Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-12-11
SPORT IN AFRic
An American Going to tho Dark Cont.
nent to Hunt Lions.


An American Going to tho Dark Cont
nent to Hunt Lions.
Royal Phelps Carroll, son OF the ex.
Governor 81 Maryland, it is said, is about
to start for africa on lion-huntinR ex
petition. The glowing descriptions Of
sport on thesvast plains of Africa given
by Selous, Thomson, Kerr and other
pioneer sportsmen have drawn not few
nimrods to South Africa and the region
OF Mount Kihma-Niaro. In fact, in
large parts OF South Africa there has
been SO much slaughter by European
hunters thatWho lesale sport Of this kind
is q thing Of the past The three species
Of rhinoceros, for instance, that former.
" roamed in great numbers along the
banks OF South African streams are rap.
idly becoming extinct. Only few Of
them are now seen in the Transyaal
and, like the American bison, their day.
in q large part of Africa are about mum
bered
is common talk among noted En-.
glish sportsmen that lion-hunting in
Africa Is comparatively tame sport
They say he is not at all dangerous as
compared with an Indian tiger. AS q
general thing there is no doubt a lion
prefers inglorious retreat to a fight with
white man. If hunter meets an
African buffalo on narrow path he is
likely to be trampled on unless he puts
In Well-directed shot. Most lions I'M
der the same circumstances will leap
into the jungle and disappear, though
now and then they have been known to
attack white men. The best known in.
cident OF this sort is Livingstone thrill
ing experience when lion leaped upon
him from clump of bushes, lacerated
his shoulder, and would have killed him
had he not been shot by one of Living.
stones servants.
There is another sort of lion, however,
with whom Selous has made us familiar.
he is the man eater, the terror of the
natives because he lies in wait for his
human prey just as he does for other
animals. oNobody knows why a few lions
differ from their fellows in their love
and search for human food. 1t is be-
lieved, however, that, by some chance
getting taste of human flesh and find
ing it good, they acquire the habit OF
seeking that sort of food in preference
to any other. One man-eating lion is
quite enough to drive the natives of an
extensive territory from their homes.
While Selous was hunting in Northern
Mashonaland two years ago he saw
many small, deserted villages. On ask
ing the reason the answer invariably
was: ''The people could not remain any
longer. The lions are too bad In one
village three women had been killed
and eaten by these man-eaters, in an
other a man and two girls, and so on.
The boldness of these animals is re-
markable when once they become
ravenous for human food. Three wears
ago young girl was standing outside c
hut when she thought she saw d Dahoon
in the grass. She called out: ssCome
and see the baboon," and several per-
sons rushed out just in time to see lion
spring upon the girl and carry her away.
1t was near this place that lion killed
sleeping man. Before he had time to
begin his meal the mans wife rushed
out of her hut. The lion left his first
victim, killed and ate the woman. and
then departed, leaving the mans body
untouched. Sometimes the natives
muster up sufficient courage to organize
a hunt for the man-eater, and if they
succeed in killing him they will very
likely not be molested again for years.
though they may nightly listen to roars
in the iunrle.-N, Y, Sun.