South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1889-10-11

purpose OF enrsging the lion To the
greatest possible degree. He then
rose to his full height on his hinder
hands. u,tering tremendous 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 a.
gain. remaining perfectly ms ticuless
With the exception OF his eyebrows,
which worked up and down with light.
ming speed, giving an expression of
ferocity TO bis face that ia indescri-
babe.
Fascinated at the sight, nv rife
dropped from my shoulder hnd my
guide and i lay flat upon the ground,
mute Witnesses of the tragedy about
to be enacted. Suddenly the lion ut.
tered another ear splitting roar and
bounded forward. A few short steps,
tremendous leap. two or three
sharp, short growls,ond both combat
ants were in the air together, the 20
rilla having leaped high pnd s'raigh.
as the lion charged. la mid.ai The
lion turned aud struck apparently
vainiy at the gorilla, who, as the lion
fell on his side upon the ground, a.
lighted on him, struck him two terrific
blows and bounded away with slid
ing run TO distance OF several 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 witbstood those two
tremendous blows.
As soon as be had regained his
feet he charged at the gorilla again
and again. but Was eluded every time,
1t being almost imp sstble to follow
their rapid movements in the half
light OF the clearing. At last the lion
passed, and as he did 80 the ape
, dashed st him and, striking him a
stunning blow on the side of the head /,
compie'el rolled bin over. Again
and again the charges were renewed,
and at every pause the gorilla return.
ed The charge and knocked the lion
sidewise. These blows seemed to
daze the grea. cat, and ss he rose he
more than once staggered and fell,
the gorilla meanwhile dancing with a
peculiar bobbing motion around and
in front OF him.
The lion now began TO make fsints
to draw his adversary within range.
At last. stopping in mad rush, the
gorilla struck short, the iioI rushed
in, turned upon his back and received
the gorilla with teeth and claws.
Growls. snarls and rosrs pealei forth
from q whir!iny mass Of leaves and
duet; limbs and bodies strangely
mingled we're dimly seen through it,
az though twenty beasts instead OF
two were engaged in one cenglome-
rate death struggle. At last there
was a sickenihg crash, horrible
cruoching Of bones, fenoniacal yell
OF pain, faster and faster wBirled the
mass, then followed pause and /
saw The lion was uppermnst with the
J left arm of the gorilla in his powerful
jaws his claws were fixed in the
apes shoulder and lie himself was one
mass Of gashes and rents. The right
hand OF the gorilla was fixed in the
lone side and both his hinder hands
were drawn up and seemingly imbed-
ded in the lions ribs. There was q
moments pause, as If for breath, and
then the gorilla suddenly twisted his
head under the lions throat, the him
der legs straightcned out with mar
seating sound Of ronding flesh, rs
With one swift stroke he completely
discmboweIed the lion. There arose
terrible cry OF anguish, a sudden
swirl around, several strokes of brown
paws and dark, hairy arms through
tue cloud Of dust, and then all vas g.
yer. The Hhirling leaves settled, and
there in a death grip lay the two
mighty mouarcbs of the wilds. The
lion was utterly disembowelcd, bis
entrails having been seized by the
prehensile hinder hands ond literally
dragged out by the very roots while
The lion, by a last dying effort, bad
succeeded 10 getting bis throat freed
from the gofilla's teeth. and with one
powerful blow had smashed the apes
head, as the hammer does the hickory
nut. There they lay, motionless, and
there we lay, too, fascinated, entbrall-
ed at the strange spectacle We had
just witnessed.
Presently q figure moving on the
edge Of The clearing attracted our no.
tice. ana we saw the female gorilla
peering out between the bushes with
an agonizinglS human look upon her
face that was dreadful TO see. Slowly
and cautiously she advanced across
the open space until she reached the
bodies then che touched frstoDe and
then the other, uttering pla n'ive cries
OF grief that were touching in tho ex-
treme. At last she managed TO dis
engage the body of her mate, looked
into the eyes, examined the wounds
and, still crying, took IL in her arms,
and, laboriously dragging II across
the open space, disappeared in The
forest beyond. She was safe from my
rife. would not have shot Der for
a million dollars, and It vas with a
strange feeling of depression that /
turned my back upon the clearing,
and following my guide left behind
me the scene OF one Of the most in
teresiing and vivid experiences Of