The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-12-08
ESCAPE FROM A LION.

I IIUPG, with The TaCt!
by the Hottentot whose escape is related, which j.
wholly ascribed to the inter position of Providence
! Boston Courier.
About three weeks or month ago. he
went out on hunting excursion, accompa-
MED by several other natives. Arriving on
an extensive plain, where there was ahun-
dance of game, they discovered number
OF lions, also, which appeared to be disturb
ed by their approach. A prodigiously large
male Immediately separated himself from
the troop, and began slowly to advance to-
wards the party, the majority of whom were
young and unaccustomed to rencontres OF
SO formidable nature. When droyes OF
tlmid antelopes, or spring books only, came
In thet way, they made a great boast of
their courage, but the very appearance oftbe
forests king made them tremble. While
the animal was yet at a distance they all
dismounted, to prepare for firing, and ac-
cording to the custom on such occasions.
began tying their horses together by means
OF their brides, with the view of keeping
the latter between them and the lion. ms an
object to attract his attention until they were
able to take deliberate aim. His movements.
however, were too swift for them. Before
the horses were properly fastened to each
other, the monster made tremendous bound
or two and suddenly pounced upon the hind
parts of one of them, which in its FRIGHT.
plunged forward and knocked down the poor
man in question. who was holding the reins
IN his hand. His comrades instantly took
to flight, and ran off with all speed; and he
OF course, rose as quickly as possible, in or
der to follow them. But no sooner had he
regained his feet, than the majestic beast,
with seeming consciousness of his superb
or might, stretched forth his paw, and strik-
ing him just behind the neck, Immediately
brought him to the ground again. He then
| rolled on his back, when the lion set his foot
upon his breast, and laid down upon him.
The poor man now became almost breath
less, partly from fear, but principally from
the lntolerable pressure of his terrific load.
He endeavored to move little one side. in
order to breathe but feeling this, the crea-
ture seized his left arm, close to the elbow :
and, after once laying hold with his teeth.
he continued to amuse himself with the limb
for some time, biting it in sundry differe Mt
places down to the hand, the thick part of
which seemed to have been pierced entirely
through. At this time the lion did not ap-
pear to be angry, but he merely caught Mt
his prey, like cat sporting with a mouse
that is not quite dead so that there was not
single bone fractured, as would in all
probability have been the case, had the
creature been hungry or irritated. Whilst
writhing in agony, gasping for breath. and
expecting every moment to be torn from
limb to limb, the sufferer cried to his com
panions for assistance, but cried in vain.
On raising his head little, the beast open
ed his dreadful jaws to receive it, but proyi-
dentially the hat, which saw in its rent
state, slipped of, that the points Of the
teeth only just grazed the surface of the
skull.
The lion now set his foot upon the arm.
from which the blood was freely flowing !;
his fearful paw was soon covered Herewith.
and he again licked it clean The idea veri-
ly makes me shudder while | write, But
this was not the worst; for the animal then
steadily fixed his flaming eyes upon those
of the man, smelt on one side, and then on
The other, of his face; and having tasted of
the blood, he appeared to have inclined to
devour his helpless victim. cat this criti-
cal moment" said the poor man, II recol-
lected having heard that there was a God
in the heavens, who is able to deliver to the
last extremity; and began to pray that he
would save me, and not allow the lion to eat
inns
engaged in calling upon God, the beast turn
ed himself completely round. On perceiv-
ing this the Hottentot made an effort to get
! from under him; but no sooner did the crea-
ture observe his movement than he laid hold
| of his right thigh. The wound was dread
fully deep, and evidently occasioned the
sufferer much excruciating pain. He again
sent up his cry to God for help 4; nor were
his prayers in vain. The huge animal soon
after quietly relingushed his prey, though
1 he had not been in the least interrupted.
Having deliberately risen from his seat, he
walked majestically off to the distance of
thirty or forty PAGES, and then laid down in
the grass, as If for the purpose of watching
the man. The latter being happily relieved
of his load, ventured TO sit up, which cir
cumstance attracted the lions attention
nevertheless 1T did not induce another at
tack, as the poor fellow naturally expected
but, as if bereft of power, and unable to do
any thing more, he again arose, took his de-
| partuIe and was seen no more. The man
seeing this took up his gun, and FASTENED
away to his TERMED companions, who had
given him up for dead. Being in state OF
Iextreme exhaustion from the loss of blood
he was Immediately set upon his horse, and
brought, as soon as practicable, to the place
where found him. DR.. Gaulter, son of the
Rev. John Gaulter, being stationed at a mil.
itary post in the neighborhood, and hearing
Of the case, fastened to his relief, and has
very humanely rendered him all necessary
assistance ever since Mr.. Gaulter informs
me that on his arrival, the appearance Of
the wound was truly alarming, and amputa-
ton OF the arm seemed absolutely necessa-
ry. To this, however, the patient was not
willing to consent, having number of young
children. whose subsistence depended upon
his labor. As the Almighty had delivered
me-" said he, from that 6orrid death, /
thought surely he is able to save my arm al
So" And astonishing to relate, several OF
the wounds are already healed, and there is
now hope of his complete recovery, 40
that men would ptase the Lord for his GOOD
moss and for his wnndarf,,i ,yo.L- y. a. i.