Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-06-15
WILLIAMS AFAKIR?
Remarkable Battle Between
Crocodile and Elephant Cit
ed in His Support.
FIERCE TUG OF WAR IN AFRICA
Francis Aubrey Throws Himself Into
the Controversy Between Roose-
welt and Naturalist.

In view of the discussion which is
pending between President Roosevelt
and the Rev. DIR. William Long, whom
he terms mature fakir,' the follow
ing experience of an EngliShman is Of
timely interest:
Francis Aubrey writing to the editor
of the New York Herald says:
AS an Englishman | respect the
presidential office too much to enter
into Il controversy with the president
and l trust l will not be ropcd into the
Society of the Deliberate and Unquali-
fed if, as an eyewitness, vOuch to the
following:
sin or about the month Of June. 1880.
Lord Randolph Churchill and l were
together hunting big game In the cen.
trail part of South Africa.
Toward the close of disheartening
day. during which we met nothing
sandy wastes we traversed, suddenly
we came across the tracks of n huge
elephant-apparently rogue elephant,
as we noticed from the spoOr he was
travelling alone. Following the spoOr.
we came to the sloping shore of 4
sweet water lagoon, and there, about
200 yards from the banks. we saw Il
regular Jumbo enjoying big drink to
/ his hearts content.
MY companion and I had hardly eX-
! changed ideas as to how we should
| tackle the monster when. the elephant
| trumpeting an alarm. we saw the open
! Jaws of n crocodile arise from the wa
| tcrs in front of the elephant and, with
| hard. metallic click. close down
upon the elephants trunk. The ele-
| plant immediately began to withdraw
| Shoreward. drawing the crocodile with
him. but had not receded thirty feet
when another crocodile appeared and,
teizing the tail of his amphbious
| friend materially helped in checking
| the elephants retreat. Strength and
weight was, however. with the Gle
plant, and. with measured backward
stride, he was gradually making the
| the banks when three other CroCOdiles
! appeared and each falling in line took
hold of another's tail i'll the grandeSt
! tug of war that mortal man ever wit
messed.
Rear One rs stroke Oar.
"The hindmOst crocodile. acting as q
| sort of stroke oar in this remarkable
aquatic team, began to back water
with his foremost paws, and the strain
upon the probosis must have been ter
rible to the elephant. Amid the dashed
and foam covered waters it was i'm
/ nj, 70 II.
ultimate result of this gigantic strug.
| gle.
Its even money on either side ex-
claimed Randy.
"I'H take your ludship's 1 to !
| against the elephant said I, and nc
sooner was the wager effected than
the sagacity Of the elephant landed me
the money as well as himself the victor
The elephant simply blew through
his trunk the many gallons Of water he
had just imbibed, and the foremost
crocodile. feeling great and forccfu
swirl Of water UprOOting his back teetl
and threatening to almost wash his
very tongue down his throat. had TO re
Lease his hold, and the entire crew OF
five croCOdileS fell back into the depth!
of the lagoon, defeated and disgraced
mo doubt some writer's of stories OF
wild animals, such as mountain lions
or Kilkenny cats. have misinterpreteC
some of the things they have witnessed
and others have unConsciously permit
ted their Imagination to color their oh
servations. but truth will prevail fo
the simple reason that truth is stronger
as we'll as stranger than fiction. Those
therefore, not disposed to believe any
} authentic tale can do the other thing
I'm no mollycoddle."