The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-14
GOOD s7oRiks OF THE PRESENT DAE
Hunting Incarnnted Furys That IT,
"Roguc" Elephant In Indaa.


Hunting Incarrnsed Fury, Tint Il. =
"Roguc" Elephant In Iadsa.
Cspyr'sh. 1929. by c. L.~''.
l had read and heard a great deal OF tho
famous rogue" elephant OF the district OF
Mysore. province OF Madras. before ever got
within 200 miles OF his STAN ping ground. He
made his first appearance in 1853, and Tor
years was veritable terror to an area OF
country fifty miles long by thirty broad.
A"rogue elephant, as has often been ex-
plainod. is male who has either voluntarily
left the herd because Of defeat or has been
driven into exile by his companions for rea-
sons not known to man. He no sooner takes
up this solitary life than he becomes vindc-
tive ind reckless. and 1t goes without dispute
tina. one OF these rogues." especially II past
tho ago OF Atty. is moro dangerous than n herd
OF dozen ordinary elephants.
This fellow was called The Wicked" by oil
the natives in that territory. and some OF the
stories told OF his doiugs were really wonder
full. as we'll rs strictly truo. His territory was
along the Suddar Valley On the eastern edge
OF this valley. which is from one to i've miles
wide. is O dense jungle Atty miles long. and
this place was his retreat. He was probably
hunted after more than any other rogue y
ever heard Of In India After n rear or two
the Government offered o reward OF f1Oo for
his death. aud before he was finally disposed
o. this reward had been increased to $500 He
was hunted on several occasions by bands
numbering 400 men. and at least fifty differ
ent white hunters journeyed into the district
and had a try at him.
1t was wonderful how The Wicked" man
aged to escape death so long. but it used to be
asserted that he was an elephant only In form.
The natives fully believed that he was the
Evil One in disguise. and more than 1000
people moved out Of that productive valley on
his account. The official records OF his doings
would make q big book. He began killing as
soon as he appeared. One night about mid
night no entered a native village containing
about seventy huts. penetrated to the centre.
and killed five people sleeping in hut. Even
the dogs knew nothing Of his presence until
he got to work. He put his tusks under the
foundation poles Of the hut and tipped 1t
over. and then he trampled on the family
sleeping In the middle Of tho mud floor.
Only three or four people caught sight Of
him as he moved away. A grand hunt was Or
ganized. but he was not even discovered. 1t
was hoped that he had been frightened out OF
the district. but two or three days later. as a
native was driving bullock cart along a road
at the edge OF tho forest. the elephant. who
was in hiding behind clump OF bushes.
picked tho man OF his seat with his trunk. and
flung him twenty feet into the air In the
same minute he drove his long tusks through
the bullock and then disappeared. The native
was so badly hurt that he died three days
later. This was on a Thursday. about IL
o'clock in the morning. At 3 o'clock in tho
afternoon the elephant appeared at point up
the valley. exactly thirty-two miles AWAY. and
killed q ryot. or native farmer. who was at work
in his field.
In three years. according to Official returns
made, Tho Wicked" killed upward Of 100
people. destroyed thousands Of dollars worth
OF crops. and caused the death Of hundreds Of
domestic animals. His aim was to kill and
destroy. and he went about his work in such
queer and mysterious manner as to keep all
the people afraid Of him. Wild elephants
never leave cover during daylight. This fellow
stalked abroad by day as we'll as by night. He
moved as. silently and swiftly asa tiger, On
one occasion Ave natives. who had been stuck
from the edge Of the, Jungle. The elephant
where the footstep of q man would certainly
have been heard. and the first known OF his
was Thsn he saef two OF Ss
When / reached the valley 1t was half de-
that the elephant did not kill or attempt to
M Visits ats Sns sa1 e the Hsss as
been surrounded by walls OF dry brush. The
idea was that IN breaking way through Or
betray his presence. On two occasions he had
removed rem S enough brush brush to TO-, make an opening
sH snd Shouted always
made Of for the Jungle without attempt
raised, a the Time ! rssehsd Ills sss%pin Ing
hunting him at the other, end Of the jungle.
ssS Sethsr SsS E let hsd
tho lover end q the valley msre the el 9.
Killed over dozen People. The Villa gers err had had
at length become so terror stricken that they
I had sInn 'a the fertile spes Ara moved
nuts still standing. but Instead 81 oee1pyi r
any one OF them Itook up my position for the
town. I had two native hunters with me. and
to- LEAD the 70 believe that the villagers
$Ss snow SP as and ddG a.sr
watching until midnight turned u for nap
that they doZed or after an hour or SO. but an
i hour before t day6reak one OF them awoks and
Ionna th d elephant standing on the bank and
fSs pfs sst 9 .ssvs and d. yss,
ToIld not believe that he mad been there but
ground. and the prints Of his feet were so deep
that both natives declared he had stood In one
10 further found that ThHe Wiz Wcked "H Rad
trayers 20, good part OF the village. and that
The natives q thi this valley had long before
10 vogue; but all to no purpose. The Wits
hunters had set spring guns and even poi.
posed to drink, but The Wicked" Ind OUT
WI Titt ,a every move ! determined to take UP
One OF the an, natives refused 70 enter the jungle
more, pluck and agreed to stay with me. We
found the elephant had gone straight into tho
moist from recent storm the tracker had no
aainicuity In following him for about Ave miles,
Then all evidences OF the trail were lost on
r S6;y,.hc ground nd, 4 wild elephant moving
"a, Path by breaking and tramrlinG; II 10 retreat
It looks as II 2 troop II cavalry had forced its
,i9nsls 80 deer and no white man could have