davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-30

dank, spongy soil in which at intervals yawn-
ed an inky pool, covered for the most part
by broad-leaved aquatic plants with snake
like stalks, several of them bearing beautiful
blossoms which had not yet fallen in this
moist and sheltered spot.
Forcing my way among the reeds, | gained
the actual verge of the river, which just here
was some two hundred yards broad, its sur
face being in general still and unbroken;
but here and there sandspits jutted out from
the banks and in one place small bar di-
vided the channel into two portions
Upon this bar stood three hippopotami,
while little further down l saw two others,
one swimming in the quiet waters of deep
pool near the opposite bank, and the other
wading mId-deep toward him from my side
of the river.
1t was a scene to thrill hunters heart
with strange, wild emotions. | stood look
ing on for some time, noting but unnoticed
observer.
On the sandspits were many crocodiles
basking in the fervent heat of the sun, and
among them, and apparently unconcemed by
their proximity, crowd of white cranes
stalked slowly about or stood like statues at
the edge of the water, as if plunged in a
brown study.
Hundreds of waders of various sorts cackled
and croaked by the verge of the reeds, but
harmonized with the wild scene presented by
the broad expanse of water framed in by
dark jungle that formed their habitat, as
well as that of countless other birds.
Egyptian geese, storks and ducks screamed
and quacked in all directions, and with a
shotgun it would have been simple matter
to fill wagon with them in very short
time.
But / did not contemplate dealing havoc
among them, and l therefore quietly retreat
ed to the. edge of the heavy jungle ouside
the reeds, with the intention of stealing
noiselessly downward. to point opposite
to where the hippopotami were disporting
themselves
l soon found that this was impossible, ow-
ing to the density of the thorns, and had
to return to the plain by the path, had fol-
lowed to the river, in order. to search for a
more. convenient mode of reaching the desired
position.
The front of the ukalSu thorns, however,
presented an impenetrable obstacle, and /
was about to give it up, when came upon
trodden by the pachydermata, whose bulky
bodies and heavy tread had made tolerably
clear track down to the water.
Amid the confined spaces which here and
there admitted the rays of the sun to pene-
trate, but from which whatever breeze might
exist outside was excluded, the heat was ter
rife, and my gun-barrels became SO hot that
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-30

l could hardly bear my hand upon them; but
l had been in Africa now too long to suffer
to any unusual degree from this cause.
On again striking the river, / found it was
at point about one hundred and fifty yards
lower down than the spot at which the hippo
potami still snorting and plunging, and
as they were near the opposite bank, they
were fully two hundred and fifty yards from
where stood, and were therefore out of
range of my smooth-bore. In iungle-shooting
l generally prefer the latter to rifle
The range at which game is seen is, in
nine cases out of ten. inside of forty yards,
and the gun can be more quickly manipulated
than a rifle by any one accustomed to snap
shooting; while the smashing powder of a
two-ounce ball driven by eight or ten drachms
of powder leaves nothing to be desired.
On this occasion, however. / regretted not
having my Holland double SIT Express, with
its heavy charge of seven drachms and hard
ened solid conical, which, if properly placed
would, even at this distance, suffice to settle
accounts with the unwieldy behemoths whose
ungainly antics and entire Inconsistencies of
my proximity. had whetted my hunting in
stinct to the keenest possible edge
While speculating on the best way to get
within shot, was spared all furher difficulty
by one of the animals setting his head in my
direction, and such way did, he make, that he
The other-that which had already been on
my side of the river-followed, and in less
time than it takes to describe both monsters
had reached the shallow water and waded to-
ward me in leisurely manner.
L now observed that one was an old bull.
and upon his india-rubber like hide / could
see many whittish marks-the results of en-
counters with other males
Both animals remained stationary for some
minutes at about hundred yards from me-
l did not wish to risk a shot at this distance.
and | therefore waited until, after moving
about little and making as if they again
meant to cross to the-ot6er side both appa. s
close to where covered out of sight.
The water gradually deepened, and pres
emily nothing could be seen of them but the
humps Of their nostrils and the similar pro-
tuberances at the eyes.
In this position it is out of the question to
deliver fatal shot, unless the bullet is fortu-
nae enough to strike in the orifces of the nos
tril,, when it will, if from the front, most
likely find the brain.
If the hunter stands on an elevation, he
can strike the forehead, or can, if suitably
placed, put his bullet under the ear.
In my case neither of these shots was pos
sible, and seeing the animals momentarily
coming nearer, / hastily crawled back, in
CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-30

