Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1880-10-06
Fighting with a hyena.

this place. The entire constellation
arrived Oh the morning of the 10Th
Sunday, and the paraphernalia
was removed to the exhibition
grounds in quiet and orderly man.
ner. On The morning Of the 10Th
as is their Gust om-evprytling was
arranged for the grand free street
parade which always takes place.
The den Of spotted hyenas was
placed in position, and Herr Dray.
ton entered as usual to take his
position as master. The instant he
made his appearance the largest and
most terocious Of the animals made
a 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 sepa-
rate apartments TO lie closed, aud
attempted to close them himself.
Gabriel, the oldest male Of the
hyena family, seemed to fully under.
stand the meaning Of the movement,
and refused TO obey orders and at
once took defant position. Chas.
DraytOU, better known as "M0dern
Hercules or cannon ball performer,
man If herculeaD strength and
iron will, the instant he saw there
was rebellion iuaugurated, said to
the outside attendant: "Here is
trouble; send for some iron bars"
The men Immediately obeyed his
orders, but before they returned
Gabriel made the attack, and the
struggle was something terrible to
witness. .....
The young animals seemed in
clined to bcfriend their master, but
Gabriel was determined to have his
life. Drayton had nothing but u
cowhide whip, which he saw was of
no avail, and he grasped his terrible
antagonist by tue throat and threw
him bodily to the floor OF the den.
This for moment seemed to subdue
the animal, but for lnomeut only.
Regaining his feet lie waited, as it
appeared, to consider the situation,
and with a determination 10 die or
conquer, made a desperate attack
on his master. Hyenas are known
to be cowardly and treacherous, and
are always found in large numbers,
but when enraged they know no
fear, when they close their terrible
Jaws on their victim it is almost
literally in the 'Jaws of DEATH"
After Gabriel recovered from the
mOmentary surprise at the strength
of his master his rage was uncon.
trollable. With a bound he seized
Drayton. Up TO this moment the
other animals had only taken pas
/ sive interest in the struggle. But
; at the sight of blood their rage
knew no bounds, and they attacked
r each other, rolling and leaping with
lightning rapidity, over, under, ana
;. around the man and his antagonist,
E snarling, bowling and tearing in
discriminatory, adding greatly to
DraytOn's peril.
} The terrible scene continued in
4 the presence Of the terrified specta
a tors for fully two minutes, Drayton
I in the meantime, with his NAKED
; hands, fighting with the ferociOut
animal which had attacked him. and
:. with wonderful strength and pres
!. ence of mind preventing him from
i. Selling vital part or pulling hin
1 to the floor. In the meantime the
n attendants had not been idle, ant
O finally, with the aid of crowbars ant
, pitchtorks, succeeded in breaking
y the hold of the beast. Drayton hat
e fought his way to the door of thu
!. den, and the instant it was openet
It fell into the arms of his friends. N
# ordinary man would have lived on
IT minute in this terrible position. NJ
II man without an iron will, undauntet
courage, and herculean strength
d could have left the cage alive. Tn
l expression of Drayton's face rs b.
It left his antagonist was something
II never to be forgotten. Blood wa
f. flowing in streams from his wounds
Y Fear, hope and determination wer
mingled in one expressiOn-a nObl
r. specimen OF Gods nOblest wOri
" Few men have passed through sue
re an ordeal and escaped with Life
10 Mr.. Coup and Manager +. d. Calvi
Immediately removed him to tn
Hart hotel, where Drs. Holiday an'
r. Williams were untiring in their al
re tentions. They express belief tina
er no serious consequences viii eeeul
70 Winchester ( Va. Times. .,-.-