The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-08-15
DEPARTURE OF TRAINS,
GheQntelttqeuar
THE KING OF BEASTS.


the African lion from inc numUeLb W
conflicting statements made by different
travellers and hunters. The truth appears
Ia he that, while each one has formed an
ooinion from the behavior Of the partlcu-
lar animals they CHANGED to meet with,
lLe TACT that every single lion differs from
another in temper and disposition has
been allowed to drop out Of sight That
some lions will make point OF attacking
any human being they see without tho
slightest prOvocation, admits Of no doubt,
while il Is at least equally certain that
there are oilers that can hardly be forced
10 relaliate, and which, even when
wounded, will, always rather run than
tight
Gcnrrally speaking, and subject 10 the
shove exceptions, | have found. that the
lion Of Southeastern Africa rarely goes
out Of It's way to attack people; will, in
point OF fact, shun conflict when avoid.
ahle There Is nearly always sumo ex.
plauatiOn Of tBi behavior when 1t acts
otherwise; either tho hunter has ap.
preached so near before seen that the an.
inal Is afraid 10 turn tail, and, urged by
lis very Tears, makes q charges or II may
be hall lamlshed, and, having gothold Of
some prey, either Of your killing or It's
own, will not quit III Without . contest,
0r, Il lIoncss with cubs, Will fight In de-
Tense OF their supposed danger. y
III all the SbOveacases, nttGr.immObh.
ity aud GOODNESS will often avert an at
tack. IGthe animal, judging by your be-,
hsvior, imagiles. that you 10 not want to
hurt il, It will, after trying you for seVefall
minutes, aud even making one or two
sham charges, often walk away and allow
you 10 do the same; but; merely raising
one arm, much less pointing gun at II, Is
sure 10 mako II come on. One or two III.
stances OF this occur 10 me. A large
n4tiye hunting party had gone out, and
were scattered over the thOTns. One oil
my un.bearers, Who had gone with II,
suddenly found himself face TO face with
n Iull.groWn male lion, without yard
between them. lie had presence OF mind
enough 10 stand perfectly still, without
even attempting TO take one Of the spears
he carried In bis left hand into the other.
After couple Of minutes the brute walk
Cd away, turning It's head round every
second 10 watch them. Before going far
1t met another man, who raised his spear,
US Tito throw 1t. II instantly sprang on
HIM, and Inflicted such wounds that he
died within half an hour. lhAve no doubt
that II this man also had stood still, he
would hive been perfectly sale. Again,
hunter OF mine was following buff
islotracks ihtOAoho thiCkets; suddenly. q
male lion rose out Of ono Of them and
snArled at him; hezhad hardly seen II
when another, about three quarters grown
showed itself a lille on one side, and
from behind he heard Glow growing Of
third. Partly turning, 90 ~ to watch
them alI, he saw the latter was q lloness;
mud that three cubs, not much larger than
cats, were following their mother, one oil
them running towards him Without show.
lug the leastiear He had, unaWares, got
into the centre Of q Ion family. The lion
ess, In fear Of hsr oaSpliDgp Tuahed up,
and, Us he afterwards described 1t, fairly
danced round and round him, springing
10 within yard Of him, sideways, back
WARDS, and eytfg way but on him. In
this caSe, alsoS 10 stood still without any
movement, for, as said, It was q hundred
TO oue The MdlnOtl kill the mother; and,
suppose he had, the other Two would have
soon avenged her. 1t ended by their
ultimately retiring into the thicket, and
watching him as lie cleared out. Had he
been nervous, or done any thing but re-
main quiet, there Is no doubt he would
not have come out alive.
On the other hand, lion will seldom
stand much bullying. He mRy;i md OFF
len will get ont Of your way, nay. even
leave his prey II you approach 1t, and
should you follow him will perhaps do 90
Il second time, but that Is about the e&-
tent Of ii. He seems 10 argue:-"IVc re-
tired twice, and here you are at me again;
well, II you must have 1t, come onnRRIet,
il you dare" and then, Il a male, he
growls deeply, and makes his name briS.
To up around him; or, i . liopess.
crouches down like a cat, lays 'hefears
back, and shows her teeth. In any case
you are In for 1t, tho brute Ia fairly reused.
and retire or advance aOYou Hike, Ech4rGe
Is inevitable 20.
lived for many years among these an
inals, and their very name recalls innuI
men6le recollection and anecdotes. So
Perhaps the most beautiful sight ever
saw In connection with them, worth all
the Zoos In the world, wagC on olmqEpinB
had gone out TO hunt with one bearer
NJ dawn. had not gone far from camp,
aud my gun was still unlpSded, when ]
was examining some buffalo Sp1nHj while
Ul looking up / saw my gun bearer,
who had my cartridges, running away
al full speed. Knowing lie must
have seen something 10 frlghten him
50, did not shout, but went 10 where he
had been standing, few yards ahead, and
there, sure enough, not twenty yards Of,
were q pair Of lions; the llOness rolling on
lis back and striking at the males head
with It's fore paws Ike kitten, while he
STOOD malestlcally above her, stopped
amOment to watch them, AMI Il was well
worth II, and then rushed oil after my
ksiIte 10 load. Tho position was good I.
aud might have killed one TO q GER
talnly, but when had succeeded In get-
ling him down from the top Ol o big tree,
Snd went back, they had gone. suppose
t9ey must have got our windy No doubt
!aey bad been hunting all night, and' had
oeen down to the river 10 drink prcpara-
toLy 10 going 70 bed. TAD
do not think the lion deserves his title
o. King Of beasts, though perhOps he Ii the
most noble looking, Elephants arc de-
clGedly more sagacious, and the black
Ihinoceros (upetydnt) Is certainly moro
dangerous, and either Of the two could
XIII him In few moments, with but little
Danger 10 themselves. Indeed, he cannot
manage an old buffalo bull, unlesB be
lakes II no anR0rioa