River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-09-30
CATCHING WILD ElEPHAN
Stirring Hunting scene in the
ImnnIns If NannI

The chase for wild elephants began
next day at early dawn. We had heard
of a wild herd being seen in the Chila
valley, and we mounted on an elephant
TO see the hunt. Mr.. Bagshawe, the
conservator of forests. was in command
of the party, and Biji Prasad was the
most responsible elephant
For two long DAYS they hunted their
Wild brethren through the deepest
Jungle; and in some places the pampa
and other grasses waved four and five
feet higher than our heads, even while
We were riding on the elephant.
Once. on the second cay, the quest
seemed hopeless. Through bungling,
or owing TO the dense Jungle, the herd
had escaped. and the ladies of the party
halted for II ncheon in a deep ravine.
After an hours interval we heard the
reports Of guns and the roaring and
laundering stampede of the "chasers."
Imagine our feelings in the ravine!-
never knowing when the herd would be
o. US, irampling rs over, or whether
there was the faintest hope of our being
in at the death" After a suspense
of an hour. such as few Of us would like
. suffer again. we decided 10 mount
and try to rejoin the hunters
As luck would have it, from The next
hill we had view Of the whole valley
below.
Eight wild elephants had been hunt
Ell by the tame ones into the valley,
aud there they were. two of them being
magnificent tuskers. tired to death,
with no hope of escape. \ firm stock
ade of trunks of trees was built to close
every way out. Each hill was occupied
| by tame elephants and their riders,
but still the gallant beasts made a
noble fight for freedom. 1t was really
distressing TO see their uneasl ness and
/ trouble, particularly that of one poor
mother, Who had such dear little baby,
rot more than three and a half feet
/ high. She was overcome the first, and
was led off attached by chains to two
| big tuskers, and it was most interesting
TO see the captOrs' intelligence in deal
/ ing with the poor baby elephant. They
gently forced it in between them to
the mothers side; every move it made
was most closely observed and checked,
but never one bit of roughness did they
show it. And 50 Il was led off into camp,
| the trumpe;ing of the mother making
Us feel most tearfully sympathetic.
/ There was a most exciting fight with
the others. They were simply ridden
down by the tame ones. and overpow-
cred only when thoroughly faint and
exhausted. The biggest among them
"A splendid tusker-resisted 10 the
/ last. For nearly week he had been
hunted, without n chance to eat or
/ drink, but he still remained defiant,
not yielding TO any of the many cham
piOns that were sent TO fight him.
| AT last il was decided that Bill alone
should enter the field against him, and
we held our breath in anxious suspense.
The poor captive seemed to recognize
| that his last hope was gone when his
magnificent antagonist appeared; and
We watched keeuly 10 see how he meas
ured the others proportions before
| their first rush of attack.
How can | describe the laundering
stampede and the shock like the burst
Of a cannon when the two mighty heads
met in the first charge, the firing of
guns, the screaming and cheering from
the nahouts, the trumpeting of the
wild elephants already captives. who
/ still hoped for the freedom of their
| leader?
but it was of no avail. Bills enor-
| nous strength was too much for the
poor, tired, WORKOUT beast. At the
first sign of Welding four magnificent
| +auna aTaDbaptc with mol o,+c ~, rba;-
/ backs, rushed into the field. NOOses of
| iron chains were flung around the huge
body, and proud BILL headed the sal
procession. The captive was secured ID
two elephants on each side. with chains
OF each leg and 50 led into camp.-Maris
| 4. Mile, in ST. Nicholas.