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110 • S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S his tower to be fixed, then he eagerly climbed to the top and began glassing the swamp. Within seconds he had found four more full- grown rhinos about 300 yards away on the other side of the swamp. So, before celebrating his first rhino kill and with the carcass still lying in the reeds, the men set off after the other animals. Conveniently situated between them and the rhinos was a tall anthill that provided sufficient cover for them to advance single file. Two of the rhinos managed to slip away, but one raced right through the middle of the hunters. No one was hurt, though amazingly, no one was able to put a bullet into the charging monster. Over the next two hours, the hunters continued to pursue two of the rhinos and finally succeeded in bagging both of them before returning to camp. Churchill remained at "Hippo Camp" for a few more days, traveling from lagoon to lagoon before re-boarding the launch and continuing on his African exploration. In the days to come, he would trek inland in search of a great herd of elephants . . . but that's another story. n Addendum While researching this story, I was amazed by the similarities between Theodore Roosevelt and Churchill. Apparently the two men did not like each other, though it's believed they only met once. But in my research I discovered that their careers ran an uncanny parallel course. Churchill and Roosevelt, after being initially doubted by their respective voters and having to cope with a negative media, went on to reach the pinnacle of their careers—Roosevelt as America's 26th president and Churchill as Britain's 59th prime minister. Both men also garnered acclaim for their accomplishments on the battlefield. In July 1898 Roosevelt became a hero after leading a charge up an obscure hill on the island of Cuba. Then, in September of that same year, Churchill helped to lead a successful cavalry charge in the battle of Omdurman in the Sudan. Even in Cuba there was a link between the two men. Churchill was a young officer in the 4th Hussars when he went to the island seeking some action, a full three years before TR's arrival. That in itself must have caused friction between the two titans. Both men were prolific writers who received the Nobel Prize for Literature. Churchill left a treasure chest of books documenting the little-known history of England for future generations. Roosevelt, meanwhile, had recorded his adventures as an outdoorsman and his political career in some 37 books. Roosevelt and Churchill met only once, at a very private dinner meeting in 1900. During one of his visits to America, Churchill traveled from Manhattan to Albany with the sole purpose of meeting TR, who was then vice president. Although there was no official report of their discussion, nor photographs taken to record the event, it seems evident that the two men were not fond of each other. Some researchers believe that TR was taken aback by the young, brash Winston, but Churchill's opinion of Roosevelt remains unknown. TR later confided in a friend: "I saw the Englishman, Winston Churchill here, and he is not an attractive fellow." TR also degraded Winston's father, Lord Randolph, as a "cheap character." TR's daughter, Alice, was once asked why she thought the two men didn't like each other. She answered, "I would have thought it was obvious—they were too much alike." S ometime after reaching Fajao and Murchison Falls the party arrived at a small circular bay where they docked at Hippo Camp. From there, Churchill planned to hunt hippo, elephant, and the illusive Burchell's white rhino. The light was fading fast, so Churchill decided that with less than four hours of daylight remaining, there was no time for a serious hunt. Instead, they decided to scout for game within marching distance of camp. The party split into three groups, each guided by an officer of the African Rifles and taking a different route. One of the groups, led by Colonel Wilson, had an exciting encounter with a lone bull elephant. As they started to stalk the bull, it suddenly decided to turn the tables. With ears outstretched, the massive animal spun around, raised his trunk, trumpeted, and then charged the men at a furious speed. As it barreled toward them through the marsh, the men scattered, some firing at the beast as it rumbled by. The party followed its tracks until last light, but never caught up with him. Churchill's group, meanwhile, had been struggling through tall grass for almost an hour when the hunters spotted a large, dark shape. Churchill was sure it was the much sought-after white rhino, but he wanted to get a better look, so he climbed up a makeshift 10-foot observation tower, which the natives had faithfully carried through the bush. From the top he could glass his surroundings. Churchill noticed the dark shape seemed to triple in size as it filled his view. It was not a rhino, but a magnificent elephant that was ambling straight toward them, leisurely swinging its trunk. The bull was followed by ten more mature animals and three calves. As he watched from his tower, Churchill's attention was suddenly drawn to a sound behind him. To his amazement, it was a white rhino. Churchill was so involved in whispering directions to the natives and directing other members of his party that he lost sight of his prize. Just when he finally picked it up again in his binoculars, the beast caught his wind and disappeared into the dense cover. Frustrated and embarrassed, Churchill and his group returned to camp. It was stifling hot when the entire party headed out the next day at the crack of dawn, full of anticipation for a better hunt. The going was tough as they navigated their way through a mix of marsh and scrub. It was prime rhino habitat, so the men were very cautious as they waded through the tall grass and thornbrush. Churchill sensed danger and suspected every thicket might contain one of the white monsters. The men carried their rifles at the ready, and Churchill was soon feeling the strain of lugging his heavy double through the swamp and reeds. As the sun began to rise, the sweltering conditions worsened. They came upon a group of warthogs, but Churchill's sights were set on a bigger game, and he had no intention of revealing their presence by shooting a warthog. Even a dozen splendid waterbucks browsing at the crest of a small hill couldn't deter him from his chosen quarry. Eventually they came upon several rhinos standing in the shade of a large tree only 60 yards away. The nearest rhino stood broadside to Churchill, who hit him hard with both barrels. The giant fell, but scrambled to its feet and headed directly for Churchill. Winston quickly reloaded and fired twice more to drop the animal for good. One of the other rhinos charged the natives who were carrying Churchill's observation tower, which they dropped as they scattered in all directions. None of the natives were hurt, but the viewing tower was damaged. Undaunted and still focused on his mission, Churchill arranged for