The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-28
Jules Gerard, the Lion killer.

LION AAlilSI.
At the last sitting of the Paris Geographical
Society, NJ. Aalte Brun read letter he had re-
ceived from NJ. Braduezec, French Consul at
Sierra Leone, and which confirms the account Of
the death Of Jules Gerard, the lion killer, who
was drowned in attempting to cross the river
Joub.
He WAS born Of poor parents at Pignsn, Var,
June IA, 1917, so that he was in his forty-eighth
year. Gerard was fond of sport from his youth
At ten he chased cats and monkeys, at sixteen he
carried q rifle, and was a bit Of q pugilist He
was a volunteer for the Algerian campaign in
lS4l, and commenced the life of adventures
which has been terminated in so untimely a
manner. He describes in his well known work,
lie Tuelr de Lions, (S57.S), how II came to pass
that poor dwarf Of a creature like him, Ventured
to declare war against the giant Of the woods
zone against one-chance for chance-God alone
being a witne. of the fight" Not long after his
arrival at Bone, he heard of the terrible lion of
the ArCbiona, which had committed unhcard of
deyastatiOns among villagers and troops alike.
said Gerard, magnanimOusly, 'if il pleases God,
! who am not an Arab, wll kill the lion, and he
shall not deVour you any more" His heart, he
tells us, bounded for Joy At the coming fight.
country, will bite the dust under the ball of a
dog ofR Christian" The villagers were incredu-
lOus, and intimated 10 Jules that if he killed
the lion, they would kiss his feet and become
bis slaves; meanwhile they would mind their own
business.
or ue twenty five lions which have fallen
victims TO Gerard,s rife, we are told appalling
stories Of FL Hab," the lame one, alias BON
Acherin. r adiel, the murderer Of twenty men the
! lion OF Krou Mega, the lion Of Meez Amar, the
lion Of n zazsr, the liOness FL HanOut, etc. He
was called by the Arabs "the terrible Frank"
Tie Due d'Aumalo had given him 3 brace OF
fikfole 4 q his return France. In lN4T ha
had an interview wiki the Duchess OF Orleans and
the youthful Count Of Paris, who, unsolsited,
left the room for five minutes, and urning said
artessiy, 'ihese villain beasts will finish you one
| day. A good hunter must be agood soldier You
must be preserved 20 the army, Accept these
pistols 10 preserve you" In 1855, Gerard returned
once more 10 France with the rank Of sub. .euten-
ant and received the decoration of the Legion OF
Honor. He had within the last year or two left
| France ON another expedition into Africa, and he
has unfortunately perished in the course Of it by
| q sad accident.
| The following details relative % the melancholy
| end Of Gerard were read az the meeting The
eN-lion killer went 10 the western coast OF Africa
| provided with instructions from the London Geo
| graphical Society Of London, and with the sup
| port OF several members Of the English nobility,
FOR the purpose Of exploring the interior OF that
county. lie first intended 20 visit the Kong
| MOuI tRins, in Northern Guinea, which, up 10
that time had never been crossed by auy Euro
| pean. He left England az the close Of 1868, and
| proceeded 70 Whydah from thence he shetrated
| Into the kingdom Of Dahomey, whence he da.ed
| one OF his last letters addressed 70 the Duke OF
| Wellington. After having in vain attempted to
| get into the interior OF Africa by way OF Da-
| honey, he came 10 Sierra Leone with letter OF
recommendation 70 M. J. Branezeo, the French
Consul at that place, from NJ Drossare de Cor
bigny, the commander OF NE French squadron In
| the Gulf Of Guinea.
The English at Sierra Leone Immediately fur.
niFhed him With fresh means for his journey
An English man -Of.War. commanded DV Captain
| Cochrane, conveyed him 70 the noighbOrhOOd Of
| the nYtr Galiinas. In few days amer bis land,
! ing he lost all his baggage and took refuge 10