The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-05-03

pursue, whether to attempt to get any
closer, as the distance was rather long
one, in such light, to attack an animal
like the gorilla, who, if only wounded
would, in all probability, with the female
charge right down on US; or if I should
take all risks and rely on the second rife
of my guide. At last I decided to take
my chance where I was, but, upon raising
my rife, heard scream of agony from
the female, which caused the sleeper to
rise to his feet, and as it did so the female
literally fell from a tree on the edge Of
the clearing down to the ground, uttering
the most piercing cries that human
Imagination can conceive. Then aterrifc
roar, that shook the very ground broke
upon the silence and told the history of
the female gorilla's fright. 1t was lion
and at the>sound of his voice she again
fed into the trees, while the male uttered
a deep, savage, hoarse roar that was the
answer to the lions. Immediately q
crashing sound was heard, and full
grown lion bounded into the open and
stood his head erect, his name bristling
like the hair on cat, the very personi6
cation of brute strength and courage.
As his eyes lighted on the gorilla bis
tail began to wave to and fro. Wider
and wider grew its sweep, until at last it
struck its ribs, first one side and then the
other, with resounding blows, while roar
upon roar gave token of his increasing
rage and anger. The gorilla placed bis
hands upon the ground and bounding up
again and again, seemingly for the pur'
pose Of enraging the lion to the greatest
possible degree. He then rose to his full
height on his hinder hands, uttering
tremendous roars and beating his
breast with his great fist, producing
sounds like those made by heavy blows
upon a bass drum. Then he dropped
upon all fours again, remaining perfectly
motionless with the exception of his
eyebrows, which worked up and down
with lightning speed, giving an express
sion of ferosity to his face that is iade'
scribable.
Fascinated at the sight, my rife drop.
ped from my shoulder and my guide and
lay fat upon the ground, mute witness
ss of the tragedy about to be enacted
Suddenly the lion uttered another ear
splitting roar and bounded forward. A
few short steps, tremendous leap, two
or three short, sharp growls, and both
combatants were in the air together, the
gorilla having leaped high and straight
as the lion charged. In midair the lion
turned and struck apparently at the
gorilla, who, as the lion fell on his sides
upon the ground alighted on him, struck
him two terrific blows and bounded away
with a sliding run to distance ofseveral
yards. could now see that the gorilla
was severely wounded on the head and
side and that the lion had fearful cash
in his side, for surely his ribs could
never have withstood those two tremen'
dous blows.
As soon as be regained his feet hs
charged at the gorilla again and again
but was eluded every time, it being almos
| impossible to follow their rapid move
ments in the flight of the clearing
At last the lion paused, and as he did 81
the ape dashed at him and striking him
stunning blow on the side of the head
completely rolled him over. Again ant
again the charges were renewed and a
every pause the gorilla returned th'
charge and knocked the lion sidewise
These blows seemed to daze the great cat
and as be more than once staggered ane
fell, the gorilla meanwhile dancing Will
q peculiar bobbing movement around ant
| in front of him.
The lion now began to make feints to
draw his adversary within range. A
last, stopping in mad rush, the gorill'
struck short, the lion rushed in, turned
upon his back and received the gorill'
with teeth and claws. Growls, snarl'
and roars pealed forth from whirline
mass of leaves and dust limbs aud bod
les strangely mingled were dimly seel
though as twenty beasts instead of tw'
we're engaged in one conglomerate dealt
struggle. At last there was a sickenip
crash, a horrible crunching of bones,
demoniacal yell ofpain, faster and taste
whirled the mass, then followed pause
and I saw the lion was uppermost wit
the left arm of the gorilla in his powerful
laws; his claws were fixed in the ape
shoulder and he himself was one mass {
gashes and rents. The right hand of th
gorilla was fixed in the lions side, an
both of his right hands we're drawn u
seemingly imbedded in the lions ribs.
There was moments pause, and if fe
! breath, and] then the gorilla suddenI