Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1890-06-27
4joyhiilsuille Arntufkian.
JUNE 27, 1890
FRIDAY,
SPORT IN AFRICA.

SPORT IN AFRICA.
An American Going TO the Dark Cont
nent to Hunt Lions.
Royal Phelps Carroll, son Of the ex
Governor OF Maryland, 1t is said, is about
to start for Africa ON lion-hunting ex
petition. The glowing descriptions Of
sport on the vast 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 Kilima-Njaro. In fact, In
large parts Of South Africa there has
been so much slaughter by European
hunters that wholesale sport of this kind
Is thing Of the past. The three species
Of rhinoceros, for instance, that former
ly roamed in great numbers along the
banks OF South African streams are rap
idly becoming extinct Only n few OF
them are now seen in the Transyaai.
and, like the american bison, their days
In large part Of Africa arc about num-
bered
1t is common talk among noted In
glish sportsmen that lion-hunting in
Africa is comparatively tame sport.
They say he IN not at all dangerous as
compared with an Indian tiger. As q
general thing there is no doubt lion
prefers inglorious retreat to fight with
y white man. II . hunter meets an
African buffalo on narrow path he is
likely to be trampled on unless he puts
in well-directed shot. Most lions un-
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's thrill
ing experience when lion leaped upon
him from clnmp 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. eNobody knows why 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
Mashonalsnd two years ago he saw
.w,o,, s,.all daaartad x,illa1ao On al
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 man and two girls, and so on.
The boldness Of these animals is re-
markable when once they become
ravenous for human food. Three years
ago a young girl was standing outside o
hut when she thought she saw baboon
in the grass. She called out: Come
and see the baboon,r and several per-
sons rushed out just in time TO see lion
spring upon the girl and carry her away.
It was near this place that lion killed
q 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 II they
succeed In killing him they will very
likely not be molested again for years,
though they may nightly listen to roars
in the jungle.-N. Y. Sun.