The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-15

] probably more than anybody else
The speaker pointed to a powerfully-set,
clear-eyed. bearded man who was superin-
tending the removal of some wolves from
one den TO another at the New York Zoo
logical Park
Yes" continued the speaker. THAT is
william T. Hornaday. the greatest wild
animal man n this country. He knows
the mind and the temper Of tigers and
wolves better than you or L know the mind
and temper Of our children. He has spent
his life studying wild beasts in their ma
tive jungles. shooting them TO get their
skeletons for museums, collecting them
alive, training them, and writing about
them He has built up more ZOOS and zoolog-
zeal museums. suppose, than any other
living American"
William T. Hornaday is an example OF the
success which comes from lifelong devo-
ton to a steady purpose. In boyhood he de-
fer1ntned 10 know more about wild animals
than other people; now he stands at the
top OF his profession. He is the director
Of tie New York Geological Park. and he is
known TO biologists all over the world.
He was born forty-nine years ago in what
were then the backwoods Of Indiana II
belong TO that rare and disappearing species
known as the native American he says.
4-and was farm-bred and farm-reared. My
father and brothers were keen sportsmen,
good shots, and ardent lovers Of nature, and
Inherited the same tastes can't remem-
Der the time when didn't love to be among
Wild animals. fortunately, my boyhood was
spent in places where animal life was
abundant-in the forests OF central Indiana
and the prairies of Iowa Those forests and
pratries have since been eaten up by the
march Of civilization, and one has TO go
farther afield to ind wild life nowadays"
Mr. Hornaday was educated in Iowa col
1eges and there read Audubon and learned
that It was possible to make a livelihood
out OF those practical natural history
studies which he loved On leaving college,
he went to an establishment which supplies
museums and geological gardens with their
specimens, and viii even turn out an entire
museum or geological garden to order as
calmly as q grocer sells a pound Of butter.
At this establishment Mr.. Hornaday re-
ceived thorough practical training as a
collecting naturalist and taxidermist pre-
paratory to being sent ION the road" for
the great animal dealers send out travellers
all over the world to find all kinds OF zoo
logical specimens. from elephants to bats,
Just as manufacturing firms send out their
"drummers'' to hunt up trade.
HIS FIRST ACHIEVEMENT.
Dr. Hornaday was sent TO Florida to
collect geological specimens. He won his
spurs there, while still beardless youth,
by discovering and sending North the first
specimen OF the Florida crocodile which
ever came out of the country. That croco-
ollie Is now one of the treasured possessions
OF the National Museum at Washington.
Mr.. Hornaday. with companion, tracked
the crocodile to a creek running out of
the Everglades. They hid in the early morn
ins near the beasts home, and after wait
ing for hours. managed to get shot at it.
Mr.. Hornaday sent a bullet through its eye,
which, contrary to the general belief of
hunters. did not kill it, but simply made it
crazy. 1t had its strength left, but could
noL see and did not know what to do. Wal
lowing IN the blood-tinged water of the
creek. champing its jaws and threshing its
tais in frantic impotency. the crocodile was
q CHASTITY sight, but 1t chung to life so
teraciously that seven bullets had to be
fred into IT'S thick hide before 1T finally
gave up the ghost.
this Florida trip, Mr.. Hornaday was sent
OF to Cuba. where he hobnobbed with both
the Spaniards and the Cubans during the
resurrection OF 1875, and then to South
America In 1876 he was sent to the East
Indies on his greatest trip, to spend two
years roaming at will through the jungles
of Indian. Ceylon. the Malay peninsula and
Bcrneo.
Il
made for himself a reputation among
big-game hunters. Few men have shot so
many ferocious beasts as he did during
those two years. Elephants. Indian bison.
tigers. leopards, crocodiles, orang-outangs.
chimpanzses, gibbons and bears fell to his
gun by the score, to say nothing of hun
dreds OF antelopes. oxis deer, gazelles,
monkeys and such like small fry. His bag
Of orang-outangs alone numbered forty
three.
During these two years he had adventures
enough to provide material for half dozen
boys books had he cared to write them.
Many time he narrowly escaped death
from the wild beasts which he hunted He
lived on terms of intimacy with the head
hunters OF Borneo, and formed such a high
opinion OF their manners and morals that
he now holds them Up as the superiors of
civilized man.
When he Is asked which of his many
exciting adventures during those two years
no regards as being his closest shave. :"
+ Mr.. Hornaday usually tells how he was
charged by a huge old female elephant in
sn Indian forest belonging to the Rajah of
Kulunyud-
SCARED BY AN ELEPHANT.
While tramping through the jungle he
came upon herd of elephants which in
cluded this female and her smooth. shiny
calf, about three feet high. IT never saw
o more demure and cute looking animal
than that absurd little elephant" said Horn
aday, and I fairly ached TO steal I'D and
grab hold OF his trunk and have a tussel
with him.
But he had TO keep quiet because the
kaJah, who owned the forest. had only
permitted him 10 shoot male elephants
Lying hidden in the dense underground. he
watched the herd for over half an hour.
Presently the baby elephant wandered off.
end Mr.. Hornaday tried TO creep noiseless-
ly through the jungle after IT, But he was
heard. and before he could realize his peril
the branches which screened the herd
parted suddenly, and the huge old female
elephant was upon him.
IL was terrible moment. and Mr.. Horna-