Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-07-30
THE GAZETTE.
SATURDAY MORNING, JULY 10, 1859.
A LION ADV ENTURE IN ALGERIA.

A LION ADVENTURE IN ALGERIA.
WAS reused by something. and felta pain
in my head. aud directly atterward | receiv-
ed blow On the head Though the SIDE Of the
tent. which made me think for IL moment
had been struck by an iron bar with claws
at the end which carried viii, me in my wa
go,,; but in al instant the idea flashed across
Inc that it WAS lion that was shifting ut me
throu xh the back of the tent. Ii remained
there without moving, there was the pro-
liability of the beast tearing up the tent and
dragging me through. On the other hand all
attempt to move closer to the fire would pro-
bably he detected, as the lion has the same
characteristics a. the cat. aud would have
carried meoff While hesitating what to do,
the animal. most likely from not being able
any longer to feel me through the wall Of the
tent, must have turned away, for after what
was in fact, but few moments, but which
seemed very lOEg time, there was ter
rife shrek, followed by low. deep growl-
ing and then shot aud louder growl.
felt about for my revolver, which had
placed beside my head before going to sleep.
and creeping round the tent. | saw the hOr-
rid beast standing perfectly still, with glarins
eyes, and continuing the same low, deep
growing, and holding in his mouth the body
Of a man, which he occasionally lowered I"
the ground as if with the intention oftaklng
frmer hold, but never entirely letting gooi
it. saw by the direction Of his look that he
caught sight Of me- and terrible were the
ASSOCIATIONS connected with the beast III my
mind that | dared not move or breathe ior
some seconds, when the thought suddenly
occurred To me that it must be the body OF
Hamed that - had in his mouth. My hiking
for this man had become 50 strong that the
desire 70 rescue or ayenge him drove every
feeling Of fear out of nv mind. and. with Il
steady aim, / fired ut his body just behiud the
shoulder. Singularly enough, although
knew had him. he merely gave loud growl
and remained stationary. without relaxing
his hold of the Arabs body
How long he would have remained in this
state Of immobility can't say, but | was
lust about to try the effect Of second shot
when volley of guns was fired from out OF
the darkness; the beast sprang forward To-
ward me, almost ut the same instant that
felt sharp. singing sensation III the upper
part of my arm. and he fell to the ground, 40
close to me that stepped back to avoid
blow from his paws i'll his death struggles.
Iney ulu not iaSt iohS, diiu ID So'' -" Wv
were over fetched y lighted brand from the
fire, and first holding it to the lace OF the
dead man to see whoit was, aud feeling much
relieved ut finding it twas not Hamed, | waved
it about az signal for the others that they
might come with safety. They soon CAME
and clustered round the body OF the dead
lion, some kicking it. and others splitting on
and reviling it, aud all of them claiming the
honor of having killed him-a claim that
they seemed more interested in defending
than in cummiserating the fate Of their dead
companion.
ALI the efforts we made to release the lat
ter unfortunate from the jaws Of the lion were
unavailing without having recourse to our
knives, and as there Was not the least doubt
of his being dead, for the teeth OF the power
ful brute we're buried in his chest aud back.
we determined to leave both bodies where
they were till daylight. The first thing
did when awoke was to look for the bodies
of the Arab and the lion. They We're lying
where the beast had fallen in the night. and
his stiffened jaws still held the body OF the
man. "a in 9 powerful vice. The desire of
preserving record ofthe event for my trends
In England to look ut. was too strong to be
resisted 50 we set to work, cut three pieces Oh
timber to a point, and having raised the lion
to an upright position. kept him up by means
of the pieces of wood. To conceal these,
planted shrub here and there, which had
the desired effect; and the result obtained
was y picture the like Of which believe
was never seen. The attitude il rs natural
as possible, and makes one shuddsr to look
at it-Photogrdphic Nencs.