Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1880-11-24
Fight With a Hyena.

The hyena is cowardly and treacherous.
but when enraged, the beast becomes
brave, and his powerful jaws are "the laws
OF death" At a show given at Winches.
ter, Va, there was a performance not down
In the bills" being nothing less than a
terrible fight between man and bvena
1t Is thus described by the Times of that
town:
The den of spotted hycnas was placed in
position, and Herr Drayton entered AS
usual, to take his position as master. The
instant he made mis- appearance the largest
and most ferocious Of the animals made
determined stand, and refused TO retire
to his accustomed place
Drayton at once saw that something was
wrong, and ordered The iron doors of the
cage which make separate apartments to
be closed, and attempted to close them
himself
Gabriel" the oldest male member Of
the hyena family, seemed to fully under.
stand the meaning Of the movement. and
at once took defiant position.
Drayton, man of Herculean strength
and iron will, the instant he saw that there
was a rebellion inaugurated, said to the
outside attendants
Here is trouble. Send for some iron
bars"
The men obeyed his orders, but before
they returned, Gabriel" made the attack
and the struggle was something terrible to
witness.
The young animals seemed inclined to
oefrlend their master, but Gabriel was de-
termlned to have his life. Dravton had
nothing but common cowhide wbip.
which he saw was of no avail, and heprasued
his terrible antagonist by the throat, and
threw him bodily to the floor of the den.
his for moment seemed to subdue the
animal, but for moment only Recaininp
his feet, he waited, as it appeared, to con.
slder the situation, and with q determine.
ton to die or conquer, made a desperate
attack on his master. After Gabriel re.
covered from the mOmentary surprise AT
the strength of his master, his rage WAS
uncomfortable. With bound, he seized
Drayton
Up to this moment, the other animals
mad only taken passive interest in the
struggle, but at the sight Of blood, their
rage knew no bounds, and they attacked
each other, rolling and leapng with light
lng-llke rapidlty, over, under and around
the man and his antagonist, snarling, howl.
ing and tearing indlscriminately, adding
greatly to Drayton's peril.
This terrible scene continued in the
presence Of the terrified spectators for
fully two minutes. Drayton, in the mean
time. with his naked hands, fighting the
feroclous beast which had attacked him,
and with wonderful strength and presence
OF mind, preventing him from Selling a
vital part or pulling him to the floor.
In the meantime, the attendants had
not been idle, and finally, with the aid Of
crowbars and pitchforks, succeeded in
breaking the hold Of the beast. Drayton
had fought his way to the door Of the den,
and the instant it was opened, fell into the
arms Of his friends.
No ordinary man would have lived five
minutes in this terrible position. No man
without an iron will, undaunted courage.
and Herculean strength, could ever have
left the cage alive. The expression Of
Draytons face as he stood holding by the
throat his terrible antagonist, was some.
thing never to hp frsntt"n. Blood was
ttowlng in streams from his wounds. Fear.
hope and determination were mingled in
one expression-a noble specimen Of Gods
nobest work.
Few men have passed through such an
ordeal and escaped with life.