reaches the Mababe Flats, near the Chobe
Rver in the northwest, or the regions ada
cent to Kilimanjaro in the northeast, will he
meet with such prodigous exhibitions of ami
NAL life Alas! it is inevitable that the ad-
vance of civilization should sound the death
knell of the game and poison the pleasure
cup which can only be quaffed to perfection
in the wilderness.
1t was the twenty-6rst of January-a date
| am not Likely to forget. The sun had
shone all day in a cloudless sky, and it seem
ed more like the concentrated heat at the
point of focus of some immense burning-gass
than even a scorching African sun.
The plain surrounding the spot at which /
had encamped was. covered with a tall yell
low grass, which gave the impression of the
whole country being vast crop of over-ripe
corn five feet high.
Above this the heated air danced and SHIN
mered, playing fantastic tricks with the fiat,
the Matoppo Mountains which now and then
became apparently detached from their bases
or varied their shapes in a strange and mag-
cal manner.
Rising above the plain and dotted over it
at irregular intervals were patches of dense
ukaku jungle; some mere clumps of a quar-
ter of an acre in extent others larger, while
here and there they ran into each other and
formed more or less continuous mass for a
mile or further, till at length they merged
into the, heavy forest jungle that lined the
river.
1t was typical African scene-wild, tawny,
tangled, with no trace visible of man or his
handiwork except around the campfire, where
half dozen of my Mashonas lounged about,
protracting their morning feed of Gland flesh,
which they gorged with the ravenous appetites
of crocodiles or hyenas.
Having finished my breakfast and given or
ders to my retinue to bring back the oxen be-
a fore ii the evening Of the following day, | pick
on my cartridge. belt, / started, directing my
course toward the river, which lay a couple
of hundred yards below the camp.
Selecting the gamepath used by my fol-
lowers in going for water, / pushed on amid
the surrounding thorn-bushes, which grew
so densely and were so intertwined and mat
ted by creepers of different kinds that pas
sage among them would have been out of the
question had it not been for the paths made
by the multitudes of game that twice in the
twenty-four hours thronged to the river and
back again to the plain or to the impenetrable
asylum of the jungles during the great heat
of the day.
l presently stood by the verge of the river
-or rather on the outside Of the reed-brake
which skirted it, the tall, tangled reeds rising
above my head in the close array of field Of
wheat, their roots being nourished by the
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-30

ISyV1 HAD been hunting for some weeks
I&YI near the Shashani River, Southern
k@kA Mashonaland, when i met with the
EfRMNA1 following adventure:
SseoN2seS My wagons were outspanned near
the river, but l had sent the oxen
days march to the south, to where / knew
there was some good pasture, the poor am
mails having had hard time of it on their
long journey to this place from Bamangwato.
The weather had been scorchingy hot and
all the pools and the smaller streams we're
dried up, so that it was only near the larger
rivers that good sport could be had the game
having come to their vicinity in order to OBJ
tain water-that first necessary of life in this
land of thirst.
The dense reed beds and jungles that fringe
the course of the Shashani at this particular
place were swarming with most of the typical
game animals of Southeastern Africa and
although during the day not many were to be
seen, yet st at night and lust before sl daybreak
hartebeest, gemesbok and many other kinds
of antelopes, might be seen pasturing on the
plain or coming down TO the river to quench
their thirst.
zebras cantered along, or stood gazing in the
distance as the unfamiliar sight of wagon,
with its long string of oxen, came into view.
Giraffe, buffalo, rhinoceros-both white and
game, swelled the list of inducements that
led me to prolong my stay in this hunters
paradise; and thus it happened that day fol-
lowed day. and still | fingered on, being 10th
to quit the scene of perhaps the best sport l
have ever had even in this part of Africa
the very beau-ideal of the happy hunting
grounds which every traveller and sportsman
is so desirous of falling in with
Twenty-Five years ago the plains in the
northern part of the colony and in the Orange
Free State swarmed with such a prodgious
mass of animal life as perhaps the world has
never seen n As As far as the eye could reach,
thousands of antelopes of different varieties;
herds of gnaggas, thundered across the plain,
cavalry formation to view the wagons of the
passing traveller; gnus ostriches, zebras and
pallahs added to the crowds until the whole
landscape seemed moving ocean of animal
life which was without end or limit.
Where are these herds now? Gone. A
comparative handful of these teeming legions
remain-a melancholy relic of the innumerable
throng which so astounded Gordon-C Gum
ming, and the accounts of which, as pub
lished by him, were received with great in
credulity.
For scenes of this nature the hunter now
adays has to go far afeld, and not until he
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-30

