The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1892-05-11
CRATES IN BATTLE.
AN Extraordinary Fight Between two in
Africa.

! Land. 1t was conquered by that
doughty monarch's father, Mosllikatze,
and still remains subservient to the
Matabeles. The approximate position
of my camp at the time | witnessed
the scene / will endeavor to describe
was latitude 21 degrees south, longi-
tude 30 degrees east.
The country surrounding me was
marvelously attractive, although only
sand very sparsely covered with brush,
therefore totally useless for agricul-
tural or pastoral purposes, but through
the flat veldt's surface, at irregular IN
tervals, rose copies of immense blocks
of stone, piled one upon the other,
that resembled the debris that might
have been left after Titans had built
a gigantic city or mammoth fortifica-
tions. These eruptions from beneath
the earth's surface were covered with
parasitic plants, decorated with most
attractive fruit of gorgeous blossoms.
A species of aloe, too, was numerous,
the upright stem which bears its flow
er having a striking resemblance to
civilizations unsight1y telegraph poles
This country is not destitute of wa
ter, as is attested by the numbers of
balloons, monkeys, and leopards that
frequent the copies, and the antelopes,
zebras, and guinea fowl that wander
over the flats. Possibly the indigenous
Bushmen know where to find this nee
essity of life, but these astute savages
carefully concealed their secret from
me and my people.
was riding slowly along admiring
the beautiful colors of this distant land
scape. In close attendance was my
Mascara guide. My reverie was broken
by an unknown sound, which echoed
and re-echoed from the surrounding
crags. 1t was not the honest bark of
| the baboon, or the reverberating voice
of the hon, or the hyena's discordant
laugh, but combination of all of
them, uttered in quick, successive
gasps. On inquiry from my follower
he informed me that kameels (giraffes)
were the originators of the unknown
sound. The Mascara begged me to
follow him. This I did, and so became
witness of one of the most extraor-
binary sights in wild life that l had
ever seen. Those who have dwelt in
the distant East have doubtlessly seen
male camels fight and noted with what
| obstinacy, power, and viciousness they
| try to MAIN or disable one another;
how they shrek with rage over each
advantage that they obtain, and yell
with pain when they are severely hurt.
| A giraffe duel much resembles a
camels', as will be seen from what I
proceed to state.
The rivals were not well matched
the taller was out of condition and
very old; the other was in splendid
form and in the prime of life. I con-
eluded that a fight was imminent, and
had no difficulty in deciding which
would be the victor. They roared in
unison, as if each were trying to drown
the others voice; sometimes this would
cease for few minutes and then begin
again with renewed strength
Presently the belligerents came with
in few yards of each other. Then
commenced a scene that battles all
description. Some people might call
it ludicrous, it was far more, it was
side-splitting, and, but for my desire
to see the end, l must have given
way to convulsions of laughter. Al
though the giraffes possessed certain
beauty when at rest, it loses it's grace
when in motion, and the greater its
speed the more ungainly does it ap-
pear. But when two mature bulls be-
! gin to waltz violently around each 9th
er, each endeayoring to outdO the 9th
er in agility, at the same time mum
bling their jaws and emitting fearful
discordant roars, it is certainly one of
the most absurd sights human eyes
ever looked upon. have often seen a
crane dance "a function common
enough north of the Vaal River; it is
more than funny-it is ridiculous
but cannot for an instant be compared
to the antics of these two mammoth
brutes. Their great height added tx
to the grotesqueness of their behavior
but even if the beasts had been no big
ger than goats or sheep the absurC
manner in which they swung abou
their feet, contorted their bodies, anC
swayed their heads must have moye(
the most phlegmatic.
We lay hidden and quiet while tn
rivals were getting closer and close,
to each other; at length, when the.
were nearly within striking distance
simultaneously each dropped upon hi
knees and commenced to twist an
twine his long neck about that of tn
other, with the evident purpose O
seizing his adversary's throat. Thi
lasted several minutes, but both wer
skilled of fence" and ultimately re
linquished this style of fighting an
adopted other tactics. They bega
rearing as if to bear each other down
their mouths all the time open to gri1
if opportunity occurred. At lengtl
the violent exercise began to tell up
on the elder beast; he made some mis-
take in parry, and the youn9e
| ho Af +
veteran, who in return, succeeded i
getting hold of his opponents ear. Fo
some moments there was pause.
was very brief, and then the struggl
was renewed. With a gigantic etfo1
the younger giraffe threw the old her
upon his launches. He looked yer
much as if he had played his last care
but there was pluck in his aged hear
yet, though the battle was not for hin
years told against him, and victor
it by trying to drag the vanquishe
= after him. This operation must hav
been painful, for the shrieks that th
defeated warrior uttered were hear
rending.
After final worry the hero of tn
/ hour walked off, mobbed the tW
lItlI ClIlS VI IGtNttCo anu W AAA1AA
l ly followed by all, took the lead. NJ
l one of the zenana of the fallen chit
5 turned a head for an instant to sc
what had become of him. | fear it
, much the same among our own rae
2 as it among the inferior animals.
l The veteran finally tried to pull hin
/ self together, but he was dreadful
7 knocked about, as well as very lam
$ With anxious eyes he gazed in the
| rection the herd had taken, possibl
wishing to follow, or with hope tn;
4 one of his wives at least would retur
+ to him. Not so; the poor old fello
was doomed to disappointment, an
Y appeared to realize that he was d
o serted. The life before him l kne
would be one of misery, therefore VIII;
i better could l do but raise my riff
e glance along my sight, and send bu
n let through his heart. 1t was a So
:. alternative, but after all think it w
d humane.-L0nI049 Graphic.
An Explanation.
u Customer-"I must say don't Ill
IS this milk"
o Milkman-"Why, what's the matt