The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-02-28
The W. y BEAST PIT.
HOW BIG ANIMALS ARE TRAPPED IN
AFRICAN JUNGlES.
A Hunters Fearful Experience With
Pack of Hyenas-Thc Gorilla 81 d
to BE the Eiercest of All the e. Id
Creatures In Africa

Creatures In Africa.
Since his boyhood Arthur Spencer, one
Of the bravest wild animal trappers in
the world, has been battling with tie
ferocious beasts and lives to tell the tale
Through stratagem he has always sue
rcssfully overcome brute force. although
he has passed through experiences
which of themselves were enough to
kill man Of ordinary nerve.
Yes, l am in an interesting profess
sion, which is not generally understood
by the people, said Mr.. Spencer They
crowd and jostle into the tents during
the season to look at the wild animals
but they never realize what patience it
requires and the hardships gone through
to catch the beasts in their native lands
and bring them to America.
"a wild animal catcher has to study
the ways of living and the characteTis-
tics of the animals he is after. For in
stance, monkey can never be captured
unless you know how to so about it. \
man can't scramble through the tops Of
a tall tree and get within a hundred
feet Of d nimble monkey. The way we
take them is to carry into tie jungle a
big gourd of fermented rice juice. When
we reach tree which is filed with chat
tering monkeys, we open IL" gourd and
pretend to drink the liquid. We then re-
tire to safe distance. and the ;:!af!:GEs.
in their initiative way, come down tie
tree and all freely drink of tie liquor
A half hour later we can come back and
pick the little fellows up as they lie about
under the trees in a drunken stupor.
"A baboon is taken in smilu. man
ner, but | have never known one to live
through the trip to Europe or America.
They generally died on my hands before
we got 100 miles away from the coast.
They either died from scasicl.ness or
from the effects of q change in climate.
Il consider a gorilla the fPrcest Of
African wild animal life. In efforts TO
get him we are compelled to pierce into
the heart Of jungles where in midday it
is dusk. When we suddenly GENE upon
the gorilla family. the mother sends h"r
young enc scampering up tree. while
she stays to defend him. The old m"n.
standing on his rear legs, beats his chest
and gives q roar louder and rl~:c terril"
than that Of the lion. lie then comes At
you like fash of lightning The only
thing to do is to wait until Ei is aboI;
on you. then shoot him with an explosive
she'll If your shot misses. il = all over
with you.
I'VE take all large animals III pits. If
man is careful, there is not much dan
ger. A deep pit is dug in ne path of an
elephant tank. which in It's country is
known as a deer lick. In the pit is plac-
ed heavy net. the top Of which is faS-
tened with rubber, When a '"De who.
is attached is pulled i: 4 ,s"> md form
a strong bag. The net is s.lei ched aud
the pit covered with bal.!,pn. earth a1d
,,-k: :, No,
is run little to the vin:isr;,I of the pi,
to a second pit, where the ~. .lal catcher
is hidden. When he sees tbs ';eas; break
through the covering of IT, lit, lie pals
the rope. and the animal i cure X b d
until help arrives and he :: he is:;e,! IN
to his cage with the .:..l >,!!l about lin
The net is only pulled :::;:, after the L"n
| OF whatever animal ie H. pens to be ia
| securely locked in his cc;s:'
THE only danger to the catcher is from
the changing of the vl,i After his pit
has been dug and he has taken his place
in it. often through the thany!H. of the
air currents throt:"!i tn" i,ingleS. tie man
is not on the wndWH;d -ide Of The b."
pit. Then the beast ss":.;S nm. and the
| chase turns to be a man hunt. The only
safety of the animal cI;rher lies in b
| using >his rifle at the proper time. Tie:f
| is an odd and unca:tAly feeling in shoe;
| ing a lion with . Li-,l.!y explosive ST.:
| such as we use We watch t.-e lion
bounding toward rs with his mouth o:;eD
and his eyes like Goals Of fire. Sulh II!
| the report of gun ec,rS, and the i
no lion in sight. The 'iitroglycrrin III ths
| bullet blows him to pieces, and there is
| not even enough hide left to cover tie
| seat of chair
bnvo hlI hot ,>,-- hrC lion
ribs caved in and Try skull laid hare Ey
attacks from wild beasts. The most try
| ing circumstances occurred VIXEN | WAS
| boy in 1879. | was il Africa. and ii par
| ty of 30 of us started out on Il h;:nt-
| was a boy and tired easier than the res
| l soon stopped beneath a tree. eXp"t n
| to hurry and catch up with the part.
| later. | fell asleep. however and when
| did awake it was late in the afternoon !
| heard harsh laugh and thought it wa
| some Of the party who had returned t
I End me- The laugh came to my ears
| and, looking across a short veldt. saw
| pack Of hyenas coming toward me. Ii
| was useless to shoot, for they were TO
many. 1t was also useless to climb
| tree. for ;hcy would wait until | fell to-
| the ground from exhaustion. ! pretend
| ed to be dead. These hyenas only cat de
| composed bodies. Soon the animals we 2
| shifting about my face and body. Tie.
| pulled and mauled me. but lay perfect
| ly still. Suddenly they seized me in their
teeth and started across a rolling country
| and dragged me thus for miles. dropping
| me at the mouth Of cave from VII oh
> came the awful odors Of such dens Th y
| mauled ne about some more and finally
| dragged me into the cave, where | re-
| manned that night. The next day the
| pack again went out On a hunt and
escaped q short distan"e. only to fall ex-
hauSted and suffc"in. intense. agony. A
| passing caravan picked me up and car
| ried me to Il small town. where soon re-
| covered. II tvclant, Leader