Copyright by James Elverson.
w HAD been hunting for some weeks
near the Shashani River, Southern
u Mashonaland, when l met with the
ZN3A1 following adventure:
sNsSB My wagons were outspanned near
the river hut I had sent the oxen
Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-30

CONTINUED ON PAGE SIX
La Junta tribune., 1907-10-05
Msjor.- Blackwell.

Wednesday afternoon. at half past
four. in the Presbyterian church,
Rev. Samuel Magill pronounced two
OF Raton's most popular young peo-
pie man and wife. The contracting
parties were Mr.. John Majors,
prominent in Ration business circles,
and Miss Susan Elizabeth Blackwell,
daughter Of c. N. Blackwell, cashier
of the First National Bank of Ration.
Gazette. Mr.. Majors was for
merly in the railway postal service
out of La Junta.
La Junta tribune., 1907-10-05
Engineer x'neh.'e. loss. so.h l.s..

Engineer Fred Kincheloe, of the
south end. fell from a moving engine
while on duty Thursday night near
Dorsey. N. NJ, and had both legs so
badly mangled by the wheels
that it was necessary to ampu-
tate one leg above the knee
and the other below the knee.
Mr.. Kincheloe is well known in La
Junta. and is.a relative of C. M.
Taylor and Charles Herndon. He
was brought to La Junta yesterday
morning and:everything possible is
being done for him at the railroad
hospital. News from the hospital
late yesterday afternoon was to the
effect that it was very doubtful
whether he would recover. Mr..
Kincheloe is young man Of about
thirty and unmarried.
La Junta tribune., 1907-10-05

La Junta has progressed some
during the past ten years. and seems
destined to progress in spite of hades
and poorswater. 1t has fallen to the
lot of the writer to wander up and
down this broad commonwealth to a
considerable extent. We have used
every means of locomotion known to
latter-day civilization, except the
brake beam route, and even that
distinction has not been denied US.
Without any intention of fiattering
the good people of this community,
we can truthfully say that we never
found a town of equal size that ad-
vanced so materially in so short
space of time and had more
evidences Of prosperity on every
hand. La Junta has progressed
without the aid or consent of any
citizen or body of citizens, and de-
spite the Indifference of the board of
trade as boosting organization.
To us it seems nothing short of
marvellous. The knockers who
moved the shops and took up the
track between La Junta and Trini-
dad about every six months. have
apparently lost out altogether. as
the Santa Fe Improvements at this
point have been SO extensive during
the past three years that their
vaporings would now seem nothing
short of ridiculous. Property valu-
ations are still going up al. over town
and the pessimist stands aghast and
wonders how long it is all going to
continue. He says La Junta has
been building at the rate of a mil
lion year and he knows positively
that such conditions can not last al
ways. There is bound to be slump
and he wonders why the, slump does
not materialize. He will be a very
badly disappointed pessimist if it
doesn't materialize very soon. La
Junta will continue to progress in
La Junta tribune., 1907-10-05

fact that our subscription list has
more than trebled, and our job work
and advertising patronage have
shown a corresponding increase.
We contemplate additional improve
ments in the equipment Of the
TRIBUNE office to the end that we
may get out a better, larger and
more complete newspaper. and
when we think the proper time has
arrived hope to issue more frequent
ly than once week not yet. but
soon.
La Junta tribune., 1907-10-05

