CHAMPION HUNTER

Rotorua Morning Post, 1 March 1933, Page 3

CHAMPION HUNTER

BIG GAME SPORTSMAN LEAYES ON FOURTEENTH EXPEDITION. REMARICABLE RECORD. Buried dn tbe heart of Kent is tbe most remarkable record in existence of human courage and fearlessness. It is a record of more than 3000 wild •animals all shot by one man in fortythree years of big game banting all over the world. This remarkable collection has been secured by Major P. H. G. PoAvfll-Cot-ton.. the vorld's champion big game hunter, wbo lives at Quex Park, near Birehington, Kent, and a few weeks ago, set out by air for the Sudan on his fourteenth African hunting expedition. Thougb be is now GG tbis modern Trader Horn is stili keen of eye and of unimpaired nerve and stamina. From tbe curator in cbarge of this unique big- game museum, Mr. G. F. Pinfold, reporter, has had the story of Major Powell-Cotton's thrilling jungle exploits. His collections, Mr. Pinfold said, bad cost bim a substantial fortune — it is insured for something like £G0,000 — and has led him into all manncr of exciting adventures. "The major's tbirteentb lion," said

Mr. Pinfold, nearly cost bim his life. Native servants were b ealing the bush to get the animal into tbe open when it suddenly broke cover and cbarged. The native who was nearest turned to fiy, and the major fired both barrels and mechanically put out his hand to grasp his spare rifie. But the gun- , bearer had fled also. "Hurling his empty weapon at the lion's bead, -be turned to run, but tbe next second the lion was on his back and hurled him on tbe ground. As it was ende»a.vouring to drag up hisi head a ivorter -ran up and courageously began to hit the enraged animal with a lieavy stick to try and make it loose its hold. "In the nick of time Major PowellCotton's liead-man ran up, too, and began to slash the lion across tbe eyes with a hippo bide whip. The two natives succeeded in distracting the animal's attention just long enough for a native hunter to sbaot it dead at close range. Afterwards it was discovered that tbe major had seventeen claw wounds." To Major Powell-Cotton's rifie also fell the talles.t elephant ever brought out of Africa. When Major Powell-Cotton was married 26 years ago be spent his boneymoon on a big game hunting expedition.