The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-31
NOW TINE 1IoN KIL1s MS PREY.
A Famous south African Hunter Talks
About the King of Beasts.

A writer in the New York Tribune once
had he good fortune 20 be fellow-pas-
senger with George sclous, beyond doubt
the greatest South African hunter. and at
present one Of DR.. Johns0n's right-band
men I'm Matabele Land. The talk in the
smoking cabin was on the subject Of how
different animals kin their prey, and one
smoker. having remarked that without
doubt the lion kills his with blow from
his powerful fOreleg, was corrected by
selous: Il once he said, had rare
chance 10 see lion catch and Kill his
prey i'm the open I'm daylight. While on q
short hunt In Northern Transvaal with a
Dutch Boer we saddled up one afternoon
To shoot a couple Of quagga-Burcheifs
zebra-for our followers, quagga meat
being preferred before all other by the
negroes Of that country We had ridden
a considerable round without falling In
with any. but about an hour before sun
down we came across troop OF about
fifty.
"Galloping up within shot we firoi,
when one mare dropped. Reloading and
mounting, we started after the troop.
which had now disappeared over a ridge.
on gaining the rise we saw the quaggas
10 ascend second slope one or two stall
lions bringing up the rear, as Is their Gus
tom. Gathering on, my companion sud-
denly pulled up GGd pointed ont 10 me
lion trotting quickly up toward the euag-
gas line OF retreat behind a few scat
tered powders and low bushes dotting
the slope, evidently with the inteation Of
securing his supper. We moved slowly
forward. when the hlndmost stallion,
thinking we were getting too close. start
ed after his companions az a smart cam
ter
ut was exciting The quagga was close
10 the line Of the lions approach. A
couple of seconds more and the dark mass
OF the lions form shot out from behind
stone on his prey. In a moment the
quagga was on the ground. The lion
left Instantly, moved few yards from
the quagga twitching his tail ncryously
from side 10 side. as much as % say Il
have done that properly" The whole
thing was done so quickly and suddenly
that IL is difficult 10 describe The Hon
had not yet seen us but on our riding
nearer he turned and faced, looking
rather put out al our appearing on the
scene AT first he seemed inclined to
bolt. but AT last lay down facing US, EVIL
IDENTIFY unwilling 10 give up his game.
Being anxious 10 examine the quagga,
and knowing my Boer friend 70 be trust
worthy, we rode up 80 about fifty yards
and dismounted. ] held the horses, keep
ing my double rifle I'm reserve I'm case
Of accident The lion. not liking the look
Of things, got up and walked a few steps
toward us. growing savagely. l told the
Boer TO shoot straight which he did.
hitting the lion with his old six-to-the-
pound on the point Of the shoulder. and
dropping the lion on the spot.
ION examining the quagga 10 appeared.
from the claw marks, that the lion s
left forearm was thrown over the wither
and the claws fixed IN the shoulders. the
right forearm's claws IN the chest, the
left hind claws had been driven into the
flank a little below the level OF the hip
bone. the rlcht hind foot evidently on
the ground thus holding the animal as II
I'm a wise. while the teeth had met In The
neck about three or four inches behind
the ears, smashing the bone as effec-
tuaiiy as a two-ounee bullet. Death was
instantaneous. The lion was full-grown
male. with perfect teeth subsequently
lost a tethered mare, killed by lion In
precisely the same way, and all the old
hunters Of the country agree that the
lion uses the claws as a holding power
and kills with q bite"