Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1900-03-09
/ THRILLING HUME.

] met with the following adventure Whlc&
cost me both by legs and came near costing
me my life. It was four days since l had
left the last mission station and during that
time had met with the loss of . span Of
cattle, which should not have regretted
80 much had my store of goods not been con.
stantly increasing as is usually the case With
the South African trader. l. was in the
midst of what was practically jungle; my
men were worn out with the hard labor Of
carrying the immense amount OF goods
which should have been borne by the cattle
had lost; there was no human being around
me that would or could furnish me with the
necessary beasts, and it became absolutely
necessary for me to stop until the cattle
could be procured or leave my goods to the
mercy of the wild beasts and almost equally
wild natives.
Forming a camp near water, and leaving
my wagons and men there, l, with gun
bearer, set out to try and reach missionary
station some 60 miles off, and there get
span of cattle to remove my goods, which
were worth fully $1,000. We had dreary
trudge, for people do not walk, as rule, III
South Africa, and we subsisted on what We
shot. We had completed 40 out OF the 10
miles, and hoped in another "a hours to be
at my destination. The country was billy,
cut up with ravines, and most unexpectedly
we came upon herd of elephants. It would
have been as well if had left them alone
But was covetous of the worries carried by
several of the bulls, and killed three and
wounded fourth. This one would not die.
/ had fred some dozen bullets into him, but
he seemed to bear charmed life. We lost
sight of him among the "kopjes," and In
tracking him up, he suddenly charged down
upon us. I escaped by throwing myself be-
hind some creepers, but my gun carrier stood
in his path and fred both barrels of my
heavy rife into his head. Before the s1aoke
cleared away my poor attendant p'as .
shapeless mass of clay. / now thought only
Of the death of the monster, and OF a1engin9
my follower-but he led me lorg chase.
At last, from the top of an emineace saw
him standing near some rocks, evidently
waiting for me- / took the bearings, and
by walking round some outlying hillocks !
hoped to Creep up near enough to admins
ter coup de grace" l got to the placx
I wanted to all right. wss between twa
rocks, and close by was deep trench, about
seven feet broad, which eodld easily jump
but which would stop any living elephant.
I was thinking of advancing, when tho
monster evidently got the wind of me and
charged headlong. ] let him come within
six feet or eight feet md then let him have
the contents of both barrels, and sprang
backwards, intending to clear the trench
but my foot slipped and fell headlong into
it, and in none at l was in total darkness,
I was good desI shaken, and on recovering
my feet founa was in living grove. The
walls were sea.ped granite ana the aperture
above was sssed by the huge body Of the
elephant Who filled it completely. lit q
match +o examine my position more careful:
". There was lot of debris" at the bot
tom 81 the trench and an inner cave-raised
above the outer portion about two feet.
For wonder there was also small trick
ling stream which flowed along on one side,
disappearing in assure at the extremity.
I collected the decayed "debris'' and formed
of them several torches. To escape seemed
impossible-to move that mass of flesh above
would tax the strength of team Of cattle
/ alone could not have moved it an inch.
I was in the wilderness. To hope for help
was futile-there were no inhabitants. ]
knew Of no hunters living in the neighber'
hood. The missionary I was about to visit
was fair sportsman and lay brother, but
he would not be likely to wander in these
wilds, as he could get what game he re.
Quired within mile or two of the station,
saw no prospect before me but slow and
painful death. The heat was stifing-there
was just enough air circulating to keep me
alive. Still, did not quite despair. Vul.
lures would be attracted by the mass Of
flesh, and perhaps induce some wandering
native to follow them-then there were
lions, who would demolish the flesh in few
days, aud I should be able to scramble out
of my living grave.
l had few biscuits in my pockets what
had become Of my rife did not know, as it
was not in the trench with me. My cart.
ridges (for breech-loaders had just been in.
troduced) were useless. My flask contained
some brandy, and if very hard up for food
| could cut steak out of the Goliath above
me. | cleared out the cave, which ran un.
derground about eight feet. I had to be
careful with my matches, for had only one
box with me, and it was hard to distinguish
day from night, except by the weird cries
of jackals, hyenas, and other wild beasts. l
could hear the rush o. wings, and knew that
the obscene birds were collecting in ths::z
thousands, but even they with their power
full beaks could make no impression on the
eacaydermatous hide until decay set in.
l was in q sort of stupor. heard no lions
roaring, but the snarling of hyenas was in.
cessant, and whilst it lasted knew it was
night My biscuits were soon exhausted
fortunately the ril of water was sweet and
cool.
At last, pressed by hunger, with my
"shikar'' knife cut out piece Of the flesh
above me and broiled it in the embers of a
fire l lit out of the "debris," but the smoke
nearly blinded and choked me, and the
stencil sickened me; the meat was so tough
and nauseous that could not swallow it,
At last l heard lions roaring, and report
above me convinced me that the body, ex.
tended with gas, had burst. Now all the
quadrupeds and bipeds could devour it; but
would they do so in time to save my life? !
feared not, for hunger and want of fresh air
were slowly, but surely, killing me. Driven
to desperation by hunger, I stepped out OF
my cave into the trench, intending to cut
out portion of the now putrid flesh, when
l felt shower falling on me, and, lighting
one of the few matches left, discovered ia
my horror that not only was the floor sew,
eral inches deep covered with magots, but
that they were raining down on me by the
millions. To remain where was would
mean to be buried alive by them, the most
forr1h1o 1oo4h Alo%