The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-28
HUNTING A ROGUE ELEPHANT.
The Beast Had Terrorlzsd an Entire
Community.
From st Nicholas

cling through India in search of amuse-
ment and information. was met by a
reputation Of natives who asked his pro-
lection from an elephant that had taken
up its residence near their town. Not only
mad the great animal again and again
destroyed their crops. but 1t had killed
several men. Altogether the elephant was
the terror of the large and formerly pros
porous community.
Inc hunter assured the natives that he
would try 70 destroy their enemy and he
at once made his preparations.
Ihe stranger was an experienced ele-
phant hunter, having followed the great
beasts Wherever found, in Africa, CeylOn
ana india. He knew at once that this
troublesome fellow was what is known as
rogue, "a term given to elephants
mat are vicious, not simply roguish-
Drutes that try TO destroy everything
especially the property and lives of men.
FIRST he must learn, If possible, the ways
and habits Of this especial rogue, and with
that object in view. he consulted the
head men and hunters of several villages
one man stated that the rogue was pos
sessed OF an evil spirit; that on one day
II would visit one locality and on the next
DAY be heard of many miles away. AS to
It's actions, the man said, il suddenly came
AVN a 0Elio6 jungle near native TOWN.
and dashed through the streets at midday
tearing houses TO pieces. throwing them
into the air and utterly wrecking the
neighborhood. II had also killed many
people, after which it was seen quietly
feeding in the gardens near the town.
Another native told a similar story.
This time the rogue appeared at night,
roke down fences and destroyed the crops.
When fired upon, it rushed into a small
village, doing much damage and driving
the inhabitants to the woods.
Still another man reported that for
weeks a public road between two villages
had been deserted by every one, because
the rogue had taken possession. The man
added that at the time of the hunters
coming the elephant was destroying the
ricefelds about the town, the people be-
ing powerless to prevent him.
This evidence was sufficient to show that
the elephant was a sly and vicious rogue
and must be approached with caution.
Ten or fifteen elephants that could be re-
lied upon were engaged, and also a force
OF experienced heaters and drivers. Early
one morning the party set out for the
capture of the rogue-then supposed to be
about thirty miles away.
Finally they reached the neighborhood
in which the rogue was supposed to be
hiding. The hunter found that the viii
layers had told no more than the truth.
Inc p6Oplb were III d SNdAC VI NCAlOAs hOl
knowing at what moment the huge ami
NAL might rush out upon them. The night
before it had been seen feeding in the
rice-helds, and probably it was then not
far away. After seeing his men and ele-
plants established in camp, the hunter
went with the head men Of the village to
look over the ground.
The head man was greatly excited, and
told some marvellous stories about the
elephant and its doings. He showed the
newcomers a field where the fences had
been RACED to the ground and trampled
to pieces, and the crops eaten or destroyed.
The rogue had been there the previous
night, and as it would return again to
continue its feast upon what was left
the sportsman decided to await it there.
In the center of a patch of grain was
framework platform or scatfolding, built
by the natives to serve the purpose of an
American scarecrow. 1t was large enough
for few natives to stand upon. They
frightened away birds or beasts by beating
tomtoms and making other loud noises.
The hunter informed the native that he
would station himself on the scaffolding
that evening, and shoot the rogue when ii
came to finish its meal. The head man
shook his head, and replied that it was a
place of great danger; but the sportsman
insisted and night found him lying upon
the scaffolding with several gun-bearers
The rogue usually appeared at about
O'Clock; but that hour passed, and mid
night came without signs of 1t. AS the
hours passed on the watchers began to
think that possibly the animal had made
one of its sudden marches, and was now
far away.
Suddenly a snort was heard, and the
next moment big form could be made
out standing among the vegetation. 1t
was the elephant. 1t had approached so
quietly that no one had heard it. The
sportsman Ieveled his heavy rifle, and,
when he saw good opportunity, fired.
The answer was a snort, seemingly of
defiance, while the animal charged in
the direction from which the flash ap-
peared. Finding only the scaffolding, the
rogue seized il, and with a single wrench
hurled it to the ground Fortunately, the
men were thrown several yards away,
and. falling among the vegetation, were
not injured While they made their way
to cover, the rogue rushed off into the
woods. That it was wounded they dis
covered the following day. and on a Sec
ond occasion the animal was killed by
the intrepid hunter. who might easily
have lost his life at the time the scaffold-
ing was pulled down.
The complete history of rogue elephants
would make an interesting chapter. They
seem to have decided TO avenge mans