The Chanute times., 1909-06-25
How a Jungle Looks.

How a Jungle Looks.
Beautifully designed ferns grew un-
der foot and crept caressingly up the
great tree trunks. Flowers of fan
tastic beauty, weird shape, and al
most maniacal expression grew up
and hung down from the smooth,
black, smoke-like vines, exhaling from
their hearts hundred intoxicating
odors which mixed with the sickening
efluvia of decay.
Insects resembling flowers and
leaves crawled over everything, twigs
apparently walking up the trees and
leaves apparently splitting and flying
in all directions. Beetles with big,
buzzed noisily around our heads, and
beautiful birds vying with one an
other in brilliance of plumage sailed
through the air, filling the dismal for
est with their passion-laden songs.
The constantly dripping sap spattered
noXious earth. 1t was scene, dread
and fascinating, clamoring of life in
viting one to death.
For four days we camped in this
hotbed of disease. Beaters went out
in all directions searching for the 60
rilla. At last some deep, wide scratch
es were found on a cluster of vines.
On close examination the unmistak-
able hair of the gorilla was found on
a broken twig. After some hours we
found the tree where the gorilla lived.
We could tell 1t by the greasy appear
ance of the bark, made so by the re-
peated rubbing of the gorilla's body.
We could tell by the fresh marks, with
sap still wet, that the animal had re-
Gently ascended the tree. The scratch
es were short and deep, showing that
it had lifted itself up and not slid
down, which would have made a long,
shallow scratch.
We spread a strong net around the
tree in circle sloping upward on the
outer side. Around the top of the net
there were drawn ropes from four d.
rectlons held by half dozen natives
hidden in the bush. These we're to
bring the top Of the net together and
thus bag our game.
After waiting some hours the leaves
above rustled and then opened. as
six-foot male gorilla descended un-
suspectingly and entered the trap.
signaled, the four ropes were pulled
at once, and we had our animal-for
moment. He roared in fury, twist
ing, jumping, and biting the ropes into
pieces. The natives were pulled about
nike dolls as he tried to reach first one
and then another. The professor
Jumped about in excitement, trying to
focus a camera on the infuriated ami
NAL.
At last the mighty arms of the 60
rilla broke a hole through the net and
he tore the rest from him as though
1t we're a rotten rag. Most of the ma
tives fed in dismay. The professor
dropped his camera and tried to es-
cape; in a moment the gorilla grasped
him in its terrible hands.
l seized my rife and fired in the
lIlt dululdl. III my pO-
sition could not shoot at him without
hitting my friend. For a moment the
gorilla stood still, holding the now un-
man as though he we're a
baby, the brute's lips drawn back from
his glistening teeth. | thrust another
cartridge in my rife. AS l did so
there was a buzz in the air, and an
arrow, shot by a native, pierced the
gorillas side. A roar burst from his
red throat and he dropped his victim.
Like a flash, before could shoot. a
native sprang from the leaves and.
half-thrusting, drove
an assagai into the gorilla's heart.
With a groan the brute fell dead.
Examining the professor. found
that his right arm was broken and
that some of his ribs we're crushed
into his lungs. We gave up the effort |
10 get a live gorilla and. placing the
injured man in a hammock. carried |
him back toward the East coast. He |
lied on the road. Out on the weld be-
side a native village a lonely little |
slab marked carl Bloch" sticks up
above the grass. II is the professors |
grave. Hunting is not all exciting ad-
renture and laughing victory. II has its
ears. like other things.
Copyright. lsos. by Benj B. HamptOn-)