Wichita eagle., 1889-09-26
CAPTURING ELEPHANTS.

UAf GRlNU ELEPHANIN.
Four days march inland from Ouiloa,
which Is on the east coast of Africa and go
miles above Madagascar, we came into the
elephant country and made permanent
camp. My orders from the Hamburg house
were 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 bullocks. 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. 1t would have been almost as easy
to shoot an elephant as a buffalo, but TO cap
ture one alive and get him down to the coast
was a different matter. Had we had
couple Of tame elephants the task would
have been far more 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 longer or
shorter period. In Africa every quadruped
is constantly on the move, and if limited at
all it Is to large section of country instead
of a particular strip. The gnu, Gland, ante
lope, 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 thick grove about two
miles from forest through which we knew
elephants ranged, and orders were given
against firing guns or moving about more
than was necessary. An elephant will take
the alarm as quick as deer, and when once
frightened he may not cool down for hours
After couple Of days four or five of us
made scout to the forest, and we were de-
lighted TO find evidences that it was a favor
lite 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
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 veritable highway for the ele-
plants passing back and FORTH while the foli-
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 spot TO work on. 1t 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 to 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 off,
after instructing the native when we heard
trumpet blast and a mighty rush. The
blast of mad elephant in his native wilds is
a 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 to destroy, and he loses all
sense of fear.
Had we been mounted we could have scat
tered and outrun him, but we were all on
foot, and 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 had the eyes of a
lynx, and, wheeling from his first charge, he
seemed determined to hunt us all down.
Each one of US lodged on our own account,
thus distractinC his attention, but he finally
pursued one OF the natives so closely that the
man had to take TO a tree. He didn't have
bis choice, eithar and was unfortunately
driven to shelf n a tree about as largo
around as a man a<ly He was barely out
of reach when II, -ad brute arrived at the
trunk. WAS in much larger tree about
fDr-tv faatp Nd Mo w.
movements of the beast. He was an old bull,
carrying heavy tusks, aud he was mad all
over. He tried hard TO push the tree over,
and though he could not succeed be shook
the native around so as TO give him a bad
fright
In order to call the brute OFF fired at him
several times with revolver. Each bullet
hit him, but of course did no damage. Ee.
however, refused TO leave the tree, and after
standing for moment in thought he put his
shoulder againstit, surged forward, and, after
swaying back and forth half dozen times,
the tree broke short Off about ten feet from
the ground The native was expecting it,
and as the top crashed through the trees he
caught at a limb and pulled himsalf into a
large tree. The elephant soon became aware
of his escape, and likewise recognized the fact
trumpeting his disappointment, he slowly re-
tired and gave Us opportunity TO come down.
We left the grove as quietly as possible and
made haste back 10 camp. We must move at
unce The rogue elephant does not travel
lbout much. &nd his being in the grove wasa
menace to Us. Should be discover our camp /
be would attack Us OF hand. We at cnce !
hitched up cur teams, struck our tents, and
removed to a grove two miles away. While
not entirely safe here, No might escape OBJ
servation. On two sides Of US the approach /
was lnarshy. while on the Others it was rather
broken Next Gay after our removal 1t
rained, and none Of Us left the grove.
On the morning Of the second day, Just as
we were rolling out Of our blankets. cry
from half a dozen natives alarmed the camp
As / turned my eyes in that direction. and /
beheld a sight which msda my hai- stand on
end. That rogue" elephant was OH tna plain /
about half mile away and maai,,s nee I
line for our camp. 30 wss s-y--az-rr,e- ',is /