Improvements are still going on at
the new Santa Fe depot. just as they
have been for many months, and it
will probably be another month or
two before all of the changes con-
templated are completed. The
ticket Office has been moved into the
new section, and the lunch counter
is temporarily occupying portion Of
the waiting room. The old ticket Of
fee and waiting room are being re-
modelled into an Office for the Harvey
House. and when this is completed
and ready for occupancy the lunch
room will be placed in the present
Office quarters. When completed
the new Harvey House will be one
Of the largest and finest on the
system and the depot and its environs
will give La Junta a very decided
metropolitan aspect. The Gordon
heating system. which is utilized in
the new shops, is being extended
underground from the shops to the
new depot, and this system. which
La Junta tribune., 1907-10-05

taken to the hospital where his in
juries were dressed. and he is now
able to be around and is doing as
well as could be expected under the
circumstances.
La Junta tribune., 1907-10-05

probably intending to give it to the
person to whom it is addressed after
he has read it. If you want to read
the TRIBUNE at all it is always better
to subscribe personally, and, not
sponge your newspaper from your
neighbor. 1t don't cost much only
35 cents until the first of the year.
La Junta tribune., 1907-10-05

The Jewell County Monitor relates
that Mankato girl who was visiting
friends in the east, attended a little
party one evening, in the course of
which bon bonus were passed by the
negro waiter. The Mankato girl
spied nice plump chocolate on the
plate which she started to take, but
it seemed to adhere to the dish. An
other pull failed.to dislodge it, then
the darky good humoretly remarked:
Beg pahdon, miss, but that's muh
thumb.
La Junta tribune., 1907-10-05
Everybody
Welcome

spite of the pessimist and the knock
er, and before the next federal
census is completed will be a city of
10000 population. Why not or
ganlze Boosters Club with 10000
population for 1910 as slogan? No?
Yes? Well, either way, it doesn't
make much difference as this good
old town will probably have that
much population in 1910 without any
effort at all.
La Junta tribune., 1907-10-05
Nav AB0UT.
Town

In view of the large number of
calls lost and delayed during the
evening hours. due to congestion of
traffic, which occurs when night
rates takes effect, it has been decided
to cancel the night rates and charge
day rates on all messages passing
over the lines of the Colorado
Telephone Company. on and after
October l. 1907.
La Junta tribune., 1907-10-05

10 Sdlu " DS tnS iIiltSt u ITO hiid SN-
tant, will be installed in the new
depot building, general Office build
ing and reading room and club
house. The Gordon system utiiizes
nothing but exhaust steam from the
local shops. which otherwise would
be wasted. and is great economic
factor in the matter of fuel.
Carl Dahl and Ira Worman are
back from the Cedars where they
went to try their luck as deer hunt
ers. with very good success. Each
one of them laid a deer low. with
their unerring aim. and now re-
semble a balloon after it has been in
flated. This was Dahl's first trip
after deer and the first time he ever
saw one in its wild state, and instead
of getting the buck fever" as is
usually the case. he worked his gun
over time and put three bullets into
one deer, and would probably be out
there still shooting at the animal if
he hadn't run out of ammunition.
The frozen mitt is as hot as the
tropics, the north pole as tropic as
the Amazon. an ice berg as hot as a
live wire, liquid air seething fur
mace and the Yukon as hot as molten
lead compared with the icy turn
down of certain young man in
town, by young lady whom he had
every reason to believe cared just
little for him. The young man was
advised to cheer up as there were
just as good fish in the sea, ETC.. etc.
But" he replied II have used all
my bait" Your case is hopeless
young man and all that remains for
you is to seek your Ostermoor. close
up the air holes and turn on the gas.
Jim Evans. Jim Polk and Engineer
Hubbard. of switch engine No. 1884.
were quite badly scalded in the yards
Thursday. The switch crew were
on what is known as the ''long tall
track waiting for gang of Mexi-
cans to load some ties. The morn
ing was quite chilly and Evans and
Polk got in the cab of the engine to
wait while the cars were being load
ed, when the crown sheet of the
engine suddenly dropped. throwing
hot water and steam all over those
in the cab. Evans was the most
badly scalded. of all. his head and
face being literally cooked. He was
I
La Junta tribune., 1907-10-05

A very nice and gentle minister
accepted call to a new church in a
town where many of the members
bred horses and sometimes raced
them. A few weeks later he was
asked to invite the prayers of the
congregation for Lucy Gray. Will
ingly and gladly he did so for three
Sundays. On the fourth. one of the
deacons told the minister he need
not do it any more. Why" " asked
the good man with an anxious look.
lis she dead?" "Oh. nc" said the
deacon. she's won the steeple-
chase"
La Junta tribune., 1907-10-05

