Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1902-12-18


get back from South African"
The remark was addressed to
rather portly parsonage. OF medium
stature, who was seated at the win
dow of one of the most popular clubs,
his chair tipped back and his feet on
the sill, and a long, pale cheroot in
his mouth
General Jollymore, II you please,
duly commissioned by the joint gov
ernments Of the Orange Free State
and the South African Republic. Well,
l returned few days ago. Nothing
doing in South Africa after the Beers
quit; put in a month or SO up in the
north country ivory hunting, but
| found 1t too tame" replied the gen
eral," toying with a miniature ivory
elephants head, which was attached
to his watch guard.
Hunting elephants, Ell, and brought
back trophy of the chaser"
"Oh, yes. The adventure was such
peculiar one that felt disposed to
retain a memento, and so had this
head carved from the tusk Of the ele-
plant which so nearly finished my
career"
We'll, general, should like to hear
of it, provided the telling will not en-
tail the recollection of any unpleas-
ant features"
mo, indeed, not at all. Were such
the case l would not wear this" and
| the general twirled the ivory head
between his fingers. But there's not
much to tell, after all, and perhaps
am disposed to magnify the danger.
cat the conclusion of the war l de-
cided to go north; having been in
formed that lions, elephants and 9TH
er large game were abundant. ! had
put in five days in Msiris land, reach
ing the native village of Mpweto on
the evening of the fifth day, without
having sighted an elephant, although
the spoor was there in plenty, and
abundant evidences were encounter
ed which showed that large numbers
of the animals were in the immediate
vicinity. l accordingly resolved to re-
main at Mpweto for a few days, and
the morning following my arrival
there, started out, accompanied only
by my extra gun bearer, native
named Umbolalla, with the hope of
encountering the game l sought.
"a few miles east of Mpweto there
is a circular plain, probably a mile
in diameter, almost entirely sur
rounded by forest Upon approaching
this plain, 1t became evident that my
quest was at last ended, and that my
eyes were to be gladdened by the
sight of an elephant, for the frequent
trumpetings of a large bull-elephant
were distinctly audible. Pushing rap
idly ahead In the direction of the
trumpeting. we arrived within sight
of the plain, and there, standing in a
clump OF small trees upon whose ten
der branches he was feeding, was the
largest elephant it had ever been my
good fortune to see. Cautioning Um-
bolalla to keep close to me with the
extra gun, Unanswered around for
some time, endeavorihg to secure a
position from which l could fire a
shot which would prove fatal, but the
frequent movements of the elephant
rendered this impossible. Becoming
impatient at the delay, finally risked
a shot, the bullet lodging, as l after
wards learned, in the beasts left
shoulder, producing only a painful
and Irritating wound, without in the
least impairing his vitality.
with a scream of rage, the huge
animal plunged wildly through the
forest and out into the open, running
straight across the plain. Snatching
the extra gun from Umbolalla, and
telling him to follow as soon as he
had reloaded the empty gun, set out
In pursuit, hoping to get another shot.
The trumpeting of the wounded ele-
plant was terrific, and he had nearly
reached the forest on the opposite
side when l stumbled and fell, the
gun being discharged as it struck the
ground. On hearing the report, the
elephant turned in his flight, and, OBJ
serving Umbolalla, who had reloaded
the other gun and was fastening to-
ward me, gave utterance to terrific
cry of rage and rushed toward the ma
tive. Without a seconds hesitation
grabbed his gun and fired it point
blank at the massive head of the ele-
plant. which by this time was less
than twenty feet from US. Providence
must surely have guided that bullet,
for 1t entered the right eye. and with
one last ear-splitting scream, the
monstrous bulk tottered and fell.
Aroused, undoubtedly, by the dying
scream of the elephant which had
Just fallen. and which was probably
the leader of the herd. there appear