroughly posted as to the creatures
habits. 1t would have been almost as
easy to shoot an elephant as a buffalo,
but to capture one alive and get him
down to the coast was a different mat
ter. Had we had couple of tame
elephants the task would have been lar
more simple, but there was nothing of
the kind in that part of the country.
/ took from the ship large supply of
ropes, chains, tackle. straps, blocks and
what ever else might come handy, and
as soon as we had established our camp
we began to look around for game.
Almost every species of wild beast
makes some particular spot its home
for a longer or shorter period. In
Africa every quadruped is constantly
on the move, and if limited at all it is
to large section of the country in
stead of particular strip. The gnu,
eland, antelope, deer and buffalo go in
large droves, and never seem to tire,
and the elephant will not remain in
any particular locality more than a
day unless there are strong reasons for
it. We had our camp in a thick grove
| about two miles from forest through
which We knew elephants ranged, and
orders we're given against firing guns
or moving about more than was neces-
sary. 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 it was a favorite resort. The
forest was a strip about nine miles
long and two miles wide, thrusting it.
self down into great plain like a
tongue. About opposite our camp il
narrowed to width of half mile, and
further down it was cut short off
though there were groves scattered all
over the plain.
| We were rejoiced to find that this
strip of forest was verltable highway
for the elephants passing back anG
forth, while the foliage was their choic.
est food. We spent two whole day;
getting the lay Of the forest for several
miles, and we finally selected partic
ular spot to work on. 1t was 10 the
narrowest portion of the strip, and
here we dug two pits and concealed
them SO nicely that the sharpest native
would have mistrusted M hing. WheI
all was ready we retired from the fores
and posted Q native IN the neares
grove to act as sentinel for the re
mainder of the day. The grove wa
about an acre in extent, with the tire q
standing very thick, and we wer
about moving off, notwithstanding the
native, when we herd trumpet bias
and a mighty rush. The blast of {
mad elephant in his native wilds is
sound never to be forgotten. Eacl
one as instantly realized that we hat
COZ upon an old "rogue," and tina
We were in deadly peril. An elephan
wi o has become crank and deserted
his troop or been driven away is NOR
dangerous than any other living thing
His sole thought is to destroy, and h
lOsea all sansa Of fear
Had we been mounted we coul
have scattered and outrun him, but W
were all on foot, and our only safet
was in sticking to the grove. Whe
We heard him coming we dodge
right and left and hurried deep. int
the grove. The old fellow had tn
eyes of lynx, and wheeling from hi
first charge, he seemed determined t
hunt US all down. Each one of u
lodged on our own account. thus dis
tracing bis attention, but he finall
pursued one of the natives so closel
that the man had to take to tree. II
didn't have his choice, either, and wa
unfortunately driven to shelter in
tree about as large around as a man
body. He was hardly out of reacl
when the mad brute arrived at tn
trunk. | was in much larger ire
about forty feet away, and coul'
plainly see the movements of tn
beast. He was an old bull, carrying
heavy tusks, and he was mad all over
He tried hard to pnsh the tree over
and though he could not succeed h.
shook the native a,ound so as to Civ
him bad fright.
In order to call the brute off | fire,
at him several times, but of course dit
no damage. He, however, refused t.
leave the tree, and after standing fo
moment in thought he put his shoul
der against it, surged forward, aud
after swaying back and forth half
dozen times, the tree broke short Of
about ten feet from the ground, Th
native was expecting it, and as tn
top crashed through the trees h
caught at limb and pulled himsel
into large tree. The elephant 500
became aware of his escape, and like
wise recognized the fact that all of u
were out Of his reach, and, after trump
etlng dis disappointment, he slowl
retired and gave us opportunity t
come down. We left the grove a
quietly as possible and made hast
back to camp We must move a
once. The ''rogue" elephant does no
travel about much, and his being i
the grove was menace to us. Shoul,
he discover our camp he would attac
us off hand. We at once hitchod II
our teams, struck our tents, and re
moved to q grove Two miles away
While not entirely safe here, W
might escape observation. On tw
sides of US the approach was marshy
while on the others it was ralbe
broken. Next day after our removs
! it rained, and none of US left the grow,
On the morning of the second day
Just as we were rolling out of ou
blankets, a cry from half q dozen nj
! tives alarmed the camp. As ] tuTne
my eyes in that direction, and behel
a sight which made my hair stand o
end, That "rogue" elephant was o