The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-06-30
FIR5jT AID
Brigade Work is Demonstrated
by the Female Elephants of
a Herd Africa.

WASHINGTON, D. c., June 30
Carl q. Akeley, African explorer. in
communication ito the National
Geographic Society, at Washington,
d. C., tells of an elephant FIRST aid
brigade" made up Of the female ele-
plants Of herd, which not only at
tempted to give succor to their
wounded Sultan" but went on pa
troll duty" in an effort to punish his
assailant.
While hunting elephants in Urgan-
da, Mr.. Akeley came upon herd in
a clearing, rounded up in close for
nation, conscious Of the presence OF
an unseen enemy. There were
about twenty-five elephants, mostly
COWS, and just as was on the point
Of backing on to q 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 i went in quickly
to within twenty 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.
No Direct Charge.
"All was commotion as seized my
second rife and, seeing there was no
direct charge, retreated some fifty
yards to the top of an, ant hill, from
which ! could see what was going
on. l then witnessed scene such as
I had heard described and which l
had been keen to verify. A number
of cows were clustered about the bull,
for he had fallen thirty yards from
where he was shot, and with their
tusks and trunks were doing their
best to get him upon his feet; the.
remainder Of COWS were doing patrol
duty, rushing about in an increasing
circle, searching for the source OF
the trouble. That meant me, so Il
retired to a safe distance and waited
for the atmosphere ITO clear. This
bull stood IL feet inches high at
the shoulders, ana the tusks weighed
95 and Ito pounds respectively,
while the circumference of the front
foot at the sole was 67k inches, the
largest recorded, believe.
1T is generally understood that
large bull elephants are more FREE
quent to be found apart from the
herds, but our experience does not
bear this out. Three bulls that we
have shot, having tusks each weigh
ing over 100 pounds, have been herd
bulls. We have found the large old
bulls enjoying the society and pro-
lection of large herds of COWS and
young animals. One splendid old
bull well known in Urganda, who
has been seen by many hunters, is
so well protected by a large herd of
most aggressive cows, who charge at
the slightest intimation of danger,
that he still survives. These old
bulls are very rare. for when one has
developed tusks of SO pounds he be-
comes the target for every hunter.
native or white, who sets eyes upon
him; thus 1t is the only more crafty
or timid individuals that, seeking
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 de-
velop a full growth Of ivory.
Disconcerting Spectacle.
"At another time, 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. If 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 way and stopped. They. had
lost the wind, but Immediately
caught 1t again, and roaring and
screaming with redouble denergy
came into view over slight rise. 1t
was disconcerting spectacle. Their
great ears at full spread. trunks
thrashing wildly. roaring, scream
ing mass, forty tons Of frantic female
vengeance. remember that l felt
homesick. A rifle shot stopped the
leader, but, encouraged by the 9TH
|ers, she came on, only to be knocked
down by the second shot. The 9TH
ers crowded about her, shifted and
bolted. The old COW slowly re-
gained her feet ana staggered away,
while we in deep gratitude returned
to camp"