Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1913-04-23
all surprising under the .circum.

few men know the habits and straits
of the. wild game In Natures Zoo
better than Ross. II
feel rather like telling tales out Of
school by narrating the following lit.
tie story Of Ross. It Is so typical of
the great. big, boyish heart Of the
man, that I can not refrain from tell
ing it. .s:s 4. III Il 4. u 3s5
1t so happened that Ross foregath.
cred with three other Americans in;
Natrobi to celebrate Independence
day. They had very lively dinner
and afterward proceeded to loose on
steam by firing on a number OF crack
ers and rockets. firing OF this tame
pastime, they started in to turn Nal
robt into a wild West" town by
shooting out the street lamps from the
5veranda 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 q ledger under light. h
B The temptation was too strong for
Ross and his three American compan-
ions. They lit some crackers and
threw them into the bank building
through the open window. The clerk
mistook them for bombs and rushed
out, shouting "Murder!" 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-ut,
and to avoid arrest for their prank
Ross and his companions roughly han;
died the policemen and put them to
flight. 3Sss5 SEE
happened to be In command of the.
police at Nairobi, and soon came upon
the scene In answer to a telephone
call. Iarrested the four practical jok..
ers for disturbing the peace. and
resisting police officer in the exc
cution OF his duty They were all
released II on bail, and subsequently
stood their trial before the sessions
Judge and q white jury. i
The jury, In the face OF the weight
OF evidence, brought In q verdict OF
not guilty j, and all were acquitted.
Ross made an ample apology to all
concerned for his tBhare in the en-
capade. and laughingly told me that
he thought It pretty hard that q good
American could not enjoy his national
holiday without being arrested, |;
When Colonel Roosevelt Il 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 rhinoceros-foot box to
the distinguished visitor as token of
regard from the Americans In y the
colony In q short speech at the pre-
senstation, Major Ross, to every ones
keen delight and particularly that 8of,
Colonel Roosevelt, repeatedly referred
to- the famous hunter as Colonel.
Rosenfelt. :" In his reply the colonel
referred to the many years Major
Ross had spent In America and par.
ucularly in the west. saying that they
we're both pretty. good Rocky noun
tain men," Il.
1t Is somewhat surprising to think
how this man Of many weird expert.
ences and continuous adventure has
settled down to his oficial 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
~ 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 I have seen him, clad
In evening dress at q government
house function, smoking q short pipe,
and you may laugh for q moment be-
cause he looks like q duck out Of wa
ter. But you will not laugh long, for
you will quickly recognize that here
IL a MAN. It Is because he is pre-
eminently = man that he IL q leader
among mon. p ;.t,3 81 n |, s'. I.
The spirit of the rover OF the plains
and the seeker after adventure IL
strong within him. and 1t is plain to
the naked eye. He 10 no social mimic
Of civilized customs. He is not pol.
ished, his hands are not manicured.
his face IL not massaged. his clothes
are anything but fashionable, but he
cares not, and after q few minutes
conversation with him you do not
care either.
Again, see him playing with chill.
dren, rs ] have seen him, laughing
i and happy, and you will begin to un-
derstand that though man may be
quick to snuff out q life when it IL
necessary. this does not imply that he
Is heartless or cruel. No man who can
look at Ross when he 10 playing with
his little children friends can be
cruel or heartless.
But Ross will tell you that 1t IL
sometimes imperative to carry gun,
and II you do so 1t is essential that
you can shoot straight and be quicker
on the trigger than the other man. Az
he once naively told me, Shoot
quick and straight, The last man in
gets the full service and won't want
no other.
1 One day the restless spirit within
his gaunt, tall; weather; beaten frame
will bid him pack up his traps and go
forth again to fresh adventures. The
life is too alluring to be left alone for
long. When that spirit moves Ross
again. things will happen. Things
have a way of happening when he
is around.
But for the moment he has settled
down to home life with wife, and
maybe with son to rear up to fol-
low In his footsteps. But l do not
think that he will stay content for
long in civilization. ~
Madam" he said, II am indeed sor.