The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1904-02-05
BIG GUN
HUNTING
tcopyrIght. 1909. BY c. B. Lewis. J

Paul de l.OaHuO, Oh tuc iAliiN""
j lid n sailor to me the other day, ana
when | had been there for a couple ol
weeks n British survey steamer came
In to ill up her crew. She hau Deeh
surveying up the Congo and was bound
south to the Great Fish river. the
steamer carried forty men all told ana
was Quilted with two 0pounders
and plenty Of small arms. She haa
lost Ave men up the Congo by fever,
and when l offered myself was at
| once taken.
I'VE were week working up to the
forks Of the Great Orange river, and
then the fun began. The Great Fish,
for about 100 miles above the forks. Is
about as wide ms the Hudson, with
depth OF from four to seven fathoms.
There never was an hour In the day
that we couldn't see elephants, lions
or rhinoccroses along the shores.
I'VE had been steaming slowly up
stream for about ten days before tho
river narrowed to about half its for
mer width. and then we began to have
trouble with the natives. They had
10 firearms, but they could hurl lances
or shoot arrows from the banks to the
steamer, and we had to be on the
dodge all the time. Our 9-pounders
were kept loaded. and now and then
when the black fellows got too daring
we sent shell whizzing among the
thickets and scared them half to death.
Zone day, when the fringe Of forest
along the right bank suddenly ended
and gave place to a long stretch of
grassy plain. we came to anchor, and
three of the survey men landed to
stir up big rhinoccros who could be
seen standing under tree half mile
back from the water, They were young
fellows and full Of daring. and heard
the captain caution them when they
left the steamer.
I'VE could see all that subsequently
took place. The old rhino had never
seen a steamer before. but he wasn't
bit curious. IL he had ever seen
hunters before he had no fear of them
He just stood there in the shade, bows
on to us, and didn't trouble to figure
out what might happen. The three
men separated OH landing to get in
the rear of the big beast and cut of
his escape, but he wasn't thinking of
running away. He let two Of the men
creep up till within range. and it seem
cd to rs MS If we heard the thud Of
their bullets when they struck against
his thick hide. They were ounce bull
let's. driven by big charges Of powder.
but they might as well have been fired
against a stone wall The rhino gave
a start as they struck him. and then
down went his head and up went his
tail. and he charged Mt the man who
was creeping head on.
"The surveyors had made mess
OF the thing. and there was bound to
be calamity. They had taken the
rhino for q noodle head. whereas he
knew his business to dot The man
mt whom he charged had 10 cover ex-
cept here and there bush. l don't
know whether he should have run to
the right or left or stood still, but
what he did do was to fling down his
gun and make back for the river. Tie
had pretty near .alf mile to 70. and
he was IL rood sprinter but that rhino
had fn!; head of sail on him.
lie came on like a ship running
before hurricane. and about ten rods
from the bank he overlook the fleeing
man and tossed him ten feet into the
mir As the body came down he caught
1t and tossed 1t again and then flung
it about i'll a way that could have left
no life in It after II few minutes.
THE other chaps pluckily ran down
and fired two bullets apiece into tho
beast, but when he charged them they
made holt for and climbed the tree
under which he had been standing mt
first. When he found them beyond
his reach the rhino began running
about In circle, and 1t was then
that we cleared away one of the
D Founders and opened fire on him. As
he was on the move the first two shells
didn't even throw dirt on him, but
the third struck him fair amidships
and exploded.
Another boat was sent ashore. and
! was one of those who landed from 1t.
We found the surveyor dead and with
every bone broken, and rs for the
rhtno he was sight to see.
Two nights after that and twenty
miles above we anchored in midstream
for the night. 1t was n bright MOON
light night. and up to midnight things
passed of very quietly. Then a troop
OF elephants came down to the shore to
Drink 1t was In my watch, AMI l
counted fourteen big fellows and two
kids. They were just opposite us and
not over forty rods awny but y,,orco not