The Sun.
London, England, 1851-10-16 00:00:00

LAST EXPLOIT OF THE FRENCH LION-

KILLER. - -
The Journal des Chasseurs publishes the following
letter, addressed to a friend by M. Jules Gerard, an
officer of the French army, distingushed for his lion-
killing exploits:—
" My dear Leon,—ln my narrative of the month of
August, 1850, I spoke of a large old lion which I had
not been able to fall in with, and of whose sex and
age I had formed a notion from his roarings. On the
return cf the expeditionary column from Kabylia, I
asked permission for„ General St. Armand to go and
explore the fine lairs situated on the northern decli-
vity of Mount Aures, in the environs of Klenchela,
where I had left my animal. Instead of a furlough I
received a mission for that country, and accordingly
had during two months to shut my ears against the
daily reports that were brought to me by the Arabs
of the misdeeds of the solitary. In the beginning of
September, when my mission was terminated, I pro-
ceedcd to pitch my tent in the midst of the district
haunted by the lion, and set about my investigations
round about the douars to which he paid the most
frequent visits. In this manner I spent many a
night beneath the open sky, without any satisfac-
tory result, when, on the 15th, in the morning,
after a heavy rain which had lasted till midnight,
some natives, who had explored the cover,
come and informed me that the lion was ensconced
within half a league of my tent. I set out at three
o'clock, taking with me an Arab to hold my horse,
another carrying my arms, and a third in charge of a
goat most decidedly unconscious cf the important
part it was about to perform. Having alighted at
the skirt of the wood, I directed myself towards a
glade situated in the midst of the haunt, where I
found a shrub to which I could tie the goat, and a
tuft or two to sit upon. The Arabs went and
crouched down beneath the cover, at a distance of
about 100 paces. I had been there about a quarter
of au hour, the goat meanwhile bleating with all its
might, when a covey of partridges go up behind me,
uttering their usual cry when surpi sed. I looked
about me in every direction, but cou_ I see nothing.
Meanwhile the goat had ceased crying, and its eyes
were intently fixed at me. She made an attempt to
break away from the fastening, and then began
to tremble in all her limbs. At these symptoms
of fright I again turned round, and per-
ceived behind me, about fifteen
the lion stretched out at the foot of a juniperPacesoff,
the tree,fl;
through the branches of which he was surveying us
and making wry faces. In the position I was in it
was impossible for roe to fire without facing about.
I tried to fire from the left shoulder but felt awk-
ward. I turned gently round without rising. I was
in a favourable position, and just as I was levelling
my piece the lion stood up and began to show me all
his teeth, at the same time shaking his head, as much
as to say What the devil are you doing there ?' I
did not hesitate a moment, and fired at his mouth.
The animal fell on the spot as if struck by lightning.
My men ran up at the shot,
.end as they were eager
I tired a second time be-
t
tto e
laye
n
the handse
I eosn,
nh elion,order
to secure his lying perfectly
still. The first bullet had taken the course of the
spine throughout its entire length, passing through
the marrow, and had come cut at the tail. I had never
before fired a shot that had penetrated so deeply, and
yet I had only loaded with sixty grains. It is true
the rifle was one of Devisme's and the bullets steel-
pointed. The lion, a black one and among the oldest
I have ever shot, supplied the kettles of four com-
panies of infantry who were stationed at Klenchela.
Receive, my dear Leon, the assurance of my devoted
affection. " JULES GERAICD."

TUE LAST AMERICAN DOG STORY.
The advantages of advertising are admirably illus-
trated in the following incident, which we find re-
corded in the last Sandusky Democrat:—
Mr. Luke Horton, of South Eighth-street,
keeps a dog called La Vega, an ill-favoured,
fierce-eyed brute, whose untidy habits and cross-
grained temper cause him to be held in detestation by
the family in general, and by Mrs. Horton, her mis-
tress, in particular. La Vega, however is a great
favourite with his master. About a week ago Mrs.
Horton became exasperated on account of some unen-
durable offence committed by La Vega, and privately
bargained with an old collector of soap fat, named Abe
Walker, who, for a dollar fee, agreed to take the dog
off, and " render him up"
,into tallow, or otherwise
relieve Mrs. Horton from the annoyance of his
presence.

