West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-03-22
LION AGAINST GORILLA.
DUEL BETWEEN THE GIANT APE
AND THE GREAT CAT.
"A Royal Combat i'm the Depths of
an African Forest Which Would
Have Delighted the Caesars


his story rs follows:
My guide suddenly pau cd and made
sign TO me with his open palm. which.
In the language of the hunter. SAID that
be had struck ATRIAL, or heard some token
oil the proximity of game that had cs-
cared my less acute powers. cautions
~ advanced TO his side. and following
the direction of his finger pecrcd through
the brush, and saw that we lay upon the
edge OF small clearing, overshadowed
ny an enormous tree, whose foliage
without really admitting n greater vol
ume OF light, seemed TO equalile the
eseam, and 30 render objects nj dis.
tan of thirty or forty yards perfectly
perceptiblc
Right opposite to US, with his back
against tree, was the sleeping form of n
huge gorilla his hands hanging down by
his sides, his legs crooked in front of
him, and his head listlessly living side
wise on his shoulder. Some distance
from him was the female, apparently
busily engaged in gathering nuts. swing
ing from tree TO tree, now disappearing
into the surrounding forest, but ever aud
anon returning TO keep watch and ward
over the sleeping lord and master. For
some minutes | hesitatcd as TO what
course TO pursue, whether to attempt TO
get any closer, rs 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 into US; or.
II should take all risks and rely upon
the second rifle OF my guide. At last |
decided TO take my chance where | was,
but upon raising my ri1e heard a scream
hs, L.
the sleeper TO start to its feet. and n, il
did so the female literally fell from n
tree on the edge Of the clearing down TO
the ground, uttering the most picrcinc,
cries that human imagination can con.
ceive.
Then terrific roar that shook the very
ground broke upon the silence and told
the history OF the female gorilla's fright.
IL was non, and at the sound of his
voice she again re into the trees. while
the male uttered deep, savage hoar.e
roar that was the answer to the lions
challenge. Immediately a crashing sound
was heard, and full grown lion bounded
into the open, and stood, his head erect.
his name DristliDg like the hair on n cat
the persOnifcation Of brute strength and
courage.
AS his eyes lighted on the gorilla his
tail began to wave to and fro. Wilder
and wilder grew its sweep, until mt last
X struck its ribs, first one side and then
the other, with resembling blows, while
roar upon roar gave token of his increas
ing rage and anger The gorilla placed
ms upper hands upon the ground and
bounded into the air fully six feet, alight-
ing on his four hands and bounding IN
again and again, seemingly Tor the pur-
pose OF engaging the lion to the greatest
possible degree. He then rose 10 his
full he ght on his hinder hands. uttering
tremendous roars and beating his breast
with his great fist, producing sounds like
those made by heavy blows upon bass
drum. Thon he dropped upon all fours
again, remaining perfectly motionless
with the exception of his eyebrows
which worked up and down with LIMIT
ming speed, giving an expression of
ferocity to his face that is Undesirable
Fascinated with the sight. NV rifle
dropped from my shoulder and nv guide
and lay fiat upon the ground, mute wit
nesses o. the tragedy about 10 be enact
ed. Suddenly the lion uttered another
eaT-spitting roar and bounded forward
A few short steps, tremendous lean
two or three sharp, short growls. and
both combatants were In the'air together
the gorilla having leaped high and
straight rs the lion charged. In mid.air
the lion turned and stru X, apparently
Vainly, at the gorilla, who, !sthr lion fe
on ms side upon the ground alighted on
him, struc'S him two terrific blows ard
bounded away with Siding run to n
distance of several yards / could nov
sec that the gorilla was severely wound
cd on the head and side and that the
lion had fearful cash in his side. for
surely his ibis cou.d never have.with-
stood those two tremendous blows.
As soon a. he Tegaiucd his feet he
charged the gorilla again aud agqin, but
was eluded every time. it being almost
impossible to follow their rapid nove.
ments in the half light of the elearinss
At last the lion paused, and as he did 80
the ape dashed at hirn and. striking him
a stunning blow on the side OF the
head, completely rolled him over
Again and again the gorilla returned tbe
charge and knocked the Ion sidewisc
These blows seemed TO daze the rreot
cat, and as he rose he more than once
staggered aud fell, the gorilla mean
while dancing with a peculiar boiling
movement around and in front Of him
The lion w began 10 make feints 10
draw his adversary within RANGE. A.
last, stopping in q mad rush. the gorilla
struck short, the lion rushed in. turned
upon his back and received the por.l a
with teeth and claws. Crows. sparls
and roars pealed forth from % whirl NO
mass Of leaves aud dust: limbs and
bod IS strangely mingled were dimlv
seen through it, as though twenty beasts
instead OF two were engaged in one
oOnglomerate death struggle AT last
there was a sickening crash. a horrib q
crunchiEg Of bones. = demoniacaIl ycU
oi pain. faster aud faster whirled tho
mass, then followed a pause. and saw
the lion was uppermost with the lcft
arm OF the gorilla in his powerful laws
ne claws were fixed in ihe aDc's shorr
der and he himself was QUO ma q of IA hes
and rents. The right hand Of The gofiila
was fixed IN The Ions side. and both his
hinder hands were drawn up end Sem
ingly Embedded in the lions ribs
here was a moments pause. as III Tor
breath, and then the gorilla suddrnly
twisted his head under the lions throat
Rhe hinder hands enlightened ont with
nausoating sound Of rending fc,b. as
with one swift stroke De completely dis
embowlod the hon. There arose tor.
rlbIe CRY Of anguish. eudden errfrI