The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-09-19
HOW ANIMALS CHARGE.
Some OF the Various Ways I'm Which TIL
Attack Their Victims

HOW ANIMALS CHARGE.
Some OF the Various Ways I'm which They
Attack Their Victims.
We are In the habit of seeing in books
OF travel and sport very startling illus
trations of the attitudes wild animals
assume when charging their human ag-
gressors-attitudes which, 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-like blow of his
fore-paw. The elephant is generally de-
picted coming down like a locomotive,
with his proboscis extended to its 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 fAal white
horseshoe on their hearts most conven-
iently. / should be glad, therefore, to
hear the opinions of some of your cor
respondents, who have shot these larger
Ter@ ndfure and been charged by them,
regarding their attitude when assuming
the offensive, for my own experience is
SO totally at variance with the precon-
ceived notions of artists that / think
the matter may not be unworthy of pub
lie discussion through the medium of
your columns.
To begin with the .feli1d am glad
to say that in the few instances in
which have stood charge my antago-
mist never got home; but relative of
mine. who was very badly wounded by
tiger, and several friends who have
not only been in the mouths 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 "hurtling" up against you. In
Selling their prey, tigers, and believe
lions, though with the latter l have had
no experience, almost invariably go for
the throat, though in one or two in
stances that have come under my 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 man
charged and knocked over by panther,
and he only saved his throat by putting
| up his arm, which, as well as his Shout
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 fall
lacy.
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 IN
likely ne 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 I'D his trunk tigh L
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, B0s gaurus buffaloes,
when they charge, invariably poke their
noses up in the air and commence by
running at you with their heads we'll
up, much in the manner of domestic
cattle, and only lower their horns when
within few yards of the object of their
attentions. This 1 take to be 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,
often get up on their binds legs and
dance about from sheer rage, and will
also at times do so in order to get bet.
ter view of the whereabouts of their
enemy; but when they charge, whether
it be at man mounted or on foot, they
invariably charge on all fours.
In charging most animals give vent to
certain vocal sounds-grunts or roars-
and this, it is natural to suppose, i:
done with view to terrifying and de
moralizing the object they are attacking
in fact, more often than not it is mere
bounce on the animals part l have
often seen tigers roar when charging
who never really meant mischief, and
who, when met by bold front, turned
off. No doubt in the case of attacking
their fellow animals, establishing
''lunk" and so Decentralization, these
roars may prove an aid in bringing theil
victim within their grasp; but, as rule
when engaged in pursuit of prey the
felid0 depend principally on their power:
of stealthy approach, and only roar a
= / the last moment he..sa-e--seizipg with
: view of paralyzing morally their in