Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-06-05
FIGHTING WITH A BA8OON.
a Mans Desperate Hand-to-Hand Battle
with a Monster Anthropo.d.


was walking through my lands and had
nv gun with me, and the balloons were
screeching on the top OF the rocky precl-
pice that overhangs my homeste The
dogs in the farm-yard on hearing the noise
the balloons were making rushed up TO
the mountain and were soon engaged IN q
deadly fight. | took up my gun and climbed
up the mountain for the purpose OF assist
ing the dogs and in the hope OF saving
them from being torn TO pieces. Nnen L
reached the summit OF the krantz num-
Der of balloons fled. fred and wounded
one in the shoulder he was Immediately
pursued and tackled by the only dog left.
the others having been torn TO pieces. The
struggle for lite or death was taking place
between the wounded baboon and the dog
on the very brink of preclpice. j had
not another cartridge for my gun. so put
it down and picked up O couple OF large
stones and walked to within few yards
OF the spot
| was lust in the act of hurting one OF
them at the baboon when suddenly ire
mendous male baboon-the largest L have
seen-came straight at me IN bold and de-
FAINT manner, his eyes cleaning with
anger and his huge Jaws working together
as II in anticipation OF the crunching that
was in store for me. | Just had time 20
hurl the stone in my now upraised hand
at him when he was upon me. lie
seized me By the leg first. and bit me with
such violence that | thought every bone
in my leg was smashed TO atoms. L Kicked
with all my might. tried to get hold OF a
stone. attempted to seize hum by the
the throat. dealt him several blows with
the fist, but It was all useless: the strength
of the enraged African mandril oyerpow-
cred me completely.
After he had finished with my leg he
raised himself on his hind legs, put his
arm around me, and seized hold OF me on
the chest with his powerful jaws. What
could do? Every now and then he let go
his hold of my breast and snapped at my
throat. seized him by the throat with
nv right hand and clinched my fingers, but
no would not yield his grasp for Single
moment. Every time moved he dragged
me nearer to the edge of the precipice,
and we were now within three feet OF the
brink and the ground sloping down to 1t.
| knew that if for q moment lost my foot
ing down we should go into the chasm be-
low. The wounded baboon and the dog
that were responsible for the awful pre-
dicament in which | now found myself
had inst rolled over into the abyss. We
had been at it nearly an hour. and as the
bsboon showed no signs OF releasing me
felt | should not DO able TO hold out much
lonper. as am an old man, considerably
over go. .
At this stage / bethought myself OF q
pen-knife | had III my waistcoat pocket.
if could only get 1t out might ward him
off bv stabbing him In the face. gradual,
ly got NV lelt hand into my pocket and
got the knife out. the brute scratching and
tearing my face with his hands all the wniie.
got 1t to my mouth and neid 1t there
till | had an opportunity or opening u
with my left hand then began stap-
bing and proddIng him, but the knlIe was
not large enough to do him much damage
drew blood, however. the sight or when
only made him more vicious still. by TINS
time had scarcely a vestige OF clothins
left. and my lacerated body bore tokens Of
what q South African baboon can do wnef
he chooses TO tackle and fight an unormet
man.
Twas wondering how all this was goins
to end. when one OF the dogs that had beef
wounded In the fight. and had recovered
sufficiently to make his way TO where we
were. seized the animal irom behind
| felt the brute wished % get at th'
dog. He threw himself from me upoI
the dog; they had one rough-and
tumble, and then the balloon walked SUI
| Ieply away along the ridge OF the preci
| pice. looking back from time TO time as
undecided whether he should renew th'
attack. Ii was some time before l coult
recover sufficient strength 10 descend IN
mountain. got home. however. ana TN
| dog, too, after an encounter such as shai
never forget. and the Ike OF which hop'
| never to experience again.