The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-08-30

Speclauy Reported TOT
 the Farmer.
 (By Warrington Dawson, Stan Cor
 respondent of the United Press and
 Special Correspondent of The Far
 mer.o
 Saigo Soi Camp. Lake Naivasha, July IS. CBy Mail to New York)-It was shortly after when we steam ed off in the launch this morning, Col onel Roosevelt, Kermit, H. w. At marlborough. his brother, the com mander. and I, towing a rowboat with 3 natives to serve in case of emer- gency. Our course was first round the Hippo Bay and then we skirted the western bank. going northward. Our progress was slow, partly so that we might perceive any animal of any de- scription which might happen to be about and partly so that the noise of the engine should not frighten hippos under the water near us. This meth cd threw in our way an incident which we could not have expected.
 Not 20 yards away from the boat a inc long otter put up his nose and looked at us. There are otters in this lake, but few even, among the old set tiers can boast of having seen one. In an instant MT. Roosevelt was crouch ed far out on the bow, his rifle ready, while Kermit posted at the stern, was ready to shoot if the otter went un- der us. He reappeared straight be- fore the bow in a line between us and the bank and the ColonePs shot, strik- him to culver and capsize floating stomach up on the surface of the lake. Refraining from another shot so as not to spoil the skin, MT. Roosevelt lowered his rifle ordered launch to hurry ahead. His out stretched hand near the surface of the water, was within 10 feet of the otter when it suddenly sank. We thought the body had gone to the bottom, and the experienced hunters were as sur- prised as when we saw it a few min- utes later within a foot or two of the shore, and disappeared in the thick papyrus before another shot was pos sible. The ball had evidently entered the back for which MT. Roosevelt had aimed, being the only thing visible but had berely caused insensibility by the shock instead of Killing. MT. Roosevelt got out in the rowboat with Cunninghame and lost fully half an hour seeking for some traces but the otter was gone and we then proceeded slowly toward the mouth of the My andate river. one of the tiny inlets which suffice to keep Lake Naivasha supplied with the water which flows out through the underground passage
 
 at the opening into the river is an island of papyrus and here a few old hippos of exceptional size, noted for attacking boats and escaping bullets usually disported by daylight. This was the quarry which the Attendbor- ough brothers hoped to get for Colo mel Roosevelt confident that he would succeed where others had failed so often.
 Before we reached the bay a re- markable spectacle greeted our eyes. There in clear outline against the pa pyrus, standing with mud coming barely above his ankles was the hip DO. Old hunter as he is, Cunning hame had never seen such a sight be- fore. He did not mind our approach; the gentle puff-puff of the launch's engine going at the slowest speed so as to reduce the noise. seemed rather to amuse him. and he watched us with apparent interest. We could not ap- proach within shooting distance how ever. for the water was shallow and the lakes bed thickly grown with weeds which caught in the screws of the launch. So the rowboat was drawn up and MT. Roosevelt armed with his rifle, Kermit armed with his big camera and Cuninghame jumped in and were rowed by the natives towards the great beast which still stood there, an interested spectator.
 MT. Roosevelt had already raised his rifle and aimed when he stopped to say to Cunninghame: Are you sure it is a male? Because if it is not won't shoot it." MT. Roosevelt has been so fortunate with his specimens that now he shoots no more unless one of three eventualities presents ietself-an un- usually fine specimen not previously so well represented, or game as food for camp, or finally when he is attacked and must shoot in self-defense as has been the case with several of his rhinoS.
 MT. Roosevelt waited with his gun in position until Cunninghame assur- then fired. The huge beast, hit full in the shoulder turned and made straight for the boat. Doubtless he had some idea of reaching deep wa ter: but he left no doubt as to his intention to destroy the boat inciden- idence of this and besides his evil character it was very evident that he was a dangerous enemy.
 Again MT. Roosevelt fired, this time striking the head, the only part which presented itself. The hippo grunted swallow the boat if he had been 2 yards nearer, and MT. Roosevelt sent still another bullet down his throat, causing him to close his jaws with a snap and wheel. A last bullet into the heart finished him.
 Meanwhile Kermit, standing up in the boat, which in a few minutes would have been smashed but for Col onePs cool steady aim, was showing as much coolness and perhaps even more courage by remaining taking photograph after photograph of the tened around the body and then the launch put on steam. Dragging be- hind us the burden so long sought we reached camp about sunset.