Capturing a Rhinoceros

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 7, 15 February 1906, Page 30

Capturing a Rhinoceros

I captured Barnum's first rhinoceros, and that animal cost him more than any four lions or tigers he ever owned, is the proud statement of a contributor to the New York ' Commercial Advertiser.' I was the first animal hunter sent over to Africa by an American, and 1 had it all to learn. I sent home lions, giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, and hyenas without any great trouble, but it was a whole year before I got my first rhinoceros. The natives had killed one occasionally, but such 'a filing as capturing one alive had never been heard of. It iseemed that tho easiest way was to noose him. There are well-defined paths all through the forests of Africa, and these are used more or less by all animals, especially where they lead to water. I made a noose in a new two inch rope big enough to take in a rhinoceros, and then climbed into a tree to manage it. I spent the best part of three days up there before a victim came along, lie scented me and was suspicious, but nevertheless came on and was neatly noosed. 1 believe thati rope would have held a schooner at anchor off Montauk Point, but that rhinoceros made one'plunge and broke it like a thread. My next move was to seek a point on a path several miles from camp and erect a barricade. This barricade ran to a V-sbape point, and was made strong enough to hold an elephant. If a rhinoceros took that path he would follow it to the last inch, and when in close quarters we would be on hand to tangle him up. We had a visitor almost before we were ready. When the rhinoceros got along to the barricade he halted for a minute to sniff the air. Then he lowered his head and went charging down the path ; striking the logs and rocks at the point of the V with the power of a wild locomotive, he battered his way through. My third move was to dig a pit 20ft long, 10ft wide, and 7ft deep, which was covered -with poles, branches, and dirt. When the pit was ready I Avent up the path about half a mile to an opening and hung a red shirt on a bush. I knew that if a rhinoceros sighted that shirt he would charge the bush. I climbed a tree and •waited, and in less than an hour I heard an old fellow coming full tilt. lie Avent through the bush like an

avalanche, and on the path he found a red shirt. He picked it up on his horn and charged down the path. On the far side of the pit was aiuvthcr red shirt, and in his anger the beast didn't look for a .trap. He was dusting along at twenty miles an hour when the earth gave way and he landed on his head at the bottom of the pit. We had a time getting him out and into a cage, and I don't believe he ever got over bc:ng mad.