Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-06-18
An Encounter With Lions,

Mr.. F. Falkner Carter. in charge OF
the elephsn's attached to the Royal
Belgian ExI edition into Africa, gives
the following exciting account of sud
den encounter which he had with lions
at KerimS, Central Africa, at which
place he and hie caravan of $50 men had
arrived. In a letter received from him
by the last mail, dated from that sta;
ton, he mentions the difficulties he had
experienced in procuring animal food
for his men. sour only food" he says.
consists OF Indian corn pounded be-
tween two stones, with good share of
sand, and only salt with 1t. 1t is we'll
to have even this, but still, nen
accustomed all their lives to good
animal fOsd, can not live on such poor
fare, AID SO I 60 out every second or
third day with my gun and kill zebra,
Gland, water-buck, etc. One of any of
these enables us to live in clover for q
single day. A recent expedition of
this kind. however, nearly cost me my
life. l felt that must go in search Of
food, as there was not at that time
morsel in Our camp, and so forth sal
lied. My first shot was at giraffe, into
whom put two bullets, and then fol-
lowed him over hill and dale until noon,
when heat. thirst, and want of food
obliged me to give up the chase. After
smoking pipe and taking some rest,
was OH again, got q shot at zebra, but
missed him. The zebra. should men.
ton, is the best meat in Africa. Rather
disheartened, and grieving for the poor
hollow-eyed fellows 1 should meet ON
my return. for whom I had nothing in
the shape of food. l turned toward
camp, and just at $50 P. NJ, fine boar
dashed past me. sent bullet through
him at once, but on he went. knew,
however, we should find him dead few
hundred yards ahead, by the quantity
OF blood in the long grass SO l fol
lowed, BUT just then sighted three ze-
bras-so dropped piggle's trail and
went OFT to try and stalk the zebras.
In about ten minutes after, I heard u
fearful row, and my two gun bearers
said 1t Was u rhinoceros. I laid hold OF
my No. 10 bore, handing my "express +"
to my bearer, telling him and the man
carrying the smooth bore to keep close
to nae. l glidei silently through the
grass, over six feet high, until close to
the spot: then knew if it were rhl.
noceros that he was lying down, as l
could not zee sign of him, 80 l decided
it must be two wild bears fighting.
something told me they could not make
such horrible noise, which actually
seemed to shake tie ground and renu
the very air around me. Strange to
say, 1t never struck me- that the noise
might have proceeded from lions, al
though the place is full of them; 80 l
advanced boldly, dividing tue grass with
my rifle. then discovered three lions
devouring the pig l had shot, aud in
that short time had finished half of it.
Ihe two nearest we're within two feet
OF me, and the furtLes thee and halt
feet. The brutes' bearus, chests, and
claws were covered with blood. Though
startled at first, was perfectly cool, anu
yet felt perfectly certain that must be
Killed, as even tame lion is savage
when eating his food. The lion opYo-
site caught sight Of me at once, curled
his lips, dashed his sides with his tail,
but what the others were doing I cannot
say, as my friend was in the act OF
spriuging, aud dare not take my eye
Oft him for second. at last he
crouched for the spring, and let drive
Ill his face, retieatlng u step to give me
u chance with the other barrel at one
OF the remaining two, determined to
sell my life dearly; but to my great de-
light these two sprang over the grass
in opposite directions. gave sort of
sigh of relief, looked round for my
gun. bearers, and there they were, fifty
yards off, trem bling with fear aud blue
with flight. The rascals hat. run away,
and l had no gun to full back upon.
l returned to pick up my dead lion, but
found he had crept away with bullet
through him. followed his trail until
the jungle got too thick. and the eight
too dark.-London Slandard.