Evening journal., 1889-09-18
CAPTURING ELEPHANTS.

~ 1
Four days march inland from Quiloa
which IS on the east coast of Africa aud 30
miles above Madagascar, we came into the
elephant country and made a permanent
camp. My orders from the Hamburg house
were TO secure at least Ave elephants alive
and deliver them on board ship at Quilon
Our party consisted Of three white men and
forty-two natives, and we had seven horses
and six teams Of bunocks Among the ma
tives were several fellows who had hunted
the big game with white men, and who were
| pretty thoroughly posted as TO the creatures
/ habits. IL would have been almost as easy
TO shoot an elephant as a buffalo, but to cup
ure one alive and get him down to the coast
| was different matter. Had we had
couple OF tame elephants the task would
have been far moro simple, but there was
nothing Of the kind in that part Of the coun.
try 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 quadrriped
is constantly on the move, and If limited at
all ii is to a large section OF country instead
Of a particular strip. The gnu, Gland, ante
ope, deer and buffalo 60 in large droves and
never seem 70 tire, and the elephant will not
remain in any particular locality more than
q day unless there are strong reasons for IT,
We had our camp in a thick grove about two
miles from a forest through which we knew
elephants ranged, and orders were given
against firing guns or moving about moro
than WAS necessary. An elephant will cake
the alarm as quick as 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 de-
lighted 10 find evidences that it was "a favor
ito resort The forest was a strip about nine
miles long and two miles wide thrusting
itself down into great plain like tongue.
| About opposite our camp it narrowed to a
width OF half a mile, and further down It
was cut short OF though there were groves
scattered all over the plain.
We were rejoiced to End that this strip Of
forest was veritable highway for the ele
/ plants passing back and forth while the foil
age was their choicest food. We spent two
| whole days getting the lay Of the forest for
several miles, and we finally selected par.
ticular spst to work on. IL Was in the mar
rowest portion Of the strip and here We dug
two pits and concealed them so nicely that
the sharpest native would have mistrusted
nothing When all was ready we retired
from the forest and posted a native in the
nearest grove 70 act as sentinel for the re-
mainder Of the day. This grove was about
an acre In extent, with the trees standing
very thick, and we were about moving of.
after instructing the native, when we heard
a trumpet blast and a mighty rush. The
blast Of mad elephant in his native wilds is
q sound never to be forgotten. Each one OF
us instantly realized that we had come upon
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 % destroy, and he loses oil
sense Of fear
Had we been mounted we could have scat.
tered and outrun him, but we were ali on
foot aud our only safety was in sticking to
the grove. When we heard him coming we
lodged right and left and hurried deep into
the grove. The old fellow lad the eyes Of a
lynx, and, whesling from his first charge, he
seemed determined to hunt us all down.
Each one Of us lodged on our own account
thus distractinE his attention, but he finally
pursued one Of the natives SO closely that the
man had TO take 70 a tres. lie didn't have
his choice, either, and was unfortunately
driven To 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 much larger tree about
forty feet away, and could plainly see the
movements Of the beast He was an old bull
carrying heavy tusks, and he was mad al
over. He tried hard 10 push the tree over
and though he could not succeed be shool
the native around 80 as 10 give him bad
fright.
In order to call the brute or | fred at him
several times with revolver Each bullet
hit him. hut Of course did no damage. He
however, refused 30 leave the tree, and after
standing for a moment in thought he put hi
shoulder sgs inst it, surGed forward and, after
swaying back and forth half a dozeR times
the tree broke short or about ten feet from
she ground. The native was expecting it
aud as this top crashed through the trees h.
caught at limb and pulled himself into
large tree. The elephant soon became awarI
OF bis escape, and likewise recognized the fac
that all Of us we're out Of his reach. and, afte
trumpeting his disappointment, he slowly re
tired and gave Us opportunity to come down
We left the grove as quietly as possible an,
made hsste back 70 camp We must move a
i once The rogue" elephant does not trave
about much, and his being in the grove wasi
menace 70 us Should he discover our CAM
be would attack Us OF band We at ono
hiuched up our teams, struck our tents, an,
removed 70 "A grove two miles away. Will
not entirely safe here, we might escape oil
sergation. On two sides Of US tha approacl
: was marshy, while on the Others il was rattle
broken. Next day after our removal !
) Fained, and none Of rs left the grove.
/ On the morning Of the second day, just a
we were rolling out Of our blankets, cr
from half dozen natives nlaamed the camp
AS turned my eyes in that direction. an
bebeld a sight which made my hair stand o.
5 end Tnnt "rngue' elephant WIS On the plan
q shaui hs,f Mi'e away aud maKing he
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