The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-09-14 00:00:00

LION FIGIITING.

I.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HMIS!! rnEss..
sliv—A considerable sum is said to have been won and
loSt at The trite lion fight, as it was called, at 'Warwick.
It may happen that a few of the betters tifil more money
than wit, but it in more likely that the majority had very
little of either. However, I ought not to find fault; as I
was myself there, and among the winners. Common Sense
told me to sport my money on backinzr, t-be lion, which I
aid, and I was the more strongly induced to do so fro n the
following relation of the royal beast's perfortnances in the
milling way, with some canine ante ;enlists, quite as fero-
cious and well trained, I have no doubt, as those which
were let loose upon him at Wafw;ck ; as the account I re-
fer to is very short, I will transcribe it. You will. find it
In Burelall's Travel! in the interior of So*thern Africa:
" The day was exceedingly pleasant, and not a cloud was
to be seen. For a mile or two we travelled along the banks,
of the river, which in this part abounded in tall mat-rushes.'
The dogs seemed much to enjoy prowling about and ex-
amining every bushy place, and at last met with some ob-
ject among the rushes, which caused them to set up a most
vehement and determined barking. We explored the spot
With caution, as we suspected, from the peculiar tone of
their bark, that it was, what it proved to be, lions. Hav-
ing eteouraged the dogs to drive them out, a task which
they performed with great willingness, we had a full view
of an enormous black-maned lion and lioness. The latter
was seen only for a minute, as she made her escape up the
river under concealment of the rushes; but the lion came
steadily forward, and stood still to look at us. At this mo-
ment we felt our situation not free from danger, as the
animal seemed preparing to spring upon us, and we were
standing upon the bank at the distance of only a few yards
from him, most of us being on foot and unarmed, without
any visible possibility of escaping. I had given up my
horse to the hunters, and was on foot myself ; but there
was no time for fear, and it was useless to attempt avoiding
him. Poor Truy was in great alarm ; she clasped
her infant to her bosom, and screamed out, as if she thought
her destruction inevitable, calling anxiously to those who
were nearest the animal, Take care Take care ! In great
fear for my safety, she half insisted upon my moving far-
ther off; I, however, stood well upon my guard, holding
my pistols in my hand, with my finger upon the trigger ;
and those who had muskets kept themselves prepared in time
same manner. I;nt at this instant the dogs boldly flew in
between us and the lion, and, surrounding him, kept him
at bay by their violent and resolute balking. The courage
of these faithful animals was most admirable : they ad-
vanced up to the side of the huge beast, and stood making
time greatest clamour in his face, without the least appear-
ance of fear. The lion, conscious of his strength, remained
unmoved at their noisy attempts, and kept his head turned
towards us. At one moment, the dogs perceiving his eye thus
engaged, had advanced close to his feet, and seemed as if
they would actually seize bold of him ; but they paid dearly
for their imprudence, for, without discomposing the majes-
tic and steady attitude in which he stood fixed, he merely
moved his paw, and at the next instant I beheld two lying
dead. In doing this, he made so little exertion, that it was
scarcely perceptible by what means they had been killed."
I am, Sir, yours, etc.
Warrick, Sept. le. J. 31.