The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-04-06
Hunting a RhinOcerOs.

While Parker Gilmore was in Casa
Land he was one day taking an after
noon rest, when Sunday, his faithful
Zulu guide, came hurrying into the in
closure, his countenance fairly shining
with pleasurable excitement. He had
found black rhinoceros asleep in an
open glade not far from the camp, and
without waking the beast had fastened
to his master. Mr.. Gilmore donned his
shooting clothes and set out eagerly in
search of the long desired game.
He describes the fray as follows: Our
course led us through heavy timber till
the more open lands were reached. These
were skirted through grass and brush
almost up to my hips for a distance of
about 200 yards, when my attendant en-
Joined upon me the strictest silence.
From the expression of his countenance
| felt sure that the game was not far
distant, and | was not without fear that
the foolhardiness of my man might
bring me closer to the dangerous animal
than was desirable.
Soon we halted and listened. All was
silent to my ear except the occasional
utterance of an unknown bird-a rhi-
noceros bird, as afterward appeared.
A short farther advance rewarded us
with sight of the feathered stranger,
which was about the size of the English
startling. Every few seconds it ascend
ed about twenty feet, uttered its call
and at once returned to its perch.
Just then | became aware of a new
sound. 1t resembled the heavy breath
ing of large animal when asleep. Sun
day called my attention to it by placing
his hand beside his ear, but l had al
ready heard it,
Ny guide again motioned me to follow
him, and | followed for several yards.
Then another halt took place. Sunday
was all excitement Still he did not lose
his self possession, for by pantomimic
action he expressed wish that should
substitute new percussion caps for those
already ON the nipples of my rife.
That there was danger enough was
thoroughly convinced. There was
neither rock nor tree near that could
afford the least shelter if my aim was
faulty and the rhinoceros chose to at
tack us. However, it was case of ''in
for penny, in for pound"
indicated to Sunday that was ready
for the fray. He broke with a sharp
quick movement branch of bush
and almost at the same instant the rhi
noceros stood before me, not fifteen yard;
distant.
The first action of the huge, unwieldy
beast was to turn his head to the wind
ward. This movement prevented my
getting the shot | desired, and | waited
for perhaps one or two minutes. TheI
the ponderous head came slowly around
raised my rifle, made due allowance
for the shortness of the range ant
pressed the trigger. The usual crash
ing sound announced the striking of thu
bullet, and then began a scene which
beggars description
From the moment the rhinoceros wa
struck it commenced spinning AROUND
without altering materially its locality
at the same time squealing in the shrill
est tones. This movement may hav'
been the result of the conclusion of tn
bullet on the brain, or it may hav,
arisen from a desire to discover from
what direction it had received the in
jury.
While this performance lasted it wa
impossible for me to put in the secon'
barrel, but at last the motions cease'
and the screams subsidized into lonl
drawn breathing, The wound was NOR
tai, but | wished to put the creature GU
of its misery as soon as possible, and a
the first opportunity fred again.
The result surprised me. The rhinoc
eros rushed forward for ten or twelv
strides. The pace, for so cumbersome
brute was astounding. Then suddenl
the whole animal machinery failed, an
the animal fell-dead, | believe, befor
the carcass was stretched upon tn
ground.
was uncommonly well out of tn
fray, but | resolved for the future t
| leave black rhinoceroses alone when on