New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1898-09-07
HUNTING ELEPHANTS

HUNTING ELEPHANTS
ANsExclTlNG ADVENTURE IN THE UP
PER koNGo REGION.
The Mad Rush of the Startled Giants
Through the Dense Forest Foliage 20 "A
Shot and q Tumble Into q Swamp Hole
just In the Nick of Time.
Mr.. Herbert Ward relates in CasseIl s
Magazine some exciting experiences
that befell him in the course Of an ele-
plant hunt in the forests of Mobunga,
3 district near the upper Kongo river.
This country. which is inhabited by
Mobunga cannibals, had not been visit
cd by white man before. Having been
successful in reaching favorite ground
for elephants, his guides left the hunter
at midnight, returning in their canoe.
"After foundering about for some
time he says, II at length found an
elephant path. The cane was trodden
into the sodden ground about four feet
in width, and the path led straight
across the middle of the bamboo patch
On either side of the path the cane grew
SO thickly that I found it almost impos-
sible to penetrate. A storm was raging.
I distinctly heard elephants forcing
their way through the forest in order
evidently to reach some open space
where they might be safe from falling
trees.
"In the intermittent flashes of light
ming I occasionally got a glimpse Of
their great, ghostly forms approaching
the cane patch, and as the storm in
creased in fury the sound of elephants
stampeding in all directions through the
thick mass Of bamboos impressed me in
most uncomfortable manner. Each
moment I feared being trampled. The
houndering, heavy footsteps occasional
~ seemed to approach within few
yards Of me, and distinctly heard the
frightened squeals of baby elephants as
they plunged and stumbled in the
swamp.
"The storm ceased as suddenly as it
came, and in the subsequent lull there
was constant dripping Of water in the
forest and the sound of falling branches.
The elephants appeared to be standing
motionless, and the air was once again
filled with the eternal music Of mosqui
toes. ,....., z....
with the first indication of dawn
my spirits rose, and I carefully Wiped
the mud from my rifle with the ragged
sleeve Of my shirt. While it was still
too dark to distinguish the surround
ings, I could plainly hear elephants
stirring in all directions. Crawling
some little distance along the sloppy
path, I suddenly distinguished the out
line Of an elephants head and back cut
ting sharp against the gray morning
sky. 1t was impossible in that light to
estimate distance. @
Creeping cautiously forward, was
startled two or three times by a low,
rumbling sound peculiar to elephants,
and which is in some way connected
with their digestion. The cane patch
appeared to be perfect haven of refuge
for elephants during the storm, for on
every side there came audible evidences
Of their presence. &c
"When within what judged to be
20 PAGES Of my elephant, was just able
to discern his ears, Tapping spasmod.
ically to beat off the mosquitoes and
sand flies that lowered around him, and
his trunk swinging listlessly among the
trampled cane, as if in search of some.
thing edible. Gradually Noticed Ger.
tain restiveness, as though the animal
was conscious Of danger. Raising his
trunk in the air, he shifted in various
directions until his head was turned
straight toward me.
Realizing that my presence was dis.
covered and that there was not an in.
slant to lose, took steady aim at his
left shoulder and fred. The recoil Of
my eight bore rifle knocked me back.
ward, and as struggled in the cane en-.
tangled slush, enveloped in smoke,
was conscious of deafening uproar. The
rifle report echoed strangely through the
forest, and the startled elephants charg.
ed madly forward in every direction,
crashing through the dense foliage like
giant locomotives. sss B.
BY the time regained my feet and
had run aside to be clear from the
smoke I found my elephant slowly ris
ing from the ground. By this time
was within Is PAGES Of the beast and
fully realized the necessity Of firing 8
fatal shot. Trembling with excitement,
fred point blank at the animal g fore
head, and, quickly STOPPING below the
smoke, I caught sight Of jet Of blood
squirting from the. wound, while the
ponderous beast slowly sank to The
ground again--dead.
Reloading in haste, took two snar
shots at an elephant rushing past me-
without other effect, however, than t
stop his progress. He stood for mo
ment gazing at me and twitching hi,
tail. Owing to wet or dirt found diff
Guilty in opening my rife, and in spit,
Of frantic efforts could not make til,
lever act. can we'll recall the feelin,
Of blank despair when the wounded
beast. with coiled trunk and ears erect
- y q EsYH