Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-01-30
a HERO OF MAsHoNALAND.
How BOY Rescued His Grandfather From
an Enraged Lioness.

How a BOY Rescued His Grandfather From
an Enraged Iioness.
Soon after the British South Africa char
tered company's band Of pioneer. had oc.
oupied the country Of the Mashonns, sun
dry parties Of prospectors, intending set
tiers and others were following in theiI
wake. Among them was an old Dutch
man, who had sold OF his possessions In
Cape Colony, aud accompanied by grand
son was thus early to the front In looking
after the advantages offered by the com
pnny,
Arrived safely Mt Fort Salisbury, he had
Outspanned his oxen close TO good feeding
aud water, neither Of which advantages oh.
tanned near the township itself Unfortu'
natoly lung sickness had set In among hi4
oxen, and for the sHfety Of the majority ho
had drafted the actual sufferers and wai
grazing them on an isolated patch Of grass
not far from his wagons.
One evening his hcrdsman reported to
him that one OF the sick oxen was too fan
gone to be brought into kraal. The next
morning the herlsman, up betimes, sought
the sick OK and found It dead He discov.
cred also that some large beast OF prey had
made meal OF IT, on he HE'D back to his
master and announced that lion had
AAAANh tAhh FhiAAN NsAANh Ahf NNs
South African Dutuhmen are not prone
to believe everything they hear; so our trek.
ker, IN this instance, poohpoohed the no
lon OF a lion venturing so near the camp.
His young grandson, aged 10 years, had u
mind inilamrd by the wonderful lion kills
he had heard on tho way up and finally
persuaded the old man to "go and see, -
Catching up tho rife and handing his car
fridge belt to the boy oil he started True
enough, the carcass OF the OK had been part.
ly eaten Dutchmnnlike, he at once looked
for spoor, but the ground was too dry and
hard to receive impressions lie then made
east around, beating through several
patches OF long grass, but without success.
Alta little distance to the right OF the
dead OK stood one Of those large ant hills
that are the subject OF wondering interest
to nearly every one who sees them for the
first time. Said the boy, "GrAn'ther, the
schellum might be behind that ant hill
Leisurcly the old man directed his step3
toward the spot where he after inspecting
tho ground ON three sides, was about to
give up his quest. Look into that bunch
OF tambookio gmss, - suggested the boy.
Turning to do so, he was met with full
onset by splendid lioness. Her spring
landed her ON the old mans left shoulder,
her weight carrying him TO the ground,
where she lay with her teeth set fast in the
Duiohman's shoulder, He lay prone with
his rifle thwartwise under his body. Listen,
yo English lads, whose souls arc fraught
with histories Of derring do.
The boy seeing the old mans plight, did
not run away or set to blubbering. Not he.
Down be went ON his stomach and orawled
near enoughto catch hold OF thoriiio, which
he drew away and then, looking to see II
the cartridge was all right, he took the best
aim be could at the lloness. His shot took
effect through the loins OF the beast, which
half rose and, snarling savagely, somewhat
unneryod the lad.
lie withdrew few feet farther back,
when no removed the empty shell from thu
rifle and, carefully rcloading, took a second
shot with perfect success. Shot through the
heart, the animal rolled over on her side,
and after tremor or two was stilled Ia
death. BY this time several natives from
the wagon, bearing the shots. came running
up. They made primitive kind OF ambu.
lance, on which they removed the man "a
his wagon. A doctor was sent for and the
patient removed TO tho temporary hospital
The writer OF this article was n fever pa.
tient at tho time aud can youch for The
truth OF this act Of gallsntry Gu the part d
the l0'year-old boy.--London Globc.