West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1879-03-29

- NA@N HAN"A " a NAktAf ANt eAlAIAAUE
Of wolf, the trumpeting of an ele-
phant, all united and combined with
sulPhur0us yomitings from the regions
of pandemonium.
In shape he was like man-but like
man detormed-with n monstrouS big
chest and body-small head, planted
down between his shoulders-large, long
arms and huge hands-apd short thick,
bow-legs, terminating in hands instead
OF feet. He stood erect like a man, was
nearly six feet in height, and was COW
cred all over-face and all, with short
black hair. His head was small IN pro.
portion 10 his body, and had human
conformation. Fierce, glittering gray
eyes, set deeply in the hollow, cavern
Gus socSets, rolled and glared demon
iacally. The forehead was low, aud re-
treated 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 angrily, only 10 display form
idable and fcrocious set of teeth the
canine being long and sharppointed.
lie stood before us-erect, defiant
and awful -uttering tho horrible roar
have attempted to describe, and beating
his breast with his huge fists, producing
a hollow, drum-like sound, that, com
combined with all the rest, was truly
terrific, and made me wish was safe be-
yond his reach Then no advanced n
few steps, with n sort of rolling. wad-
ding 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 i'm put
ting an end 10 the monster. had been
in many peulous 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, 1 would feel n 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
expanded, and his breast heaving.
" No run, now, masterw he said, in
low, thick, almost inarticulate tones
mo 'scape him run. Him swift "a
tger-strong as elephant. Must killm
Shall fire now, Mocha2"
" No fire him come nigh-den fire
through heart"
lie was coming nearer and nearer, by
slow degrees, few PAGES at time, with
short, awful roaring and breast beat
ing interval between, and ] thus had
time TO think over many of my sins, and
say prayers that had too long beer
neglected.
Mocha, be readyw said when the
monster had once more stopped TO roar
and beat his breast within ten PAGES.
% | am about TO end this SUSPENSE am
about to fire."
| took deliberate aim but, in spite Of
all | could do, my arms shook 80 that /
was afraid to pull the trigger, and twice
! lowered the weapon to get more steadi-
ness of nerve. II was as if some fearful
spell were on me; and at the third trial
1t seemed as if the fingers of my right
nand 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 rash. Delay now
would be death-an awful death; and,
summoning all my will, / pulled both
triggers in succession.
Only one barrel was discharged by the
act, the other missing fire. The 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, gnash-
ing his teeth and uttering most un-
earthly shrieks and yells, he bounded
forward for his revenge. Quick as
lightning the gallant Mocha threw him
self before me and struck with his spear
but il might as we'll have been reed.
One blow Of the ponderous arm of the
brute turned il aside all shivered, while
the hand Of the other stretched the poor
fellow bleeding and senseless on the
earth. In his fall ne came back against
me with such force that / went down
also. At that moment / had not a sin
gle hope Of life, and, knowing myself
utterly defenseless, despair took com
plete possession of me, and ] made no
effort TO rise.
This, and believe this alone, was my
salvation; for, seeing us both still, and
probably thinking US both dead, the
furious brute seized my gun, and, first
fairly denting the barrel with his teeth,
he struck IL against q tree with q force
that shivered the stock and bent the
iron nearly double; then, throwing it
down, putting his hands over his breast,
and utteriug the most terrible hOwlings
and shriekings OF rage and pain, he
hastily disappeared in the dense Jungle,
leaving me 20 thank Heaven that ! had
so miraculously escaped unframed
Mocha had been stunned. and his
breast badly lacerated but he was
neither killed nor mOrtally wounded .
and, dressing his wounds as well could,
] got the poor fellow upon his feet. and
assisted him back 20 the vessel, where
our surgeons attended 10 his case. and
soon restored him to health. / did not
forget that ne had saved my life. and
assure you ! made him proud and happy
of the herOism NE had displayed in my
behalf.
Whether The gorilla died Of his wounds
or not ! never knew, and ] never felt
the least curiosity to go and sec Ger
tain 10 is, be took his skin away with
him, and ] was only too glad 10 see the
last of him. Tie was the first Of his
kind ] ever saw alive, and, with Heav.
ems permission, he will bee the last ]
shall ever look upon in his native Jungle.
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A LITTLE girl visiting a aneighbor with
her mother was gazing curiously at her
hOqfooai now bonuof vrIrv, Al, ...,-,. ,...