Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-05
SHOOTING A BIG ELEPHANT.
Some Exciting times when the First
Shot Misses Fire.

Most game drop at the first shot
from the rifle Of an experienced hum
ter 1.-THE game that makes the story
is the game that's missed as the
Swahli (IIaSt coast natiyes) say, and
there is nothing truer than that say
ing, as far as my experiences go, for
bad shot nearly ended my trek a
little while ago in the Lake country.
was treking between Lake Albert
Edward N'Yanza and Lake Kivu, the
greatest stretch Of hunting ground in
the world, with a caravan of a hum
bred men. We had marched steadily
through the early part of the day and,
now that the mercileSS white hot sun
was directly overhead, l called a halt.
Each member of the caravan threw
himself down in the shade excepting
my shikaree Nick, a boy" from the
other side of the continent, native Of
Senegal. He never rested, and as he
got a percentage of the ivory we Sc
cured, he never let the SoleS of his
feet grow soft for want Of exercise.
About an hour passed before Nick
came swinging into camp with mis-
white teeth cleaning like new swords.
1 knew by his smile that there was
something afoot. He walked straight
to my elephant guns and beckoned me-.
I knew he had struck a fresh spoor
traiD. Selling my arms, l signaled
NV gun bearer and struck out, Nick
leading.
If there are any elephants about at
midday, the hunter is pretty sure to
make a good bag, for at that time
they rest out of the direct rays Of
the sun, doing the hot hours away.
and are easily approached.
After half an hours walk through
grass that was at least 20 feet high
we came across a herd of about 20
elephants. among which there We're
some fine bull tuskers. AS l expected,
they were all resting out of the sun.
They were difficult to get at on ac-
count Of the thickness of the under
growth 1t meant long. patient crawl
to a good shooting position, for to
shoot at anything but close quarters
in such country meant that the bullet
would be DETECTED by the bush, I put
a solid nickle ball in the right barrel of
my six hundred caliber express for a
head shot, and a soft nose split in the
left barrel for body shot. With The
shikaree at my side and the gun bear
er at my back, we crept, silently, inch
by inch. foot by foot, through the hugh
tufts of grass till a good view of the
game presented itself.
| took off my coat and hat. hung
them on a low limb and crawled
few yards further on. AS l could not
get vital shot at any of the elephants
in their lying position. I gave a sharp
whistle. In an instant they were upon
their feet thrusting their tusks up in
the air to get scent of their enemies
and holding out their enormous ears
to catch the slightest sound. At last
an old bull worked into the right po-
siton. l aimed at his weakest point
between the eye and ear, and gave him
the solid shot. My air was bad; a
piece Of his tusk flew into the air.
With a roar he charged down on me
like an avalanche.
I leveled my express for second
shot and the natives stood ready
Down he came, the grass waving be-
fore him in pillows. l waited so, 40,
so, 20 yards, another seconds suspense
and-bang. / gave him the soft bullet
full in the chest. 1t failed to stop him
a screening roar Ole pain DurSt from
the charging monster and blood gush-
ed from his trunk. 7 snatched my
Mauser and jumped aside as he passed
MY hat and coat, which We're few
yards behind attracted his attention
With a snort of satisfaction he crush
ed them down. I gave him all my
Mauser shots in the rear. With ex-
traordinary suddenness he turned. He
sighted me and charged, his tusks level
with my body. MY magazine was en-
PITY I threw my rifle down and ran,
the elephant gaining on me each step.
cav Nick ahead of me with leveled
rifle. ....,.A -, ..m