Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-03-26

ings from the regions OF Pandemonium.
In shape he was like a man-but like
a man deformed-with a monstrous big
chest and body-small head, planted
down between his shoulders-large, long
arms and huge hands, and short, thick
bow-legs, terminatingin hands instead Of
feet He stood erect like man, was
nearly six feet in hight, and was covered
all over. face and all, with short, black
hair. His head was small in proportion
to his body, and had human conforma-
tion. Fierce, glittering, gray eyes, set
deep in the hollow, cavernous sockets,
rolled and glared Economically. The
forehead was low and retreated sharply.
There was but little nose, with high,
prominent cheek-bones. The mouth was
immense, with huge, massive jaws, and
short, thin lips that parted augrily, only
TO display formidable and ferocious set
Of teeth, the canine being long and sharp.
pointed.
He stood before us-erect, definite and
awful-uttering the horrible roar have
attempted to describe, and beating his
breast with his huge fists, producing a
hollow, drum-like sound, that, combined
with all the rest, was truly terrific, and
made me wish / was safe beyond his
reach. Then he advanced few steps,
with sort Of rolling, waddling motion,
stopped again, with his cleaning eyes
fixed intently upon us, beat his breast as
before, and uttered that prolonged and
dreadful roar.
stood on the defensive, wisely deter
mined TO reserve my fire for the ap-
preaching crisis of my fate, hoping and
praying might be successful in putting
an end to the monster. | had been in
many perilous situations before, but
none that ever affected me with so much
terror. One moment an icy chill would
make me shiver, and the next, perhaps,
/ would feel burning flush sending out
the perspiration in streams. / glanced
at the African, and saw him firmly
planted, with his spear poised for the
onset, his eyes dilated, his nostrils ex-
panded, and his breast heaving.
mo run now, masterI" he said, in low
thick, almost inarticulate tones; mo
scape him by run. Him swift as tiger,
strong as elephant. Must kill !"
"Shall l FIRE now, Mocha ?"
" No fire him come nigh-den fire
through heart.
He was coming nearer and nearer, by
slow degrees, few PAGES at time, with
a short awful roaring and breast beating
interval between, and l thus had time
to think over many of my sins, and say
prayers that had been too long neglected
Mocha, be ready" said !, when the
monster had once more stopped to roar
and beat his breast within ten PAGES. II
am about to end this suspense-I am
about to fire.
l took deliberate aim but in spite of
all could do, my arms shook so that
was afraid to pull the trigger, and twice
| lowered the weapon to get more stead |
mess of nerve. 1t was as if some fearful
spell was on me and at the third trial it |
seemed as if the fingers of my right hand |
were paralyzed and would not obey my
villa fact for which have never been
able to account.
The monster again advanced, and now
not more than five or six PAGES divided |
us, and he appeared as if about to make
his final desperate rush Delay now
would be death-and summoning all my
will, pulled both triggers in succession.
Only one barrel was discharged by the
act, the other missing fire; but one ball
went straight to its mark, and lodged in
the breast of the gorilla. 1t did not bring
him to the earth, however, but made him
wildly furious; and gnashing his teeth,
and uttering mbst unearthly shrieks and
yells, he bounded forward for his revenge
Quick as lightning the gallant Mocha
threw himself before nae and struck with
his spear-but it might as well have
been reed One blow Of the ponderous
arm of the brute turned it aside all shiv-
cred, while the hand of the other
stretched the poor fellow bleeding and
senseless on the earth. In his fall he
came back upon me with such force that
| went down also AT that moment l had
not single hope of life, and knowing
myself utterly defenseless, desperation
took complete possession Of me, and |
made no effort to rise.
This, and l believe this alone, was my
seeing US both still, and
probably thinking as both dead, the fu-
rious brute seized my gun, and first fairly
lenting the barrels with his teeth, he
struck it against a tree with force that
ihivered the stock and bent the iron
nearly double; then throwing it down,
putting his hands over his breast, aud
altering the most terrible howlings and
of rage and psiH, he hastily
in the dense jungle, leaving
ne to thank heaven that had so miracu.
ously escaped unharmed.
Mocha had been stunned, and his
breast badly laoerated but he was nei-
her killed nor mortally wounded and
lressing his wounds as we'll as | could, l
sot the poor fellow upon his feet, and as
sisted him back to the vessel, where our
attended to his case and soon
'estored him to health / did not forget
le had saved my life, and assure you
made him proud and happy Of the he
'oism he had displayed in my behalf.
Whether the gorilla died of his wounds
,r not, never knew, and never felt I
he least curiosity to go aud see. Ger
ain it is, be took his skin away with
i'm He was the first Of his kind / ever
aw alive, aud, with Heavens permis
ion, be will be the last / shall ever look
Ipon in his native jungle.-New York y
Weekly MagaziHe
Thrilling Scenes in q Menagerie.