The morning times., 1896-06-21
Copyright, 1896,

single elephant is something or show
If he is seen parading along the streets,
| all the boys in town are soon at his heels;
| and drove OF a dozen or twenty Of these
huge beasts is considered warrant enough
for such phrases as Greatest Show on
Earth" and all the grandIoquence OF the
biggest and most flaming circus POSTERS.
But what think you of a drove OF 236 ele-
phauts, rumpeting with rage, mad with
pain and terror, stampeding like herd OF
frightened cattle? That would make a
show worth going some distance to see;
and. indeed, it was necessary 10 go as far
as to Africa. Unfortunately too, the price
of the tickets were high; for most OF the
spectators paid for admission to that circus
nothing less than their lives! A few, how
ever, escaped, aud one OF these Mr. viii
liam Bowles, an Engiishrnan by birth, told
me this story. And although the affair &C.
CURED in the year of the Queens Jubilee,
he says that So far as his knowledge goes,
no detailed account has ever been published.
We had come to Africa, said Mr.. Bowies
''for the purpose OF catching elephants The
trap was planned by Mr.. George SaDderson.
superintendent of the British kbeddahs ct
Dacca, and was probably the largest ever
constructed. 1t was formed of a round
pen, lO5 yards in circumference, with two
massive walls of stone, 800 yards in length.
diverging from the gateway These wallis
spread out like the legs of pair OF open
tongs, aud were z 8 yards apart at the tips
Elephants were known to be very nunier-
GUS in the vicinity OF the Caro- Hills, where
the trap was built, and the originator OF
the scheme hoped to make big haul.
And he did. That the undertaking was
audacious is the least that can be said.
Several months were spent in the con-
struction of this immense affair, though u
few weeks would have sufficed for trap
OF ordinary material and dimensioas-for
palisades OF wood are usually employed
and are found quite sufficient. When the
walls were finished they were tbickiy COW
cred with branches and foliage; otherwise
noeiephant could have been induced tOenter.
When all was complete it was as strong
as a fortress, yet so disguised that even
these clever animals would not suspect
q snare"
The next task was to mass the elephants
from the surrounding jungle and drive
them toward the pen. This involves care
full maneuvering, since il the animals are
in the least alarmed they break away in
all directions
I'VE began the drive in the forenoon,
and to our great surprise found the ele-
plants gathered in one place. instead OF
being scattered through the jungle, as
ssuai and their name was legion We
got them started. however, with very
little difficulty. Though the elephant is
naturally OF an extremely cautious and
suspicious temper. the great snare was SO
skilfuIly secreted that the whole herd
walked good ma turedly into the jaws or
the trap.
Then the excitement began When all
were between the walls of the funnel |
shaped entrance it became necessary to |
drive them forward into the pen at the |
apex. Three fire lines had been prepared !
the first extending from tip TO tip of the |
spreading walls, and the second and third /
parallel TO this, but nearer the gateway. !
On these lines dry grass had bees laid in |
bundles. hidded by green leaves, ready |
10 be fired the moment the herd has |
crossed them.
LAS soon. therefore, as the elephants |
had passed the first line the drivers
closed in from all sides with loud shouts
and applied lighted torches to the dry
bundles. Instantly great wall OF fire i.