Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-11-03


Among African travellers none have
led more adventurous life, perhaps,
than the Marquis de Compiegne, q
young French pobleman who had
been deprived OF his fortune, and
whom. early misconduct had practi-,
cally banished. He went TO the for
ests OF Florida, where he lived alone,
supporting himself by hunting and
tlshing. In the year 1870 he read,
on a Scrap Of a newspaper which he
found I'M deserted hut, ther news
.thatewar. had broken out between
France and Germany. He resolved
TO find his way home, and fight for
his native country. He had not a
cent of money, but walked to the
nearest seaport, took service as a
sort OF .cabin-boy on vessel bound
for France.
Arrived there, he enlisted at once,
was wounded In his first battle, and
had Just recovered sufficiently to be
on duty again when he was captured.
He escaped, re-entered the service,
and fought brilliantly through the
war.
After the war was over he resolved
to become an African explorer. He
had no means and no credit, but he
entered the service of dealer in
skins and valuable feathers, and was
sent out from Senegal across the
Western Soudan. '
After an expedition accompanied
by the most dreadful hardships, he
returned to Paris with a valuable
collection Of objects connected with
natural history. Among these were
the stuffed skin of gorilla, which is
said to have borne the most striking
resemblance to human being ever
known in an ape
Completeness story Of the capture OF
this gorilla Is an interesting one.
He was one day travelling through
the forest, foot-sore and weary. His
limbs had been bitten by yenOmous
insects until they almost refused to
carry him. As he dragged himself
along, rife In hand, he heard terrible
outcries near by, apparently those OF
woman.
Rushing toward the place from
which the sounds came, he soon per-
ceived that it was indeed woman
who was screaming She was in the
grasp OF a black monster who was ap.
parently strangllng her.
Compiegne supposed that the in
tending murderer was man, and re-
solved to prevent the crime by shoot
| ing the assailant: but how was he
to shoot the assailant without being
in danger OF shooting the woman?
He approached very near, in order,
IL possible, to get sure shot at the
rufiian. Then he discovered, to hi:
horror, that the creature was not
man, but huge, black gorilla.
Upon seeing him, the animal re
leased the woman and rushed upor
| Compiegne. Much enfeebled anC
stiffened, the Frenchman was not a
all sure Of his aim, and he knew tina
if he missed, the gorilla would be in
stantly upon him, would fling ava!
his gun, and would put him to hor
rib!e death.
Taking the best aim he conld; III
fired at the gorllla'S breast I'M
shot proved effective, and the ANNA
fell. Another shot finished him.
Compiegne was able, with the hell
Of natives who soon afterward ar
rived, to skin the gorilla and tax
the hide away with him.
Compiegne returned to Africa, an
at Cairo became involved in q quarre
with Prussian, whom he challenged
to duel. The Prussian. it was said
had never before held a revolver il
his hand, while Compiegne was
crack shot. These conditions wer
surely not as creditable to tn
Frenchman's bravery as some Of hi
previous experiences had been, and i
seems almost like an act Of retribu
tion that Compiegne was killed a
the first shot.