Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-07-08
A Lion Adventure in Algeria.

Lion AQventuT0 I'D Algeria
! was reused by something, and felt a
pain in my, head, aad directly iafterward I
received blow on the head through the side
of the tent, which made me think for mo-
ment that had been struck by an iron bar
with claws at the end which I carried with
me in my wagon; but in an instant the idea
flashed across me that it was lion which
was shifting at me through the back Of the
tent. If remained where [ was without
moving there was the probability Of the
beast tearing up the tent and dragging me
through. On the other kand an attempt to
move closer to the fire would probably be
detected, as the lion has the same charac.
teristics AZ the cat, and would doubtless
have sprung upon me in that case, and have
carried me off. While hesitating what to
do, the animal. most likely from not being
able any longer to feel anything through the
she wall Of the ftert, must have turned away
for after what was, in fact, but few mo
ments, bnt which seemed very long time,
there was terrific shrek, folIe wed BY a low
deep growing, then shot and louder
growl. ! fell abcrt for my revolver which
had placed beside NY head before going
to sleep. and creeping round the tent saw
the horrid beast standing perfectly still.
with glaring eyes, and continuing the same
lows ,deep grovling, and holding in his
mouth the body Of man, which he occa-
slonally lowered on the ground as if with
the intention Of taking a firmer hold, but
never entirely letting 60 of it. I saw by
the direction of his look that he had caught
sight Of me. and so terrible were the ASSOC
Citations connected with the beast in nv mind
that | dared not move or breathe for some
seconds, when the thought suddenly occur
red to me that it must be the body Of Ha-
med that he held in bis mouth. Nv liking
for this man had become SO strong that the
desire to rescue or ayenge him drove every
feeling Of fear out Of my mind, and, with q
steady aim. | fred at his body just behind
the shoulder. Singularly enough, although
! knew had hit him. be merely gave a
loud growl and remained stationary, With
out relaxing bis hold of the, Arabs body.
How long he would have remained in this
state Of immobility l can't say, but was
just about to try the effect of a second shot
when regular volley ofguns was fred from
out Of the darkness; the beast spranp for
ward toward me, almost at the same instant
that | felt sharp, singing sensation 10 the
upper part Of my arm, and fell to the ground
50 close to me that stepped back to avoid
q blow from his paws in his death struggles.
They did not last long, and as soon as thev
were over fetched lighted brandffom
the ire, and, first holding it to the face of
the dead man to see who it was. and feel
ing much relieved at finding it was not Ha-
med, | wavedit about as 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, and all Of
them claiming the honor of having killed
him, q claim that they seemed far more In
terested in defending than in commissera-
ting the fate Of their dead companion. All
the efforts We made to release the latter un-
fortunate from the jaws Of the lien we're un-
availing without having recourse to our
knives; and as there was not the least doubt
of his being dead, for the teeth Of the pow
erful brute we're buried in his chest and
back, we determined on leaving both bodies
where they were until daylight. The FIRST
thing did when I aHoke was to look for
the bodies of'the Arab and the lion. They
were lying where the beast had fallen in the
night, and his stiHened jaws still held the
body Of the man as in a powerful vice.
The desire of preserving a record Of the
event for my friends in England to look at
was too strong to be resisted, so we set to
work. cut three pieces Of timber to point,
and having raised the lion to an upright
position, kept him up by means Of the pie
ces Of wood. To conceal these, planted
shrub here and there, which had the de-
sired effect; and the result obtained was
negative, the like Of which believe never
was seem, The attitude is as natural al
possible, and makes one shudder to look d
it.-Photoyraphic Ne,os.