The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1891-04-18
WILB BEASTS.



In the opinion Of Sir Samuel Baker,
the wild buffalo Of Ceyion and South
Africa Is the most dangerous of all
wild animals. II is armed with enor-
nous horns, the hide is intensely
tough and Of great thickness, and
being almost free from hair, resembles
the appearance Of India rubber. The
frontal bone is thick aud the animal,
when facing an antagonist, holds iis
nose well upward. The hose j., there
fore, the poiut at which to aim, and the
shot must be setter for, unless it
proves such, the brute Invariably
charges. Such is its natural ferocity,
that it always flies at man whether
attacked or not. ~rhe charge Of
buffalo, SAYS Sir Samuel, "is a very
serious matter buffalo Is a
devil incarnate when il has once
decided upon the offensive. Nothing
will then turn it; it must actually be
stopped with death, sudden and in-
Simultaneous, as nothing else will stop
1t. II not killed II will sssuredly de-
stroy its adversary. There Is no
creature In existence that is so deter
mined to stamp out the life of its op-
ponents, and tho intensity OF It's fury
Is unsurpassed when wounded buf-
falo rushes forward upon the last
desperate charge. Should II succeed
in overthrowing its antagonist, II will
not only gore the body with its horns,
but II will endeavor to tear il to pieces,
and will kneel upon the lifeless form
and stamp II with its hoofs until its
remains are mutilated beyond all
recognition Again he says: "The
true character of the animal is one Of
stubborn, unflnehing courage and un-
mitigated revenge"
On one occasion Sir Samuel and his
friend, Mr.. Dick, espled a bull buffalo
on the opposite bank of small creek,
thirty yards of. On discovering them
the buffalo began to turn up the turf
with its horns and looked for spot
where It could descend the steep bank,
as II to wade across to get at them
Loading, with a double charge, Mr.
Dick. as the bull was looking down
hit Il IN tho neck. The bull shook
convulsively aud fell on Its side. Sup
posing Il to be dead, the hunters hur'
ried across the creek and found truly
collosal animal. Mr.. Dick stood IL
front of the bulls head and reveled IL
the delight of his first buffalo.
aNeyer stand at the head ofa buffalo
whether dead or aliye,r exclaimed SiI
Samuel to his excited friend, "but al
ways stand upon the side facing th'
, back of the animal, well away IRON
, the legs, as am standing now.'
, Scarcely were the words out Of hi
mouth when tho seemingly dead bui
| falo sprang suddenly to its feet, ant
. made for Mr.. Dick, who was onl.
three or four feet in front OF him
1 Paralyzed with fright, tho hnnte
: attempted to jump backward to avoi'
0 the horns, but tripped and fell upol
0 his back Immediately In the path o
{ the savage bull. Apparently, MI
Dick was at the end OF his life, whel
t Sir Samuel, with surprising instinct
7. drew bis loag hunting knife, quick a
|. lightning, and plunged II exactly oe
y hind the shoulder, to the hilt. VIII
b one mighty convulslon the bull fe
# dead. il was wonderful escape, an
4, tho instrument which did such oxect
n ton real, old Andrea Ferrara, eigil
/ teen inches In length and two !
o breadth, sharp as II was possible
s. grind il, and with point as keen as
lancet. Tho double edge of tho Ion
hunting knife had divided the grc'
artery Of the heart, which was spl
~ open exactly at the oriilcc. That wa
> blow! From that moment MIR. dc
declined TO fire at buflaloes F!