New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-27
A FIGHT WITH 4 BABOON.
From The Graf-Reinet Advertiser.

was walking through my lands and had my gun
with me, and the baboons were screaming on h 1he
stead. The dogs in the farmyard, on hearing the
noise the balloons were making rushed up to the
deadly fight. took up my gun ana climbed up ule
mountain for the Of a S o ng dS TO peee
When reached the summit Of the kaau num1 per
ST SSS1Gni he was 6eS e pd SY
by the only dog left the Others having been Wrl "
psee between ne G Wounded aSoOH and the dog
the very brink Of precipee had not an1 ,nGsd
Sp Couple ITe OF large Stones and walked to within
few yards OF the spot was Just in the led acG Tl
q tremendous male baboon the largest have seen,
came straight at me In bold and DEFIANT manner,
his eyes cleaning with anger and rage, and his huge
Jaws working together as il in anticipation Of tn. the
crunching that was in store for me Just had t,ine
he was upon me. lie seized me by the leg hrot and
bit me with such violence that thought every bone
my might tried to get hold OF stone. attempted
10 seize him by the thr0at dealt him several blows Wt
| enpared African mandrilI ovcrpowered and mastered
me completely. After he had finished with my leg
he raised himself his hind legs put his arm around
me and seized hold OF NE OH the chest with MS pow
| erful Jaws. What could do Every now and then
he let 60 hold Of my breast and snapped at my throat
seized him by the throat with my right hand and
clenched my fingers but ne would not yleid ms graz
dragged Gs s me nearer % the edge Of the precpcc and
we now within three FEET OF .rs sSe thar 1rlhh
| 20 into the chasm below. The wounded balloon and
| he dog that were responsible for the AWFUL pre-,
dicsment in which ] now found myself, had Just
rolled over into the abyss. We had been at 1t nearly
an hour and the baboon showed no signs OF releas
ing me felt should not be able to hold out much
longer AZ / am an old man. considerably over sixty
At This stage | bethought myself Of penknc had IN
nv waisfc0at pocket. II ] could only get IL ont,
might ward him of by stabbng him In the face ., J
gradually got my left hand into my pocket and got inc
Knife out the brute scratching and tearing my fate
with his hands all the while. got IL to my mouth
and held 70 there ill had an opportunity OF opening
il with my left hand. then began stabbng and prod
ding him but the knife not large enough to 90 him
| mncb damage ] drew blood, however, the sight OF
| which only made him more vicious still. by this time
had scarcely yesse Of clothing left, and my LAGER
ard BODY bore toEens OF what South African baboor
can do When he chooses TO tackle and fight an unarmed
| man | was wondering how all this was going 10
end when one OF the dogs that had been wounded IN
The fight and which had recovered sufficiently to MAKE
| HE way 20 where we were, seized the animal from
behind. ! felt the brute wished TO get at the dog
lie threw himself from upon the dog; they had one
rough tumble, and then the baboon walked suileniS
away along the ridge Of the precipce, looking bach
from time 10 time as II undecided whether he should
| renew the attack II some time before / could
recover sufficient strength to descend the mountain
co home and the dog too after an encounter
such as shall never forget and the like OF which
| hope never 10 experience again.