Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-12-26
Fight with q Hippopotamus.

A tragical incident occurred not long after
the establishment of the camp. There was an
old blind sheik who frequently crossed the
river TO visit the new comers. One day be
was returning with his 500, when the canoe
was charged by an angry hippopotamus. oelz-
ing the trail bark at the end where the sbeik
was sitting, the monster cruuched it to frag
mepts between his pouderous jaws, aud 50
crushed and lacerated the poor old man that,
though rescued by his comrades, who fastened
to his assistance, he died during the nlght.
The hippopotamuses were often the source OF
great annoyance, and sometimes OF danger, to
the expedition. One beautiful moonlight night,
when the hotia was quietly at anchor IN q
lake close to the White Nile, one Of these
monsters made most determined attack upon
the diah beeah belonging to Sir Samuel. The
vessel was close to mud bank covered with
high grass, and about thirty yards astern of
her was shallow part of the lake, about three
feet deep. A light boat of zinc was full Of
strips Of bippopotamus flesh, and the dngy
was fastened alongside. Every one was sound'
" sleeping, when, says Sir Samuel, Il was
suddenly awakened by tremendous splashlog
close to the diahbeeah accompanied by the
hosrse wild sDortng Of furious hippopota.
mus jumped up, and Immediately perceived
our vessel. \ My servant, Suelmau, was
sleeping next to the cabin door. called to
him tor rifle. Before the affrighted Sulel.
man could bring it, the hippopotamus dashed
at us with understandable fury. With one blow
he capsized and sunk the zinc boat, with its
cargo of flesh. In another instant ne seized the
dngy In his immense jaws, and the crash OF
spliutered wood betokened the complete de-
struction of NV faVorite boat. = BY
this time [ had procured rifle from the
cabin, where they were always kept liked
in row, loaded and ready for action,
with bags of breech-loading ammunition on
the same shelf. The movements OF the
animal were so rapid as he charged aud
plunged alternately beneath the water 10
cloud of foam and wave, that it was impossible
to aim correctly at the small but fatal spot up
on the head. The moon Was extremely bright,
and presently, as he charged straight at the
diahbeeah, stopped him with No. Reilly
shell. To my surprise, he soon recovered, and
again commenced the attack. | fired shot after
shot at him without apparent effect Ihe dl-
ahbeeah rocked upon the waves raised by the
efforts of 80 large az animal This movement
rendered the aim uncertain. At length, ap-
parently badly wounded he retired to the high
grass There he lay by the bank, about twenty
FIVE yards distant snoring and blowing.
Thinking the creature must be dying, Sir
Samuel went to bed, but IN about halt al hour
was awakened again by another furious charge.
A rifle ball 10 the head rolled the monster over,
and be f)ated helpIessy y down the stream.
This time he surely must be dead. 10 the
amazement Of all, he presently recovered, aud
only gave up after receiving several bullets 10
his body. On the foIlowing morning post
mortem examination showed that he had re-
ceived three shots in the flank aud shoulder;
four in the head, one of which had broken bis
lower jaw; another had passed through his
nose, and passing downward, had cut Oft one OF
his large tusks Such determined aud unpro-
voked fury as was exhibited by this animal had
never been witnessed-he appeared to be raw.
ing mad. His body was mass of trightful
scares, the result OF continual conflicts With
bulls OF bis own species; some of these wounds
two feet in length, and about two inches below
the level of the surface skin, upon the flank.
He was evidently character of the worst de-
scriptiou, but whose madness rendered bin
callous to all punishment The attack upon
the vessel was probably induced by the smell
of raw hippopotamus flesh, which was hung 10
long strips about the rigging, and with which
the zinc boat was filled. The dead hippopota-
mus that was floating astern lashed to the dlah-
beeah had not been molesed. .-Harper's Nag
azinc.
DINNER TABLE SoUABBLEs. Perhaps poth-
ing is more prejudicial to the proper assimila
tion Of food than disputation. The mind be-
comes irritated and instaDtaneously the stom-
ach sympa,hzes A dinner table is the worst
possible place for 40 argument which may east
ly become heated and acrimonious. Nor should
it be place where children are constantly re-
proved, or their bad conduct suffered to de-
stroy the comfort of the meal. Discipline IN
the household is highly necessary, bnt the
feature at the table. Good news. happy thoughts
most ef6cacious reshes, and should be used
freely. An uncomfortable meal, whatever may
be tho cause, is almost certain to produce iudl
gestinn nd thrnnch snch small matters