Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-05-06
FIRST LION HUNT
Is Big SUCCESS
Colonel Roosevelt and Son, Kermit, Kill
-Four Of the jungle KinsS-OnIy
One SHOT to The Lion From
EX-PreSident'S Gun.

Nairobi, Brithish East Africa, Nav l.
-Four lions are trophies of ex-Presi
dent Roosevelt's camp in the Mau Hills
tonight and two hundred or more native
followers are joining with the American
party In the celebration of the unusually
good luck.
The lions were bagged yesterday, and
Colonel Roosevelt's mighty gun brought
three of them to earth, each on the firss
shot Thus one of the Presidents fond
est ambitions has been realized, and he
Is proud, too, that the fourth of the
jungle kings fell before the rifle of his
son, Kermit, who, however, took three
shots to kill his quarry.
Both father and son are iubiIant. II
was their first lion hunt, and SO magnif-
lcent kill was far beyond their expec-
tations, but lions have been plentiful in
the hills for the past month, and the
English hunter, F. C. Selous, has been
out for several days laying plans for
their extinction. How we'll he succeed
ed can be seen from the results of yes
terday's chase.
Mr.. Selous accompanied the former
President, who also was attended by
the usual retinue of beaters. AS a rule
the beaters go into the Jungle with con-
siderable trepidation, hut as Colonel
Roosevelt's reputation as a hunter had
reached here long before he arrived in
person, the beaters on this occasion
were exceptionally enthusiastic. They
seemed even eager to play a part in the
first hunt of the distinguished Ameri-
can.
The caravan started early Thursday
morning from the ranch of Sir Alfred
Peace on the Athi river and proceeded
slowly to the Mau Hills. This range is
open for wide areas, but in places is
covered with growths where game is
plentiful. The first night in camp was
without especial incident, no attempt
being made to go after lions, although
their call was heard now and then
throughout the night, but at dawn camp
was astir and the drive speedily organ
lied.
The native beaters set out in ali di-
rectlons under the instruction of the
"head-man," armed with all sorts of
noise making devices which could not
but arouse any game within earshot.
Some of the beats proved blanks, but
by nightfall no less than ten kinds of
of game had been bagged. Kermit dur
during the greater part of the day did
more effective work with his camera
than he did with his gun, he and the
other members of the party allowing
Mr.. Roosevelt the much priced shots.
Details of the actual shooting were
not brought down to Nairobi today from
the camp, but it was declared that in
each case single bullet from the ex-
Presidents rife sufficed to bring down
his lion. From this it is regarded that
Colonel Roosevelt is living up to the
reputation which he has gained here of
being a crack shot. All of the lions
were of normal size, and after the ma
tives had dragged them together in the
grass they executed the usual dance
around the trophies.
The party plans to go south tomorrow
with the hope of bagging one or more
giraffes. The chances are that Mr..
Roosevelt's good luck will continue, for
natives and settlers from ali sections
report game very plentiful.