Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-03-31

long to see pictured the members Of the
Roosevelt expedition viewing the country
perhaps from an old fashioned church pew
fashioned above the cow-catcher Of an
engine. A the land unfolds itself before
the travellers, game Of endless variety will
be seen, and deep gorges crossed, while
occasional plantations OF cotton, rubber
and fibre and trim little railway stations
will give touch Of modern color to the
otherwise prehistoric scene.
On either side OF the train may be seen
an endless procession Of wild animals,
which seem to have learned that the for
midable looking locomotive cannot leave
the rails over which it moves through
their domain. Troops OF zebras, herds Of
antelope, black wiIdebeestes, herds of red
kongoni, and, in fact, most every imagina-
BILE beast is to be seen, with the exception
OF the lion, the rhinoceros and the ele-
plant. Good fortune may even bring
these within the ken Of the railway pas
senger, and at Simba, popularity known as
'sthe place of ions'', the guides generally
promise the sight of the regal animal.
But this is exceptional, and the paucity of
hunter, for not SO long ago it was the
practice to stop these trains wherever the
opportunity offered to shoot q lion or two.
The royal vermin have profted by the
experience OF unfortunate relatives, and
now the stopping OF . train or wagon is
the cue for the exit from the scene of this
willy animal.
Hunters travelling by caravan, upon
sighting a lion are said now to drop un-
observed from their wagon while the We
hicle itself continues in motion. The abb
sence Of the rhinoceros from this railway
review is popularity credited to the fate OF
an ill-advised member of the species who
tried conclusions with q swiftly moving
locomotive. The elephant is still more re-
served, and nothing but the rarest chance
will permit view OF him while train Of
cars is within his sight.
RH1NocERos MOST DANGEROUS.
Contrary to popular opinion, perhaps,
the courage Of the Roosevelt party will
not be tested BY its encounters with lions,
for this beast beats hasty retreat when
approached, and only shows its fighting
qualities when at bay. II a lion is slaugh-
tered it v ill be known that the hunters
pursued with relentlesness, disregarding
the pitfalls Of the rough country, where
nisstep means disaster. Rather will valor
be shown in the Staying Of q rhinoceros.
The huge body offers an easy mark, but
the bulls eye is the eye or heart. Unless
you hit vital spot, he takes his turn at
you promptly. Mr.. Churchill got rhi-
noceros out OF herd Of three. He says:
'sGreat is the moral effect Of a foe who
advances. Everybody fred. Still the
ponderous brute came on as if he were in
vulnerable; as il he were an engine or
some great steam barge impervious to
bullets, insensible to pain or fear. Thirty
seconds more and he will close. An i'm
palpable curtain seems to roll itself up in
the mind, revealing a mental picture
strangely lighted, yet very still, where
objects have new values and where patch
Of white grass in the foreground four or
five yards away seems to possess astonish-
ing significance.
SIT is there that the last two shots that
yet remain before the resources Of civili-
cation are exhausted must be fired. There
| is time to reflect with some detachment
that, after all, we are the aggressors; we it
is who have forced the conflict by an un-
provoked assault with murderous intent
upon a peaceful herbivore; and if there is
such thing as right and wrong between
man and beast-and who shall say there is
not?-right is plainly on his side; there is
time for this before 1 perceive that,
stunned and dazed by the frightful con-
cussions of modern firearms, he has
swerved sharp to the right, and is now
moving across our front, broadside on, at
the same swift trot. More firing, and as
reload some one says he is down, and fire
instead at his smaller companion, already
some distance off upon the plain.
'But one rhinoceros hunt Is like another,
except in its details, and l will not occupy
! the reader with the account of this new
pursuit and DEATH Suffice 1t to say that,