El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-06-30
ELEPHANTS RENDER FIRST AID;"
EXPLORER RELATES THEIR KINDLY ACT

Washing ton. D. C.. June 3O.-CarI E.
Akeley, African explorer. in a cOmmu-
nication TO the National Geographic
society. tells Of an elephant first aid
plants Of a herd, which not only at
tempted to give succOr 20 their
wounded sultan" but went on patrol
duty" in an effort to punish his as
While hunting elephants in Uganda,
Mr. Akeley came upon a herd in a clear
ing rounded up in close formation,
conscious Of the presence Of an unseen
enemy There were about % ele-
plants. mostly cows, and just as I was
on the point Of backing off TO a safer
distance, thinking there were no big
bulls in the lot, a fine pair Of tusks
appeared on the near side" he says.
"a clump Of bushes offered cover for
a near approach and 1 went in quickly
to within 20 yards Of him, and as his
front leg was thrust forward offering
a good opportunity for a heart shot,
fired both barrels Of the double rifle
in quick succession.
Cows Gave SuccOr to Bull.
All was cOmmOtion as I seized my
second rifle and, seeing there was no
direct charge, retreated some so yards
70 the top Of an ant hill, from which
/ could see what was going on I then
witnessed a scene such as L had heard
described and which 1 had been keen
to verify. A number Of cows We're
clustered about the bull, for he had
fallen 80 yards from where he was
shot, and with their tuSks and trunks
wer doing their best TO get him upon
his feet; the remainder Of the cows
were doing patrol duty, rushing about
in an increasing circle, searching for
the source Of the trouble That meant
me, so I retired TO safe distance and
waited for the atmosphere to clear.
This bull stood II feet and four inches
high at the shoulders, and the tusks
weighed 95 and 10 pounds respective
", while the circumference of the front
foot at the sole was 67h inches, the
largest recorded. I believe.
Bulls Seldom Alone.
1T is generally understood that large
bull elephants are more frequently TO
be found apart from the herds but our
experience does not bear this out Three
bulls that we have shot, having tusks
each Weighing over 100 pounds, have
been herd bulls. We have found the
large old bulls enjoying the society and
protection of large herds Of cows and
young animals One splendid old bull
wei known in Urganda, who has been
seen by many hunters, is so well pro-
tected by a large herd Of most aggres-
sive cows, who charge at the slightest
1ntimation Of danger. that he still sur
vles- These old bulls are very rare. for
when one has developed tUsks OF 50
pounds he becomes the target for every
hunter, native or white, who sets eyes
upon him; thus it is only the more
crafty or timid individuals that. seek
ing the protection OF large herds or
clinging TO the more inaccessible re-
gions such as dense forests, manage
TO survive TO ripe old age and develop
a full growth Of ivory.
Charged BY Enraged Herd.
AT another time. I was watching a
herd from an ant hill, when from the
cows there was a low, OminOus rumble
like distant thunder. which was plain
talk and meant trouble. a hasty glance
around convinced US that there was but
one thing to do, to stand and meet the
charge from the elevation where we
were and from which We could see. II
we tried TO escape TO one side or to the
forest we could not see them over the
high grass before they were upon US
They charged toward US, came half
half way and stopped They had lost
the wind. but Immediately caught il
again. and roaring and screaming with
redOubled energy came into view over
a slight rise. II was a disconcerung