The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-03-18
BEAUTIFUL LAND
FULL OF HORRORS
CONTINUED From Page H.

which depend upon wood for fuel.
Built by the British government and
steadily improved the road has reach
ed a state of creditable efficiency. The
roadbed is good and the gradual in
cline is overcome at fairly good speed.
When Mr.. Churchill made this trip
he occupied a seat on the cowcatcher
and it is safe TO say that the Ameri-
cans will be satisfied with no lesser
point of vantage The magazine read
er may expect before iong to see pic
tured the members OF the Roosevelt
expedition viewing the country from
an old-fashined church pew fastened
above the cowcatcher of an engine.
AS 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 rail
way stations will give a touch of mod
ern color to the otherwise prehistoric
scene On either siis Of the train
may be seen an endless procession of
wild animals, which seem to have
learned that the formidable looking
locomotive cannot leave the rails over
which it moves through their domain.
Troops OF zebras, herds of antelope,
black wildebeetes. herds of red kon-
goni. and in fact. most every imagin-
able beast is to be seen, with the ex-
ception of the lion, the rhinoceros and
elephant Good fortune may even
bring these within the ken of the rail
way passenger, and at Simba, pop
ularly known as the place OF lions, "
the guides generally promise the sight
OF the regal animal But this is ex-
ceptional and the paucity of this
game is due to the greed of the hunter
for not so long ago it was the practice
to stop these trains wherever oppor-
tunity offered to shot a lion or two.
The royal vermin have profited by the
experience of unfortunate relatives,
and now the stopping Of a train or
wagon is the cue for the exit from the
scene OF this willy animal. Hunters
travelling by a caravan upon sighting
lion are said now to drop unobserv-
ed from their wagons while the vehicle
itself continues in motion The alb
sen. or the rhinocerous from this rail
way review is popularly credited to
the fate of an i'll advised member Of
the species. who tried conclusions with
a swiftly moving locomotive. The ele-
phant is still more reserved, and moth
ing but the rarest chance viii permit
view Of him while a train of cars
is within his sight
Contrary to popular opinion, per
haps the courage Of the Roosevelt
party will not be tested by its encoun-
ters with lions, for this beast beats
a hasty retreat when approached. and
only shows its fighting qualities when
at bay. II lion IS slaughtered II VIII
be known that the hunters pursued
with relenuessness. disregarding the
pitfalls of the rough country. where a
mistep means disaster. Rather will
valor be shown in the Staying Of
rhinocerous The huge body offers
an easy mark, but the bull's-eye is
the eye or heart Unless You hit a
vital spot re takes his turn at you
promptly. Mr. Churchill got rhinoc-
eros out Of a herd Of three. He says.
Great is the moral effect of foe
who advances. Everybody hred. Still
the ponderous brute came on as if
he we're invulnerable; as if he were
an engine or some great steam barge
.mpervious to bullets. insensible to
pain or fear. thirty seconds more