Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-01-22
LION HUNTING.
STORIES OF ADVENTURES WITH
THE KING OF BEASTS.

thirty people We had horses, oxen, wagons
and dogs and were spread out over two acres
Of ground. 1t was in the lion country, and
they might be expected 10 approach at night,
but on the second afternoon of our camp.
while all were engaged in cleaning up and
making repairs, an alarm was suddenly
raised. | supposed that some Of the animals
had stampeded, and ran around the wagon
to get clear view Of the space betEeen us
and the creek. This creek was 200 feet away,
and was so nearly dry that ono could step
across it. The bank on the other side was
rocky ground, pretty thickly covered with
scrub and right on the brink stood one Of
the largest lions ever saw. He was out in
full view, head and tail up and stood so still
for a moment that doubted If he was alive
There was a light breeze blowing toward
us, and as soon as our animals got the scent
it required the efforts Of every native 20 pre-
vent them from breaking away. My guns
were being cleaned and oiled, and my two
white companions were looking after their
horses No one had the least idea that the
lion meant mischief, and we were presently
dumfounded TO see him spring across the
creek and come walking into camp. We
measured his leap and found it to be twenty
eight feet He made it without an effort
was 70 tho right Of him, and the center Of the
camp was his objective point. The lion adj
vanced at a walk, uttering no sound, and the
shouts, screams and whoops Of the men,
backed by the believing Of the cattle and the
snorts Of the horses, had no effect on him
COOL AND BUSINESS LIKE
We had new mich COW tied TO the wheel
of one Of the wagons, and the lion advanced
to within thirty feet Of her, and then made a
spring which landed him fairly upon her
back. She fell in a heap and he seized her
by the neck, gave her two or three shakes,
which broke the grass rope around her head.
and he then got his right shoulder under her
and started of. The COW weighed at least
500 pounds, but he carried her with perfect
ease, her hind feet dragging on the ground.
At the creek he made jump Of eleven feet,
assembled sloping bank without a halt, and
soon disappeared in the broken ground with
his prey. He was gone before We had gun
ready. Indeed, we wero lacisy not 30 have
lost half our animals. l was no grecnhs-n
in the animal business at that date, but this
was the FIRST time had ever witnessed such
cheek in a lion. Had been told that BE had
such courage and GOODNESS l should have
laughed the statement TO scorn.
As soon as order had been restored the
three Of us mounted our horses end, preceded
by five or six natives and their DOES, crossed
the creek and took up the trail After going
about half a mile we discovered the lion Sit
ting beside the carcass in little hollow. He
was sitting up like a dog, head turned to-
ward us, but as soon as he saw us divide he
ran off with his tail down, evidently
thoroughly alarmed, ana such was bis speed
that we soon lost him. We could count 81
his returning 70 the body during tho night,
and the natives were therefore set to worl;
to dig a pit ana conceal IT, They regarded
the lion as being as cunning as he was wise,
and the pit was not dug near the body, but
thirty feet away from it and in the direction
In which it was believed he would drag the
body.
IL q lion or tiger leave body during tho
day and returns 70 it at night the crst act IS
20 drag il some distance as if fearing on am
buscade. While the rule IS not invarahle il
holds good IN most cases. During tile night
dozen lions scented around Our camp, but
without causing any alarm, and soon after
daylight the natives went out 10 investigate
the trap No hunter ever had such wind
fall before or since. As night came several
lions must have scented the carcass, and
gathered for a feast. The rightful owner OBJ
iected, u course, and there was fight, the
result Of which was that three full grown
males tumbled into our pit. This fact did
not prevent others from picking tho carcass
clean One OF tho captives was the cheeky
old fellow who had entered our camp, and
the other two were fully as large. In the
course Of the forenoon we had them out and
in the cages, and two Of them are in the
United States today in geological gardens.
There are plenty Of instances where men
have been seized by lions and lived to relate
the particulars, though no two agree as to
sensations. A week subsequent TO our can
ture Of the three lions 1 had been out with
some Of the natives 10 prepare a bait in
rocky ravine We bad built a stout pen OF
rocks and logs and placed a calf as a bait
The sun was nearly down as we started for
camp, and no one had the least suspicion Of
the presence of danger until lion, which
had been crouching beside bush, sprang out
and knocked me down. In springing upon
his prey the lion or the tiger strikes as he
seizes. This blow Of tho paw, If il falls on
the right spot, disabes the victim at once.
l was so near this fellow that he simply
reared up seized me by the shoulder and
pulled me down, and 1 was Tat on the earth
before realized what had happened was
on my back, and he stood with both paws on
my middle, facing the natives and growing
savagely. The men ran or about 500 feet
ana then halted, which was doubtless the
reason why was not carried or at once.
can say without conceit that / was fairly
cool IL had come so suddenly that had not
had time to get ratified. / had been told BY
an old Boer hunter, If I ever found myself in
this TX, 70 appeal to the lions fears. Had
moved my arm to get my pistol, Che beast
would have lowered his head and seized my
throat. So long as | lay quiet he would
reason that was dead, and give his atten-
ton to the natives.
All Of a sudden barl.ed out like a dog,
followed by growl, and that beast jumped
twenty feet in his surprise. He came down
between mo and the natives, and l turned
| enough 70 sec that his tail was down and
that be was scared. uttered further barks
and growls, but without moving hand, and,
after making circle clear around me, the
lion suddenly bolted and went or with a
scare which would last him q week. II YOU
had picked up a stick and discovered it to be
a snake You would do just as the lion did.
He supposed he had pulled down a man,
The man turned into dog. It appealed e
his fears.
After the lion had COMO I grew SO veal
that l hadto be carried to camp He had
inflicted pretty bad bite on my shoulder
and it was a fortnight before could hold Ely
gun Tor an orhand shot. had the presenc,
Of q fourth captive during this time to con
solo me, however. No animal went near thi
calf on the FIRST or the second night, but OF
tho third We captured fine half growI
male, and got him Gagged without trouble
Curiously enough, he had offered the calf NJ