The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1909-08-12
How a jungle Looks.

TOW d Jungle LOOKS.
Beautifully designed ferns grew un-
der foot and crept caressingly up the
great tree trunks. Flowers Of fan
tastic beauty. weird shape, and al
most maniacal expression grew up
and hung down from the smooth.
black, smoke-like vines, exhaling from
their hearts a hundred intoxicating
odors which mixed with the sickening
effluvla Of decay.
Insects resembling flowers and
leaves crawled over everything, twigs
apparently walking up the trees and
leaves apparently splitting and flying
in all directions. Beetles with big,
hypnotic eyes and bronze backs
buzzed noisily around our heads, and
beautiful birds vying with one an
other in brilliance of plumage sailed
through the air, filling the dismal for
est with their passion-laden songs.
The constantly dripping sap spattered
from leaf to leaf, soaking into the
noxious earth. 1t was a scene, dread
and fascinating, clamoring of life in.
NllllS one 10 uedIN.
For four days we camped in this
hotbed of disease. Beaters went out
in all directions searching for the 60
rilla. At last some deep, wide scratch
es were found on a cluster of vines.
On close examination the unmistak.
able hair of the gorilla was found on
broken twig. After some hours we
found the tree where the gorilla lived.
We could tell 1t by the greasy appear.
ance of the bark, made so by the re-
peated rubbing of the gorilla's body.
We could tell by the fresh marks, with
sap still wet, that the animal had re.
Gently ascended the tree. The scratch.
es were short and deep. showing that
1t had lifted itself up and not slid
down. which would have made a long,
shallow scratch.
We spread a strong net around the
tree in circle sloping upward on the
outer side. Around the top of the net
there were drawn ropes from four di.
rections held by half dozen natives
hidden In the bush. These were to
bring the top Of the net together and
thus bag our game.
After waiting some hours the leaves
above rustled and then opened, as a
sixfoot male gorilla descended un-
suspectingly and entered the trap. I
signaled, the four ropes were pulled
at once, and we had our animal-for
moment. He roared in fury, twist
ing. jumping. and biting the ropes into
pieces. The natives were pulled about
like dolls as he tried to reach first one
and then another. The professor
Jumped about In excitement, trying to
focus camera on the infuriated ami
NAL.
At last the mighty arms of the go.
rilla broke hole through the net and
he tore the rest from him as though
II were a rotten rag. Most OF the ma.
tives fled in dismay. The professor
dropped his camera and tried 10 es.
cape; in moment the gorilla grasped
him in its terrible hands.
! seized my rifle and fired In the
air TO frighten the animal. In my DO.
sition could not shoot at him without
hitting my friend. For a moment the
gorilla stood still, holding the now un.
conscious man as though he were a
baby, the brute's lips drawn back from
his glistening teeth. | thrust another
cartridge In my rifle. AS did so
there was a buzz in the air, and an
arrow, shot by native, pierced the
gorilla's side. A roar burst from his
red throat and he dropped his victim.
Like flash, before could shoot a
native sprang from the leaves and.
half'throwing, half.thrusting, drove
an assagai into the gorilla's heart.
With groan the brute fell dead.
Examining the professor, found
that his right arm was broken and
that some OF his ribs were crushed
into his lungs. We gave up the effort
to get a live gorilla and, placing the
injured man In a hammock, carried
him back toward the East coast. He
died on the road, Out on the weld he.
side a native village a lonely little
slab marked Carl Bloch" sticks nm
above the grass. IL is the professors
grave. Hunting is not all exciting ad.
Venture and laughing victory. II has its
tears, like other things.
Copyright, 1909, by Bent n Uamr,o