The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-03-09
CAME !. OF ]. AFRICA ! / ! |
TO ROAM West v
Hunting Party to Stock Arid
Plains Of America.
MAJOR BURNHAM IN CHARGE,

Thinks Giant Eland, Tiny Dikdik,
kIipsprinser and Other Varieties
Will Serve to RepIenish WASTING
Supply For Sportsmen. 4
A novel game expedition has left
New York for East Africa, the mem
bers of which intend to capture wild
animals alive and transport them to
this country to turn them loose in the
arid plains Of the southwest and in
the ranges Of the Rockies, where it is
hoped they will breed game for the
sportsmen of future generations.
Major Frederick Russell Burnham is
the leader Of the expedition. He for
merly held a commission as major in
the British army and was chief of
scouts under Lord Roberts in the Boer
war. He was born in America and
has never relinquished his American
citizenship. Other members Of the par
ty are Harris Hammond, son of John
Hays Hammond, and John Blick,
brother-in-law of Major Burnham.
Bright Future For Sportsmen.
If their purpose be realized future
American sportsmen will be able to
chase the elusive Gland across the
Rockies, stalk the gemsbok on the arid
plains of Arizona or take pot shots
at the tiny dikdik on the Texas prai-
ries.
Major Burnham asserts that his own
interest in the expedition is purely
patriotic.
Though I have held a majors COM
mission in the British army" he says,
Il have always retained my American
citizenship, and I intend to devote the
remainder of my life, if need be, to an
object which I believe will be largely
beneficial to the country-to plant in
the waste places Of the west and south
west herds Of game and food animals
which shall take the places Of the near
~ extinct bison, elk and other native
game.
eve shall import chiefly the ante
lopes, of which Africa has hundreds of
varieties, most of which can be adapt
ed to one part or another Of America.
There is the dikdik, for example, the
smallest of the deer family. 1t stands
less than foot high and weighs from
six to ten pounds. The flesh is de-
lic1ous, and the hide tans into leather
as fine as kid. - 49,. .4.- y,,.x
Many Suitable For America.
AT the other extreme there is the
giant Gland, largest of antelopes,
weighing sometimes as much as 1900
pounds. The Gland can 60 far from
water and would stock many an arid
range in the west if it had a chance.
The klipspringer, another antelope, not
unlike the chamois, would be perfectly
at home in the Rocky mountains.
Then for the swamps of Louisiana and
Texas the waterbuck and reedbuck
would be perfectly adaptable.
I'm sense this is an experiment.
When you come to think of it, not one
Of our food animals is native to this
continent The horse, common cattle,
from Europe. More recently some very
successful experiments have been made
in importing, foreign animals.
"Some years ago some one turned
loose herd Of camels in the Arizona
desert. They throve and increased I'M
til some smart Yankee caught all the
females and sold them to a circus l
remember helping to capture one of
these camels when l was boy. That
was the beginning of my interest in
foreign animals"
Major Burnham is about fifty years
old, but strong and hearty as youth.