Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-29

IU received, by native runner.
4 an invitation from Harry
and Mackie Walker. known
throughout Africa as hunters and col
lectors of wild animals to join them
In their efforts TO capture young ele-
plants.
What | knew about elephants at
that time was not a great deal. | had
been in Africa only a few months.
Most of that period had been spent
either at my base camp at Tara ham
ding young animals or hunting in
country in which there were no ele-
plants.
had spent one month trying to
hunt these great beasts. and had
walked several hundred miles on their
trails then and at other odd times
But ! had been by myself, | could
not speak the native languages very
well. and naturally had had no sue
cess.
1t can be imagined with what alac-
rity | accepted the Walker offer.
It would give me an opportunity to
hunt with and learn from two men
who had killed many elephants and
also succeeded ip capturing three
calves alive.
left the farm one morning. taking
With me my doubled barreled 500 ex-
press, n 404 Mauser and 10 selected
boys" The distance was about 20
miles and the natives had little to car
nv. 80 that we reached the camp on
the evening of the day we left
Just before ! reached Eamaiamma .
village. near which the Walkers were
camped. l was crossing a small vlel
when | saw two large. bulky. gray
animals and one similar in build. but
smaller and darker. They were the
Vol IL thron
all stopped and watched, fascinated.
as the elephants browsed around.
1t was a sight to he remembered.
Two were over AZ feet high and the
smallest only about 3 feet with
miniature trunk and miniature edi-
lions Of an African elephants great
sail-like ears They We're very tame
and obedient Each of the two largest
had ropes on one front and one hind
leg and around the neck by which the
attendant boys" governed them. The
smallest was unhampered and ambled
along free and unruffied.
For those who have never hunted
elephants in the veldt it is probably
hard to imagine getting a thrill just
from seeing three calves. But hunt
them yourself. Crawl in sakas so
thick and dark that you can scarcely
sea Yards ahead.
Examine the enormous trees ele-
nhants break down. Fall into one OF
the deep pits made by their feet In
marshy ground. Then you begin to
appreciate the tremendous size and
mower Of the great brutes. Think Of
he number OF hunters they catch ana
smash every year.
Talk with the natives and feel their
awe and admiration of His Highness
Big Feet" They are the real kings OF
the Wild. Everything gives way
before them. Even man himself,
armed with modern and penetrating
rifles. often goes down before the mag
ntfioent screa ming charge of an in
furiated bull.
At the camp ! found Mrs. Mackie
Walker expecting me. The men, she
told me. had left only that morning.
Word had been brought in that the
herd Of elephants they were after had
passed close by heading west the
night before. | decided to spend the
night and TO follow them up In the
bush next day While / was drinking
my tea. Mrs. Mackie entertained me
with stories Of the capture OF the
three elephants I had seen.
Mary. the smallest. was the first one
caught At the time the Walkers
captured her. after shooting her
mother. she was so young that she
had not cut her teeth and was feeding
entirely on milk. They walked her
into camp and started teaching her
10 drink from a bottle
Like most young wild animals. she
took to this method OF feeding readily
and was then progressing 1nely on
diet Of As bottles of a Cruel made OF
milk. water. corn meal. sugar. ana
coarse white -four. When she started
cutting her teeth however. she had d.
gsstive upsets just as babies do. She
grew crotchety and touchy. AT the
time arrived Mary was feeling better
and had successfully passed the worst
Of the tooth-cutting period.
TIM. a bull about feet 6 inches
- high. was the second one caught.
The manner in which he was captured
vas a novel one and, especially for
Harry Walker. extremely hazardous.
According TO Mrs. Mackie Walker. the
Walker brothers were deceived by the
AAse with which Mary had been
caught, and they imagined that Jim
couid be handled with a little difficulty
also. they were misled as TO his size
and strength, as he was overtopped
by many in a large herd. At any
rate, they selected him as good
specimen and, to make his capture
easier. shot his mother.
'As soon as Harry fred" said Mrs
walker. the boys let the dogs go:
They can't hurt an elephant OF
course, and the elephants can't catch
them. but heavens. what noise and
excitement. They had about thirty
dogs with them and they let them all
go. The dogs turned Jim out from
the herd. but he went back TO his
mother He'd take after dog and
chase II. screaming and roaring.
Then he'd see another and 60 after
that one. Around trees, through the
thorns. into the vines.
He was so big he could smash
trees seven inches through. Attic