The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-09-15
BEGIN HERE TODAY

1909. They arrive at Mombasa, The
gateway of British East Africa.
and then make the railroad journey
to their first camp on the games
crowded Kapiti Plains, 2sS miles
from the coast. With Colonel Roose.
welt are his son, Kermit, and three
scientific members of his staff-Ma-
jor Edgar A. Mearns, Edmund Helle,
and J. Allen Loring.
Incredible good fortune comes to
the rifles of Colonel Roosevelt and
Kermit during the first two weeks
Of their sojourn. They killed seven
lions within almost as many days
after landing in Mombasa, to say
nothing of other varieties of big
game. There is much work to be
done in preparing the skins of the
large animals.
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
The wonderful array of heads,
skeletons and skins spread out in
the sun near the tents bore silent
but convincing testimony to the
splendid energy and craftsmanship
Of Colonel Roosevelt and Kermit.
There were lions, hippopotamus,
rhinoceri, giraffe, cheetah, leopard
that Kermit had shot when charg-
ing, buffalo, wart-hog, zebra, and Il
large and comprehensive collection of
antelope. gnu and gazelles. There
was also a twelve-foot python that
Colonel Roosevelt had shot when it
was rushing at him angrily; and vast
quantities of birds and small man.
mails that had been so industriously
collected by Mearns and Loring.
The sun was slanting toward the
western horizon, so we hurried back
to our tents to prepare for the after
Moons shooting, for We had been in
vited to accompany father and son
on their quest after further speci-
mems.
Colonel Roosevelt was already
mounted, and talking to Cunning
hame.
Hurry up, you fellows!" he called,
as we approached.
"Whilst Cunninghame and l try
to get big bull wildebeeste that
r. j. has located announced the
colonel, when all were ready and had
mounted, KERMIT is going after
wart-hog."
"'ll take Dawson along with me
and watch your hunting, colonel"
volunteered Heatly.
You come with me, then, Foran,"
decided Kermit.
We started off in a bunch, Dawson
and riding our hired mounts. Both
Of these miserable specimens caused
US the target for jecrs during the
ride out on the plains.
We were soon approaching the
game, and here the party broke up
according to pre-arrangement. While
Colonel Roosevelt and "R. j." rode
off across the plains in the direction
of where the latter had marked down
the big wildebeeste bull, Kermit and
l struck away to the right to try
and scare up some wart-h hogs. Heat
ley and Dawson dismounted and sat
down on small hillock to watch the
progress of the two hunts.
Kermit and 1 soon put up fine
wart-hog sow, which looked to pos
sess exceptionally large tucks. l
suggested to him that we should ride
it down from on horseback, even as
lions had been ridden down with
revOlvers by some of the old-timers
in Africa. The idea caught Kermit's
imagination.
He was a boy of few words, but
swift action. Setting spurs to his
pony, he was quickly speeding across
the rolling plains in hot pursuit Of
"Mrs. Pig" My Indifferent pony
was left hopeiessly behind.
Kermit proved to be singularly
fine rider, and an excellent shot with
a rifle-even from the saddle. For Il
mile or more, the sow managed to
hold her own, and Kermit was un-
able to get at close range to make
sure of killing. Then, l saw him
suddenly drop the reins on his ponys
neck, and fire at the wart-hog from
his hip as he raced alongside. The
shot went home and the pig rolled
over. 1t was quite dead when we
reached it.
We rode about the plains for some
time, but did not put up any more
wart-hogs. As we could see that
some porters had retrieved the. kill,
and were carrying it back to camp,
We rode across country to see how
the colonel was faring in his quest
after wildebeeste. We could see him,
with Cunninghame close at hand,
stalking herd in the distance; SO
we sat down to watch him.
There were large quantities of diff
ferent game where they were stalk
ing, but the wildebeeste were few
and scattered. We could plainly see
a fine bull, which appeared to be the
objective. But the old fellow was
shy. The hunters were having great
in getting close enough to
be certain of getting him at the first
shot. The wildebeeste are as savage
as they are Unfortunately suspicious,
SO it is not easy to stalk them. This
old bull, every time the hunters APP
preached near him, plunged and
bucked before starting off on wild
gallop to a place further removed
from the two strangers. His actions
to be very ferociously &C.
centric, and the chances of getting
him did not appear. bright.
/. Colonel Roosevelt was unable to
get close enough for shot. Dark
ness crept oyer the veldt, and he
gave it up. We waited for Colonel
and Cunninghame to re-
join US, and then we all rode back to
camp in silence. Disappointment
makes all hunters silent. But think
that Kermit felt his fathers disap-
pointment more keenly than anyone.
No one who has not experienced a
dinner in a camp on the East African
plains, with the nights perfect still