Teddy Roosevelt ?

Embellishment · August 3, 2013, 03:41 PM

Is it true that President Teddy Roosevelt dropped a charging White Rhino at 50 paces on a big game hunting trip to Africa. I was thinking I heard this in a TV documentary once?

This sort of hunting seems a bit intense for me.

Embellishment

Art Eatman · August 3, 2013, 07:22 PM

I have no clue, but I wouldn't be at all surprised. Based on bits and pieces that I've read, he was really into serious hunting, and apparently a pretty good shot.

IIRC, he liked the 1985 lever action in .405 Winchester.

Revan · August 3, 2013, 07:31 PM

Very possible, he was an outstanding outdoorsman and one hell of a President. Bully!

Kreyzhorse · August 3, 2013, 08:22 PM

I don't know if he was a good shot or not, but I love this quote from him.

Quote:

I’m not a good shot, but I shoot often.

Geezerbiker · August 4, 2013, 03:00 AM

If you're into T.R. stuff, a bunch of his letters to Winchester about getting his rifles the way he wanted them were reprinted in the book "Winchester, the gun that won the west." As I recall there were some pix too but I read that book about 40 years ago....

Tony

kraigwy · August 4, 2013, 08:20 AM

I don't know what TR considered "a few yards away" but this is from TR's book, "African Game Trails" (first addition).

Quote:

As the bull rose, Kermit gave him a fatal shot with his beloved Winchester. He galloped full speed toward us, not charging, but in a mad panic of terror and bewilderment; and with a bullet from my the Holland I brought him down in his tracks only a few yards away".

I don't know if this is the incident the OP is referring to, but its all I found with a quick search of this book, which I haven't read in years.

Guess I'm going to have to re-read it.

buck460XVR · August 4, 2013, 10:23 AM

I doubt if Teddy ever embellished a hunting story............

Double Naught Spy · August 4, 2013, 04:20 PM

No hunter ever does!

With that said, the type of hunt described isn't unusual. You can find similar hunts with hippo, rhino, lion, wildebeest, etc. in numerous travelogues of the 1800s and early 1900s. You can even find a couple such videos on youtube today.

myfriendis410 · August 4, 2013, 06:24 PM

He was filmed shooting a Rhino at less than ten paces. I remember seeing it years ago. The man had some balls!

Double Naught Spy · August 4, 2013, 06:49 PM

Here is one account of a charging rhino shot by TR, but it wasn't at 10 yards.
The rhino dropped at 13 paces, and if the description is right, likely CNS crippled via the shot from the hunting partner. I like the second link better as it is a news account, but the same text.
http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/tr.htm
http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...g=2739,2239677

Going back to Kreyzhorse's quote, Roosevelt referred to it as Ciceronian theory, basically that if you shoot enough, sooner or later you will hit. Today, we would call it spray and pray. Of course, Roosevelt, like the rhino he pursued, was poor of eyesight.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/histor...ing_issue.html

shafter · August 24, 2013, 08:14 PM

I believe it. Teddy was the real deal. He was a cowboy out west, traveled on an expedition down an unexplored river in the Amazon, and led the charge up San Juan Hill. I have no doubt he had some crazy encounters while hunting in Africa.

Double Naught Spy · August 24, 2013, 10:00 PM

Recheck your history. While TR led "a" charge up San Juan Hill, it previously charged by 'colored' soldiers, initially led by 1st LT Jules Garesche Ord, the first American to the top.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/julesgar.htm

g.willikers · August 25, 2013, 01:46 PM

He did finish a speech with a bullet in his chest, after an assassination attempt.

August 3, 2013, 03:41 PM	#1
Embellishment Junior Member Join Date: August 3, 2013 Posts: 12	Teddy Roosevelt ? Is it true that President Teddy Roosevelt dropped a charging White Rhino at 50 paces on a big game hunting trip to Africa. I was thinking I heard this in a TV documentary once? This sort of hunting seems a bit intense for me. Embellishment

August 4, 2013, 04:20 PM	#8
Double Naught Spy Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2001 Location: Forestburg, Montague Cnty, TX Posts: 12,717	No hunter ever does! With that said, the type of hunt described isn't unusual. You can find similar hunts with hippo, rhino, lion, wildebeest, etc. in numerous travelogues of the 1800s and early 1900s. You can even find a couple such videos on youtube today. __________________ "If you look through your scope and see your shoe, aim higher." -- said to me by my 11 year old daughter before going out for hogs 8/13/2011 My Hunting Videos https://www.youtube.com/user/HornHillRange

August 4, 2013, 06:49 PM	#10
Double Naught Spy Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2001 Location: Forestburg, Montague Cnty, TX Posts: 12,717	Here is one account of a charging rhino shot by TR, but it wasn't at 10 yards. The rhino dropped at 13 paces, and if the description is right, likely CNS crippled via the shot from the hunting partner. I like the second link better as it is a news account, but the same text. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/tr.htm http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...g=2739,2239677 Going back to Kreyzhorse's quote, Roosevelt referred to it as Ciceronian theory, basically that if you shoot enough, sooner or later you will hit. Today, we would call it spray and pray. Of course, Roosevelt, like the rhino he pursued, was poor of eyesight. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/histor...ing_issue.html __________________ "If you look through your scope and see your shoe, aim higher." -- said to me by my 11 year old daughter before going out for hogs 8/13/2011 My Hunting Videos https://www.youtube.com/user/HornHillRange

August 24, 2013, 10:00 PM	#12
Double Naught Spy Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2001 Location: Forestburg, Montague Cnty, TX Posts: 12,717	Recheck your history. While TR led "a" charge up San Juan Hill, it previously charged by 'colored' soldiers, initially led by 1st LT Jules Garesche Ord, the first American to the top. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/julesgar.htm __________________ "If you look through your scope and see your shoe, aim higher." -- said to me by my 11 year old daughter before going out for hogs 8/13/2011 My Hunting Videos https://www.youtube.com/user/HornHillRange

August 25, 2013, 01:46 PM	#13
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	He did finish a speech with a bullet in his chest, after an assassination attempt. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

August 3, 2013, 07:22 PM	#2
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	I have no clue, but I wouldn't be at all surprised. Based on bits and pieces that I've read, he was really into serious hunting, and apparently a pretty good shot. IIRC, he liked the 1985 lever action in .405 Winchester.

August 3, 2013, 07:31 PM	#3
Revan Junior Member Join Date: July 28, 2013 Posts: 13	Very possible, he was an outstanding outdoorsman and one hell of a President. Bully!

August 4, 2013, 03:00 AM	#5
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	If you're into T.R. stuff, a bunch of his letters to Winchester about getting his rifles the way he wanted them were reprinted in the book "Winchester, the gun that won the west." As I recall there were some pix too but I read that book about 40 years ago.... Tony

August 4, 2013, 10:23 AM	#7
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4,342	I doubt if Teddy ever embellished a hunting story............

August 4, 2013, 06:24 PM	#9
myfriendis410 Senior Member Join Date: March 30, 2011 Location: Lompoc California Posts: 274	He was filmed shooting a Rhino at less than ten paces. I remember seeing it years ago. The man had some balls!

August 24, 2013, 08:14 PM	#11
shafter Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2009 Posts: 1,624	I believe it. Teddy was the real deal. He was a cowboy out west, traveled on an expedition down an unexplored river in the Amazon, and led the charge up San Juan Hill. I have no doubt he had some crazy encounters while hunting in Africa.