The Meeker herald., 1914-06-13

He said he had Just returned som the Congo.
where he had been shooting elephants for some
months at The back Of Mahagi. and that he had
been vsry successful up to certain poink. BIT
then had lost all his harsottsn ivory and al his
effects, owing to an attack from the natives His
subsequent narrative was an enthra1ling one, and
wish that It were possible for mo to reproduce
1t exactly he told 1t to that still African
night.
II got on very we'll with the natives and had
got some very ane tusks." he continued. "Ons
day was out after some elephants. which had
been located by the natives for me. and came
across four huge tuskers. fired at the biggest
but only succeeded In MORALLY wounding 1t. He
charged through the tall elephant grass toward
me. with his huge ears outspread and his trunk
raised high above his head. He screamed fear
fully with rage and pain and the sight was In
deed terrifying one. fred at pont-blank range
and again hit him MORALLY. The elephant contin-
ued his charge and one Of my native servants
failed to get out Of his way. The elephant pushed
the native to one side with his tusk in passing
and the boy fell to the ground without sound.
The elephant fell down dead . short distance
away
''The three remaining elephants were Wild with
rage and rushed hither and thither, tearing down
the trees In all directions a. II they had been
made Of paper. screaming shrilly all the time It
was an anxious moment for me. for was within
nifty feet Of them at the time of my FIRST shot.
At last they made OF across country toward the
lake. and followed them UP and succeeded In
range.
II returned to look for my native servant,
thinking that he would be watching over my nrst
tusker. To my astonishment found the boy
lying dead where he had fallen when the elephant
bowled him over. examined him carefully and
found that no bones had been fractured. nor was
there mark his body. He must have died
from shock at the terrifying experience
ION or about December 10th moved OF farther
inland after big herd and camped, leaving my
I'm txwoH ~v h~ht rA
Of twenty miles Of me there were four other white
poachers, namely. Pearson, Dickinson, Boyes and
Knowles. The natives appeared perfectly friendly
to me. On my nrst night In camp they visited
me. dancing and singing round my campfire
suspected NO treachery from them: on the con-
trary they appeared willing to keep me informed
OF the movements Of the elephants and Of the
Belgian military patrol. which was operating in
the district endeavoring to capture us poachers.
Next day the same thing happened and was
asked to attend to the leg Of Of the tribesmen
who had been injured badly in 4 native brawl.
l bathed the wound and was winding bandage
round the wounded leg when suddenly felt my
wrists seized. A rope was quickly cast round my
neck. other ropes were fastened round my legs
and arms. and was jerked roughly on the camp
stool on which was sitting Then the natives
seised my guns. and all my camp equipment was
deliberately destroyed before my eyes. a native
seised my helmet and insolently paraded before
me with II on his own head. was then beaten
savagely across the hack Of the hands and on the
body with sticks. Ny hands burst open. hurting
fearfully. and the sun beat down upon my head
with terrific force.
II was made to march. with my captors jesring
at me and subJecting me to awful indignities, for
four whole days throusA the broiling sun until
their powerful chiefs village was reached Here
the chief came forward and shook mo BY my
wounded and manacled hands, bidding his follow.
era release me- He was dneiooking old savage.
with q very intelligent facs. standing over six
fest Aieh