Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1890-09-19
HOW ANIMALS CHARGE.


- Attses Tssir yiessms.
J,S3Fa 4, .t,a s,.t,ft ~ aa,tr,. l., r,,,six.
Of travel and snnrt very Starring illua-
trations az the attitudes Wild animals
assume when charging their human 40
eressors--attitudes wbict. IN the main
and most essential point. are most in
correct. For instance. the tiger has the
credit OF smashing in his Victims skull
With : sledge-hammer-li blow ~ MA
fore-paw The elephant Il generally do
picted coming down gska looornotive
with his proboscis extended "a IT. full
length: the bison and buffalo charging
from distance Of many Yards. with
their heads and horns lowered. and our
ursine friends standing upon their hind
legs, always exposing the faaI white
horseshoe on their hearts most conven-
iently. / should be glad. therefore. to
hear the opinions d some 81 vour cor
respondents. who have shot tbege larger
fev9 nature and been charged BY them,
regarding their attitude when assuming
the offensive. for nv own experience il
30 totally At variance with the precon-
ceiyed notions OF artists that / think
the matter NAV not be unworthy OF pub
lie discussion through the medium 81
your columns
To begin with the feliud. / am glad
70 saw that in the few fnstances In
which have stood q charge INV antago-
mist never rot home: hut a relative az
mine, who was very badly wounded BY
tiger, and several friends who have
not only been in the mou this of tigers.
but OF lions. all tell me that the animal.
to use, perhaps, homely form OF ex-
preston, came roust bank up against
them" The description is perhaps more
expressive than refined in language.
but thinks CONVEYS the idea Of an ami
NAL 'shurtling' up against you. In
seizing their prey, tigers, and / believe
lions, though With the latter have had
no experience, almost invariably 90 for
the throat, though in one or two In
stances that have come under nv notice
OF animals killed by tigers they have
evidently been first ham-strung; these
probably, were the work of Young and
inexperienced tigers. / once saw a man
charged and knocked over by a panther.
and he only saved his throat by putting
IN his arm. which. as we'll az his sbouI
der, the animal grasped with teeth and
claws The relative to whom / alluded
was seized in similar manner, and
three friends of mine who have been
mauled by tigers, one and by lion, all
described the animal knocking them over
by sheer force OF weight before Selling
them. / think, therefore, the being
knocked over by paw stroke is a fall
ionp
Any one who knows any thing about
elephants must be aware that their
trunks, and particularly the tip OF the
trunk, is the most delicate and sensitive
part of the animal, and that he shields
it from injury by every possible means
In his power. 1t is, therefore, very I'M
likely he would expose it in the act OF
charging. My experience, limited
though it be, points to the fact that an
elephant, once he has made up his mind
to charge, curls up his trunk tight
Before charging, and in order to get
wind of his adversary, he may indeed
extend it, but once the presence of the
foe to be attacked is detected the pro-
boscis is put out OF the way of possible
harm.
Bison-I am talking Of the Indian
animal, Bos gaurHs and buffaloes,
when they charge, invariably poke their
noses up in the air and commence by
running at you with their heads well
up, much in the manner of domestic
cattle, and only lower their horns when
within few yards of the object of their
attentions. This / take to be a mere
matter of common sense on the part of
the animal, for, if he put his head down
say even forty yards away, he could not
possibly see where he was going.
Bears. when wounded. will. indeed.
49, - - ~,
aIao ~ t;n,as A. ~ - - - - - -.