Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-05-23
A DUEL TO THE DEATH.
Extraordinary Contest between a
Gorilla and a Lion.

In the gloomy reccsscs OF the primeval
forests still % be found in Central Africa
there Is avast unexplorcd field still stretch
ing forth its unmeasured space 20 the
hunter and the natuE,list. To those who
know tho face Of natuSj as II Is before the
corrosive hand Of civilization sweeps across
II, thore Is little ground for wonder that
the two arc almost always in a greater or
lesser degree united. Occasionally, then.
oven the most ardent hunter will lose the
blood instinct that animates him, and, low
ering his rifle, perhaps in a moment Of
great personal danger, will forget his long
ana labOriously sought quarry 90 watch
some new trait or fresh instinct in the ami
NAL that, unconscious Of his presence, gam
bols before him. IL is Of such an episode
that w. II. Pond writes in tho New York
Star.
My guide and had been for two DAYS
after big game with but little success, until
shortly after noon on the second day we
struck what appeared 20 be ono of the dense
patches OF impenetralia that can not be de-
scrlDed, but must be seen 20 be understood
Behind US stretched vast avenues of trees.
tho height OF which was lost in the leafy
clouds which shut out the fierce burning
glare OF the sun and rendered even the
terrible noontide cool and pleasant In
front OF us came the closer stems and
thick, INTERVIEWING growth OF vines and
creepers, with stunted bushes and long
pendant masses, impcnetrable save whore
some gigantic brute had crushed passage
through, leaving his tracks in broken
branches, crushed bushes and thickly-scat-
tered twigs. Birds OF gorgeous plumage
with harsh, dissonant voices peopled the
trees, the chirp Of a grasshoppcr, the sharp
hiss OF serpent, or the shrill sound of a
locust rose from the matted grass, with oc-
Cuslonauy the boot OF an owl, or the chatter
OF stray monkey, which sounded strange
ly In the peculiar silence OF tho forest. As
we advanced along the track, slowly and
with great difficulty, we seemed 10 leave
them far behind, and entered into a region
OF semi-darlnoss, a faint greenish-blaSJS
light, as though the glorious sunlight ovef-
head, baked In finding direct inlet to the
ground, had been filtered through yards OF
close growing green foliage, and uncon-
quorod by all the forces Of vegetation. had
succeeded In scndinga faint, subdued sem
blancc of itself, like that found in some vast
cathedral aisle. My eyes struggled with
the gloom, aud seemed 10 have an instinct
I've power TO dilato their pupils sufficiently
70 magnify or condense the uttenuated rays
until they were able 90 illumine the sur
rounding Plutonlan depths.
My guido suddenly paused and made a
sign 10 me with his open palm, which, in
tho language OF the hunter, said that he
had struck trail, or heard some token OF
the proximity OF game that had escaped my
less acute powers. / cautiously advanced
TO bis side, and following the direction OF
his hngor pcorod through tho brush, and
saw that we lay upon the edge of a small
clearing, ovorshadowcd by an enormous
tree, whose foliage, without really admit
ting a greater volume OF light, seemed TO
equalzo the CLEAN, and so render objects at
distance OF thirty or forty yards perfectly
porccptiblc.
Right opposite 90 us, with his back
against tree, was tho sleeping form of a
huge gorilla, his hands hanging down by
his sidos, his legs crooked i'm front Of him,
and his head hstlcssly lying sidewiso on
his shoulder. Some distance from him was
the female, apparently busily engaged in
gathering nuts, swinging FROM tree 10 ,ree,
now disappearing into the surrounding for
est, but ever and anon returning 10 keep
watch and ward over the sleeping lord aud
master. For some minutes 1 hesitated as
10 what course 10 pursue, whether TO at
tempt TO get any closer, as the distance was
rather long one, in such a light, 70 attack
an animal like the gorilla, who, IL only
wounded, would, In all probability, with the
female, charge right down into us; or III I
should take all risks and rely upon the sec
ond rifle Of my guide. AT last decided TO
take my chance wnere l was, but upon
raising my rifle l heard a scream Of agony
from the female, which caused the sleeper
10 start 10 its feet, and as IL did so the fe-
male literally fell from tree ON the edge
Of the clearing down 10 the ground, uttcring
tho most piercing cries that human imagin-
alton can conceive.
Then a terrific roar that shook the ground
broke upon tho silence and told the history
Of the female goriila's fright. IL was a lion,
and ut the sound OF his voice she again fled
into tho tree, while the male uttered deep,
savage, hoarso roar that was the answer To
tho lions challenge Immediately a crash
Ing sound was heard, and full-grown lion
bounded into the open, and stood, his head
erect, his name bristling like the hair on a
cat, the pcrsonification of brute strength
andcourago.
AS his eyes lighted on the gorilla his tail
began TO wave 20 and fro Wider and wild
or grew its sweeps, until mt last II struck
Its ribs, first one side and then tho other,
with resounding blows, while roar upon
roar gavO token OF his increasing rage and
anger. The gorilla placed his upper hands
upon the ground and bounded into the air
fully six feet, alighting on his four hands
and bounding up again, seemingly for tho
purpose Of engaging the lion 10 the greatest
possible degree. He then rose 20 his fun
height, on his hinder hands, uttering tro-
mendous roars and beating his breast with
his great fist, producing sounds like those
made by heavy blows upon bass drum.
Then he dropped upon all fours again, 70.
manning perfectly mouonless, with the OK.
ccption OF his eyebrows, which worked up
and down with lightning speed, giving an
expression Of ferocity TO his face that is In.
describable.
Fascinated AZ the sight, my rife dropped
from my shoulder and my guide and / lay
Hat upon the ground, mute witnesses OF
the tragedy that was about 20 be enacted
Suddenly tho lion uttered another car split
ting roar and bounded forward. A few
short steps, tremendous leap, two OF three
sharp short growls, aud both combatants
were in tho afr together, the gorilla hav-
ing loapcd high and straight as the lion
Charged. In mid-air tho lion turned and
struck apparently vainly at thegoriIla, who,
ns the lion fen on his side upon the ground.
alghtcd ON him, struck him two terrific
blows and bounded away with a siding
run 10 "A distance OF several yards I could
now SEQ that the gorilla was severely
wounded on the head and side, and that tho
hon had fearful cash In bis side, for sure
" his ribs could never have withstood
tnQao Two tremendous blows
As soon us he rcgaincd his feet he
charged at the gorilla again and again, but
was eiuocd every umo, IL being almost i'm
possible % follow their rapid movements In
the hcltnght Of tho clearing At last the
Lion paused, and NJ ne did 30 the apo dashed
at him and, striking mm q stunning blow
upon the side OF the head, completely roll
ing hun over. Again and again the charges
were renewed, aud ~ every pause the
gorua returned the charge and knocked
The LION sidcviso. These blows seemed 70
dare The great cat, aud a. he rose he more
than once staggered and fcll the gorilla
peanwhile dancing with . peculiar bob