MAN’S LIFE FOR HIS WIFE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 144, 22 May 1925, Page 12

MAN’S LIFE FOR HIS WIFE.

ACTING THE TOREADOR WITH RHINOCEROS.

Captain E. D. Atkins, who was recently killed by a rhinoceros in the Nanyuki district of Kenya, lost life in saving that of his wife by an act of the greatest bravery. Captan Atkins, n prominent Nanyuki settler and sportsman, was motoring with Mrs Atkins from his farm to Meru. In a dry river bed their car stuck, and at this precise moment the rhinoceros which had already killed Mrs Green, the Dublin traveller, broke from the bush—and charged.

Captain Atkins was unarmed. He called to his wife to run for safety, and then, stripping off his coat, awaited the huge beast, and prepared to act tile part of toreador. As tho rhinoceros bore down ho threw his coat over its horn and head, and so prevented it striking the car. Then, as it turned on him, he recovered his coat in order to use it again until his wife should have escaped.

There is no doubt that Captain Atkins, who was a great athlete and polo player, hoped to play tho animal with his coat, and indeed lie succeeded in doing so for a few seconds. He was quickly down, however, and the rhinoceros gored and trampled him to death. Mr Atkins ran in terror down a waggon road, and at length encountered a motoring neighbour, to whom she told her story. Guns were got out, and tho rhinoceros was tracked and killed.