"Shot in the Dark"
Giclée canvas print:
32"x52", edition size 100 s/n
$3,300 unframed |
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The hunter, Grudzinski, sat in his tent,
still unable to believe what had just happened. He had performed
a feat the likes of which had never been told or heard of in
sporting literature before this time. The year is 1898. Still
shaking from the excitement he recalled what had just happened.
He had been feeling unwell and had remained
at camp that day and was now spending a quiet night in bed in
his tent. It was just before midnight and he was dozing off when
the Somali porters roused him with the news that a herd of elephants
was feeding close to camp. Quickly dressing, he grabbed his rifle
and rushed outside into the clear moonlight followed by the Somalis
and his gun bearer. The gun bearer grabbed a lamp and stayed
close behind Grudzinski. Unexpectedly, as they rounded a clump
of acacia, they almost ran into the browsing herd, which was
now very alert to the hunters presence. The lead bull raised
its head and flapped its ears; Grudzinski calmly took aim and
fired. As soon as the shot was fired, the Somalis and his gun
bearer made a quick exit. Shouting the elephant is charging!,
without warning his shikaris scooped him up and man-handled him
to safety. Not knowing what had happened to his elephant and
annoyed at their intervention, Grudzinski reluctantly, returned
to camp. Excitement was still high amongst the Somalis, who were
most fearful of elephants, particularly at night. Only a few
minutes had elapsed when one of the shikaris burst into the tent
and announced that there was one big elephant standing in exactly
the same place as the one he had shot at. Grabbing his rifle
once again, he reloaded and went out into the night a second
time. He could see a huge black object not thirty yards away,
although it was difficult to judge exact distance in this light.
He aimed at the chest area and fired; simultaneously, panic seized
the Somalis again, and they dashed off in all directions towards
camp. Before completing their retreat the elephant fell to Grudzinskis
lucky bullet. The men were elated and gradually returned to find
that their hero white hunter had killed a bull elephant with
magnificent tusks, at midnight, within two hundred yards of his
tent. Such a feat was unheard of and he was probably given a
new name by the Somalis that night.
What happened to the first elephant remained
a mystery.
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