The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1913-04-18
under the circum,


with big game than Major Ross, yet
he viii not talk about them, for he
is a very modest man, totally unaware
Of his own sterling qualities. His
work carries him continually among
the Genizens of forest and plain, and
few men know the habits and traits
OF the wild game in Natures Zoo"
better than Ross
feel rather like telling tales out of
school by narrating the following lit
tie story of Ross. 1t is SO typical of
the great, big, boyish heart of the
man, that L can not refrain from tell
lug it.
1t so happened that Ross foregath-
cred with three other Americans in
NaIrobi to celebrate independence
day. They had a very lively dinner,
and afterward proceeded to loose OF
steam by firing off number of crack
ers and rockets. firing of this tame
pastime, they started in to turn Mai
robe into a Wild West town by
| shooting out the street lamps from the
veranda of the hotel. This sport soon
| palled, and they went for a walk down
town with the object of seeking new
fields Of enjoyment. They happened
to pass the bank and saw the win
dow open, and Parsee clerk working
at a ledger under light
The temptation was too strong for
Ross and his three American compan-
| ions. They lit some crackers ana
threw them into the bank building
through the open window. The clerk
mistook them for bombs and rushed
out, shouting "Murderi" The negro
| constable on the beat below blew his
whistle for help. and the barracks be-
| ing close at hand, soon had some 20
dusky policemen respond to the
alarm call. In the general mix-up,
and to avoid arrest for their prank,
ROSS and his companions roughly han
died the policemen and put them to
| flight
L happened to be in command of the
| police at Nairobi, and soon came upon
the scene in answer to telephone
| call. / arrested the four practical jok-
ers for disturbing the peace" and
| resisting police officer in the exc
| cution OF his duty They were all
| released on bail, and subsequently
| stood their trial before the sessions
| Judge and a white jury.
The jury, in the face of the weight
| OF evidence, brought in verdict of
not guilty, and ali were acquitted.
Ross made an ample apology to all
| concerned for his share in the es.
| capade. and laughingly told me that
he thought it pretty hard that good
American could not enjoy his national
| holiday without being arrested.
When Colonel Roosevelt visited
| East Africa he met Major Ross, and
| the two men found much in common.
AT the banquet given in Nairobi to the
| ex-president, Major Ross was selected
to present a rhinoceros-foot box to
| the distinguished visitor as a token of
| regard from the Americans in the
| colony. In short speech at the pre-
| SENSATION, Major Ross, to every ones
keen delight and particularly that of
Colonel Roosevelt, repeatedly referred
| to the famous hunter as Colonel
Rosenfelt Ii his reply the colonel
| referred to the many years Major
Ross had spent in America and par
tlcularly in the west, saying that they
were both pretty good Rocky noun
| tain men"
1t is somewhat surprising to think
| how this man Of many weird expert
eHces, and continuous adventure has
| settled down to his official life in
| East Africa. See him in his spotless
white duck government uniform with
his breast glittering with his four Or
| ders and medals. and you will hard
| ly credit that this is the man whose
! reckless daring and quick-handed met
! ing out of justice in the Boer war set
! all the British army talking.
See him as | have seen him, clad
| in evening dress at a government
house function, smoking short pipe,
and you may laugh for a moment be-
| cause he looks like duck out of wa
| ter. But you will not laugh long. for
you will quickly recognize that here
! is a MAN. It is because he is pre-
| eminently a man that he is a leader
among men.
| The spirit of the rover of the plains
! and the seeker after adventure is
! strong within him, and it is plain to
| the naked eye. He is no social mimic
! of civilized customs. He is not pol.
| ished, his hands are not manicured.
his face is not massaged, his clothes
are anything but fashionable. but he
! cares not, and after few minutes
| conversation with him you do not
| care either.
Again, see him playing with chill
dren. as / have seen him, laughing
and happy, and you will begin to I'M
derstand that though a man NAV be
| quick to snuff out a life when it is
necessary, this does not imply that he
| is heartless or cruel. No man who can
| look at Ross when he is PLAYING with
his little children friends, can be
cruel or heartless.
But Ross will tell you that it is
sometimes imperative to carry a gun.
and if you do so it is essential that
you can shoot straight and be quicker
on the trigger than the other man. AS
he once naively told me, Shoot
quick and straight. The last man in
gets the full service and won't want
no other
One day the restless spirit within
his gaunt, tall, weather-beaten frame
will bid him pack up his traps and go