The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-14
Hunting the Hun tei,;

For the first time in nearly II years Will
liam F. Fagin. OF Chicago has written to
a member OF his family. Fagin has been
wanderer on the face OF the earth for
the last ten years and has lived and
worked in every continent except Eu-
rope and North America.
He came into his money the day he be-
came q, and Immediately made tracks
! for parts unknown. Reports of him have
| always como accidentally from those who
| happened to meet him. He has written
but one letter since he left home. and that
was received within a fortnight by his
marrid sister. Mrs. J. u. Thomas, OF
Boulder, Col
IL begins without preface or explana-
ton, as II he had been a regular corre-
spondent. and is as follows;
"Damaraland. Africa. Nov. 4, 1901 Dear
Ellen: 1t was I'm the expectation OF ind
Ing ostrich feathers that / visited this
great thirst-land. / have myself only sue
ceeded In killing two of the birds. though
my followers have done better-and. of
course, have brought in their kills 10 me-
do not think any sportsman or traveller
viii differ from me when I state that
there Is no game so difficult 10 stalk as is
this gigantic member OF the feathered
tribe. Its speed is marvellous; when going
at Its best pace you can no more dis
you can the spokes OF the wheels OF "a
rapidly moving carriage. IL is gifted,
also, with extraordinary power OF en-
durance, and a four or five mile burst
seems only "breather." | had some of
the best greyhounds that could be pro-
duced at home. In pursuit OF ostricheS
they were absolutely nowhere. Ny horses
j prided myself on, but i should have
deemed myself n fit subject for incar-
ceration In iunatic asylum should have
attempted to gallop one of these birds
down.
when in Damaraland mad in my en-
ployment a BASTARD named Swartz He
was plucky fellow, an excellent hunter.
and up to the wies and trickery of every
description or game. A number OF gems
box had been seen about the wagons at
break of day; so. after providing himself
with goodly piece OF hiltong and drink
ing a cup of coffee he proceeded To the
westward In the hope of adding some
fresh meat to a reduced larder About
midday he returned. looking anything
but the happy darky who had so gayly
departed "a few hours before. Naturally
| demanded an explanation-a reason for
this sudden change; but n long time
elapsed before i received an answer and
then his tongue was only loosened by my
giving him "a large tot of Cape smoke
I'm unusually good stalking ground
he came across some genbok with a fine
old cock ostrich In their society. Such
bird being worth nearly ci0O he resolved
TO do his level best TO get within "a short
a range as possible of the prize. With
the utmost care he wormed himself from
one ant hill TO another. till he all but con-
sidered that success was certainty.
Then he rested. TO see that the powder
was up I'm the nipple OF his old muzzle-
loader and 10 replace the old cap with q
fresh one, but while thus engaged he
CHANGED 10 look behind him, and, to his
horror, discovered that while he had been
stalking the ostrich he himself had beer
stalked by two lions. at the moment not
30 yards la his rear. In the excitemen,
the gun went of, not aimed at anything
but probably the fusilade saved my
henchman's life. for tho lions. on hearine
H. rose from their crouched position
stared at him for a few moments, ther
slowly retired. How he was followed sc
far without being attacked can only ac.
count for by his being clothed and I'm such
an unusual position that the lions mlstook
him for some unknown beast Chicago
Tribune.