New-York tribune., 1909-05-02
VITALITY OF ELEPHANT AND MAN.

The vitality OF the elephant is enormous as, IN
1act, is that OF ali African game down TO the
tiniest buck But occasionally q white comes
along with vitality astonishing that OF his
quarry. OF this officer Of the Kings African
Rifes, now slowly convaIescing in the Entebbo Hos
pital, is living proof. Out for few weeks sport
with elephant before going on leave. he gave one
mortal chest shot at such close range that the
elephant upon him before he could deliver
second shot The wounded brute passed Of its
great tusks first transversely through the as
stomach and then through his thigh, picked him up
with his trunk and tossed him far TO side into
she bush, and then lurched away to die. And, mira
Gle OF miracles. though il nine days before
his men got him Entebbo and surgical aid he
IS making safe recovery
The habitat OF the lion is wherever the game he
feeds on is most OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the low
bush veidt the coast and on the high veldt Of
the interior AS a rule he seeks trouble with
man and usually he will do al that comports
with his kingly dignity avoid It. At a mans
approach often he will retire from feasting a
fresh Kill. Seldom do lions become man-eaters,
deliberate predatory raiders OF villages or camps
for human food, until old that they find diff
Guilty in taking even zebra, their easiest prey. and
through stress Of hunger or by some happy chance
3sve learned that man Is easier and perhaps ten
derer. But once he gets that knowledge and the
tasIe woe TO the belated night traveller through
his bailfwick: and woe 10 villagers night
campers unprotected by q thorn zareba too
high for him 10 leap; for so silently does
he steal upon his victim. crushing Is his
grip upon the neck mighty his strength IN toss
ing his kill across his shoulders and slipping easily
away with it. that very often naught OF his raid IL
known until those sleeping near AWAKE 10 ind an
empty he'd and blood along a spoor.
In this manner. not long ago. on the Guaso Nyiro
6ied young Mcclellan After good days sport
he retired alone. 10 his bed. surrounded by the
tents Of his escort and the sleeping forms Of his
po-ters. Twenty feet in front Of the tent blazed
great camp FIRE while back and forth through the
centre OF the camp paced a shikari sentry rife on
shoulder. But hungry monster was near W hiie
unseen until too late the facts proved that the lion
must have thoroughly prospected the camp, Tor
along the outskirts lay easy picking in the forms
of sleeping natives. But, perhaps surfeited with
black meat, he penetrated the camp TO the white
mans tent. and entered cunningly that his
presence was Unsuspected until. bounding OF with
McCIellar's limp body his shoulder, and per-
haps partly blinded by the freight he oannoned
into and bowled over the shikari When next day
the beadman OF the party brought to the scene
IDeputy Commissioner Collyer from his nearby
station Of Rhurnmrutl, McClellan's body gas found
near carnD unmarked save for the rnangled ard
broken neck. Doubtless the shikaris random shots
had frightened the lion away and the cries and
drum beatings kept up all night by the frightened
natives had served 10 prevent his return
s.ae Irez- tragedy was characteristic. Lucas
and Csoldhnch were partners in a farm the west
era slopes OF Denya Sabouk. ten miles from Juja-
one day the pair, traversing tall grass near the
AtM River jumped a lion. which retired at their
epDroach. Being on pones iney raced aIter hiA'
/ CscIdfnch in the lead. But Leos retreat vas only
q stroke Of strategy. He side stepped into conceal
ing grass. and Ieaped upon Goldhnch and his horse
IS they passed sinking his right fore claws In the
tony's right flank his left fore claws in Goldfnch
left thigh with his rear claws tearing at the pony
tindo,,arters The mix-up was such that Goldhnch
could not bring his gun TO bear on the hoD. while
Lucas did not dare TO shoot from the saddle
Jumping from pony. Lucas ran forward 10 his
f,srfner's aid. but their watchful enemy wcs not
TlaFa ggsf
a. 2 nosItion where he could safely fire the lion
ieaped upon him and began to rend him No
sooner was he down, however than Go!dhnch'
ssaly torn though he was. slipped from his horse.