Mr. Horton, on coming home to dinner, inquired
for La Vega, and was chagrined with the information
that his troublesome pet had absconded. For some
days the absence of La Vega gave occasion for
much rejoicing in the household, and even the
grief of Mr. Horton for his loss was made the sub-
ject of many a sly joke in his domestic establishment.
Mrs. H. congratulated herself excessively on that lucky
thought of hers, which cleared the house of the odious
brute ; and though a lady who thinks a good deal of
a dollar, did not grudge the money, since it gained
her object so effectually. In the mean time La Vega
was detained a close prisoner in the cellar of the soap
factory, amusing himself by snapping at the rats
which coursed about the premises, and sustained him-
self, like Napoleon at Elba, with the belief that the
objects of his destiny were not yet accomplished.
On Tuesday morning Mr. Horton appeared at the
breakfast table with a beaming countenance. " Well,
my dear, good news!" said he to Mrs. H. "What
is it ?" asked the lady, with some secret misgiving.
" I've La Vega back again ! Advertised for him ;
offered a reward for his recovery, and this morning
he was brought home by Abe Walker." " Heavens !"
ejaculated Mrs. Horton ; " what did you have to pay
for him ?" "Only eleven dollars," replied Horton,
"one for the advertisement, and ten to old Abe for
bringing him back." "Merciful goodness," replied
the unsympathising wife; "eleven dollars (enough to
buy a silk dress) for the recovery of such a nasty
cur ; and to think that I gave the black rascal a dol-
lar for taking him off."
This inadvertent confession, of course, produced
matrimonial duel; the report of which we omit, as
it might appear stale and common-place to some of
our married readers. By this little canine specula-
tion all parties were gainers. Abe Walker, the
cunning clarity, gained ten dollars ; the advertising
sheet gained ono dollar, and Mr. and Mrs. Horton
gained some valuable experience, which will teach
them the importance of mutual confidence between
wedded parties.

THE 1110.1VMOUTII AND GLAMORGAN
BANK.
On Tuesday, a meeting of the proprietors in this bank
was held at the King's Head, Newport. Reporters were
excluded, but our correspondent says, that Mr. Rowland
Fothergill was called to the chair, and that there was
much discussion. The chairman stated that it was use-
less disguising the fact, that their assets were very small.
There were large debts due to them by parties whoJsad
overdrawn their accounts, &c., but they could fairly cal-
culate upon nothing but a very large deficit. It was
stated that the only way by which they could meet
and overcome the difficulty, was by a :subscription of
501. per share upon the shares which they
h are
chonarsehideorleddercss
whosegood,
means we
astherewraes amolsat limited,rgenu
number of
s
who had invested the whole of their accumulations in
hthoel d
ebrasn kw.holht was therefore proposed
the
means,that those
shoulds
im-
mediately advisee.° a sum of money to meet the exigency
held. largely,tere ore
and
upon being guaranteed by the creditors that no further
liability should accrue to them. Mr. Fothergill imme•
diately put down bis name for an advance of 10,0001. A
subscription list was banded round, and it was signed by
many proprietors to a considerable amount. The meet-
ing did not separate until a late hour. It appeared that
the liabilities of the bank exceed the assets by at least
400,0001; that the number of shares in the company was
19,000, but that not 10,000 of them were supposed to be
good; in consequence of which Mr. Thomas Powell, a
large coal owner, stated broadly that the shareholders
must at least pay up 401. a share, if not more, to extri-
cate the bank. The shares in the company are 201.
shares, of which 131. has been called. A committee was
appointed to confer with the committee of creditors, and
another meeting is to be held on Monday next:—
Chronicle.

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DEATH FROM HYDROPIIORIA.—A poor woman,
Ellen Harrington, aged 42, an inhabitant of Dunmanway,
lately fell a victim to this terrible disease, under circums-
tances the most appalling. About three months ago, while
separating two dogs from fighting, one of them, her own
flew at her in a furious manner, and bit her slightly. The dog
was immediately shot. No attention was paid to the poor
woman's wound—it healed, and the danger was imagined
past. But on the 7th inst., after returning from town, where
she was transacting business, in her usual good health and
spirits, she took suddenly ill; the unmistakeable symptoms
of hydrophobia set in ; and after suffering the most dreadful
agony and pain, to which medical aid could minister no re-
lief, death put an end to her miseries on Saturday evening.
Persons are too generally apt to overlook the apparently
trivial causes from which hydrophobia springs—neglecting to
call in on the moment medical assistance, which if it can at
all afford relief, it must be in the incipient gage of the
disease.... Cork Examiner.