Milford chronicle., 1948-12-03


PATTERSON African wilds, but
he has done just
tkat on many a six-mOnth stretch
and seems none the worse for the
experience.
He goes into Africa in the SIM
plest possible way. A small num-
Der Of native carriers accompany
him, enough to transport only the
barest necessities, including his
cameras. His purpose is not the
killing Of>African game but to pho
tOgraph it in its native habitat, es-
pecially the elephant and the hippo
potamus, on which he is ranked as
an outstanding authority.
GUIDES are a nOn-essential,
for Frank Thompson knows Af-
rica, and he knows African wild
life. He knows where to look
for those animals Of which he
wants pictures, and how to get
to such places. Once he enters
the expanse of African Jungle,
bush and forests his friends sell
dom hear from him. He is out
of the reach Of postal services,
of telegraph or radio sending
stations.
While what he is doing as his
avocation involves constant danger,
his friends have learned to realize
that Frank can take care Of him
self. He always has come back,
though he has faced both charging
elephants and hippOpotamuses. On
occasion he has shot the enraged
beasts as a choice between his life
and that Of the charging animal.
During World War II Frank sus-
pended his avocational trips into
wild Africa. The war was being
waged in Africa as well as through
out the remainder Of the world, and
wild men added to wild beasts rep.
resented more hazard than he cared
to encounter.
ON HIS Photographic expeditions
Frank has, on some occasions, un-
dertaken to secure specimens Of
such African animals as museums
or other educational institutions
might need to complete a collection.
His one trophy, other than pictures,
that he brought back from his re-
Gently completed expedition, was
the long neck and head Of a giraffe.
It now has joined the collection
of trophies covering the walls Of
the club rooms Of the Adventures
club, of which he is an outstanding
member. It was a specimen the
club did not have until Frank
Thompson completed its collection.
1t was at the Adventures club that
I have known Frank for the past
80 years and more.
FRANK does not consider his
expeditions into Africa as ad-
ventures. He thinks Of them as
but a play time. Unless others
who know Africa and its wild
denizens happen TO meet across
or around a club table, he does
not talk Of them. When. under
such conditions, he does talk C
is in low tones, and In q mat
ter-Of-fact way that displays no
slightest element Of bOasting.
have heard him tell Of charging
elephants and hippopotamuses,
when it was a case Of his life or that
of the enraged animal. Under such
conditions Frank will shoot, ami he
cannot afford to miss. Should II be
possible to step aside and let the
animals pass, he does not attempt
to stop them. To Frank Thompson
such incidents were not adventures,
they we're but ordinary incidents Of
his picture-taking play time in At
rica.
Frank Thompson is one Of the
most unusual characters have
known, and it is a privilege 70
be permitted to call him
friend"
President Truman intuition
proved a better political weather
vane than the intricate mechanism
used by DR.. Gallup.
The Republicans can console
themselves with the knowledge
there will be another chance in 1852
only four years to wait.
HAVING had a generous taste Of
the something-for-nothing-swe we
will continue to demand more and
more until there is nothing left but
the empty carton.