County Clerk H. ID. Garwood, w.
H. Biebes and party from Rocky
Ford have been in the Cedars all
week engaged in deer hunting. Last
Wednesday Mr.. Garwood sent in a
telephone message from the JJ
ranch stating that John Bowman
had been lost, not having been in
camp for a period of nearly forty
eight hours. He requested the or
ganization of a relief party from the
county seat. and while the party was
making arrangements to proceed to
the Cedars another message was re-
ceived that Mr.. Bowman had been
found, and, although in very much
exhausted condition. there was no
occasion for anxiety on his part.
Mr.. Bowman got lost from the rest
of the party and wandered over the
country for hours. and when found
was suffering greatly from exposure
and lack of. nourishment. He re-
fused to listen to the breaking up of
the hunting expedition on account
Of his misfortune. and the boys are
still hunting for deer.
La Junta tribune., 1907-10-05

An epileptic dropped into a fit on
the streets of Boston not long ago,
and was taken to a hospital. Upon
removing his coat there was found
pinned to his waistcoat a slip of pa
per on which was written. This is
to inform the house-surgeon that this
is just case of plain fit; not APP
pendicitis. My appendix has already
been removed twice.
La Junta tribune., 1907-10-05


The orchestra that made La Junta
famous went to Rocky Ford last
Wednesday night to assist in making
that burg famous. The occasion
was the appearance of the Royal
Chef" in that city. the orchestra of
the melon METROPOLIS having failed
to make good when it tackled the
musical score. The manager of the
opera house had to make good in the
matter of supplying an orchestra,
and although of course it hurt some,
the orchestra that made La Junta
famous was the only recourse in
time of trouble and short notice.
La Junta tribune., 1907-10-05

Ten years ago. October 1st last,
the present editor took charge of the
great family journal. and during
that period has given the people of
La Junta the best newspaper they
ever had. Pardon this bouquet
boomerang. but if we did not think
so who would, and besides that its
the truth anyway. The TRIBUNE has
always paid its way, made a good
living for the proprietor, and several
additional printerorial experts. We
feel grateful toward La Junta. for
it brought to full fruition a realiza-
ton of the day and night dreams OF a
printers devil ownership and sup
RENE rajahship of country news
paper. We started in with capital
of something less than thirty cents,
and after ten years still have the
thirty cents and then some. besides
the best equipped and most up-to-
date print shop in the Arkansas
Valley. We feel sure that our efforts
to publish the best newspaper we
know how have been appreciated.
and the best evidence of this is the
La Junta tribune., 1907-10-05


C. P. Marshall, after twenty years
service. retired from the Santa Fe
last Monday and will be allowed a
pension of $40 per month. Mr..
Marshall is seventy-two years of age.
and Of late has been holding the
position of watchman at the viaduct.
Before coming to La Junta he was
located at Garden City. Kans., in
charge Of section gang, and in all
of his years Of service never received
q brownie" He feels that he is
now entitled to rest. and availed
himself Of the opportunity to join
the Santa Fe pensioners.
We some times have vigorous
complaints on account of failure to
secure the great family journal. on
the part Of regular subscribers, and
when the complaint is investigated
it happens almost without exception
thas the paper is addressed to q
postoffice box to which several have
access and use mutually. Some
person other than the subscriber,
gets the paper and carries it off.
La Junta tribune., 1907-10-05

PROOF We don't ask you to take our word
for any of the above statements. but if you will
call at our store. man from the factory, where
Majestic ranges made, will prove to your sat
isfacton. that these absolute facts and will
show you many more why the great ma
jestc Range if absolutely the best that money can
buy.
La Junta tribune., 1907-10-05
Facts About
The Great
Majestic Range

1t is the only range in the world made of Male
able and Charcoal Iron.
1t has beyond any question OF doubt, the larg-
est and best reservoir.
1t uses about half the fuel used on other ranges.
and does better work by far.
The Majestic All Copper Nckled Rerervoir heats
the water quicker and hotter than any other 1t
is the only reservoir with removable frame
The Charcoal Iron Body of the Great Majestic
Range lasts three times as long steel body.
AS for baking it is perfection, not only for a
few months, but for all time to come
Great Majestic Range lasts three times as long
cheap range. but it don't cost three times as
much.