The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-01-13
BIG GAME.
An Exciting Time in happening a
Big and Savage Hippopotamus.
From the Yankee Blade

~N~ NSNN eN6C LA4ppOPOLanu6s
From the Yankee Blade.
"Stern ALI" suddenly shouted the
mate, as our boat brought up, ''all stand.
ing, against some object which we had
not been able to see on account Of the
murkiness Of the water. the collision
nearly throwing US down into the bottom
of the boat.
We were going ashore for few hours
al the Bazaseta Islands when this hap.
pened.
AS we backed off an enormous beast
SLOWLY raised his head above the water.
gave loud snort, and went down again
at it,
What is it?" was now the question.
which no one could answer.
Whatever it is, y said the mate. whose
whaling blood was up, ''if it comes within
reach of my iron I'll make fast to it; so
pull ahead.
We We're again under Roadway, keeping
a bright lookout for the appearance of
the stranger.
There they are, whole schooln' said
the mate eagerly, pointing in shore,
where the glistening of white water
showed'that number of the nondescripts
were evidently enjoying themselves.
Now, boys, pull hard, and we'll soon try
their mettle''
There's something just ahead" said
the bOat-Steerer
pull easy, lads. ] see him. There
way enough-there's his back; it's hip
popotamus!"
stern ALP shouted he, as he darted
his iron into back as broad as a small
sperm whales. stern ALL" Back
water-back water, every mani And
the Infatuated beast made desperate
lunges in every direction, making the
white winter fly almost equal to a whale.
We could now see the whole shape of
the creature, as, in agony and surprise.
he raised himself high above the surface.
We all at once recognized the hippopota-
mus as he is represented in books of nat
ural history.
Our subject soon got little cooler, and
giving savage roar, bent his head round
as he seized the shank of the iron be-
tween his teeth. With one jerk he drew
1t out of his bleeding quarter, and shak-
ing it savagely, sank down to the bottom.
The water was here but about two faith
oms deep, and we could see the direction
in which he was travelling along by line
of blood, as well as by the air bubbles
which rose to the surface as he breathed.
GIVE me another iron, Charley; and
we'll not give him chance to pull it out
next time"
The iron was handed up, and we slowly
sailed in the direction which our prize
was following along the bottom.
Here's two or three of them astern of
u.s. said the boat-steerer.
just then two more rose, one either
side OF the boat in rather unpleasant
proximity, and before we had begun to
realize our situation the wounded beast,
unable any longer to stay beneath the
surface, came up to breath just ahead of
US.
'Pull ahead a little. Lay the boat
around, so--now stern all !" and the iron
was planted deep in the neck of our
victim.
With a roar louder than dozen of the
wild bulls of Madagascar the hippopota-
mus made for the boat
Back water! Back water. | say!
Take down the boat sail and stern all,
stern all, for your lines !" as two more APP
peared by the bows, evidently prepared
to assist their comrade.
1e was making the water fly in all di-
rections, and, having failed to reach the
BOAT, was now Yalnly essaying to grasp
the iron.
"Stick out line till we get clear of the
school and then we'll pull up on the other
side of this fellow, and I'll soon settle him
with lancet"
This was done, and as we again hauled
upon the still furious beast, the mate
poised his bright lance for a moment,
then sent it deep into his heart.
With tremendous roar and a desper-
ate final struggle of scarcely a minutes
duration our prize gave up the ghost, and
after sinking momentarily, rose again to
the surface, lying upon his side, just as
the whale does when he dies.
On getting it ashore we found our prize
to be a few inches less than fifteen feet
long from his head to the commencement
of his short, hairless tail. We could not
measure his girth, but his bulk was enor-
nous. His legs were disproportionately
short, giving him, conformity with his
short neck and very large head, an awk-
ward, stoiid appearance, which the
agility he displayed in the water by no
means justified.
We had not been long on shore when
several natives made their appearance
They testified much Joy at the sight of
our prize and went through the most
lively pantomime from which we gath
cred that the beasts were great plague
to them, that the meat was good to eat,
and that they would like portion. The
hint was not lost upon us, who had not
tasted fresh beef for two months.
what say you, boys; will you try a
piece of hippopotamus steak2" proposed
the mate, and as no one dissented, we got
the axes and, afternconsiderabl bic chopping
and hacking, got off the head, when we
were enabled to cut ourselves about
twenty-five pounds of what appeared to
be tender meat of the animals forequar-
tiers.
Our steaks were cooked for supper, and
whether it was that we were blessed
with an unusually good appetite, or that
the meat was actually well favored, GER
tain it is that they tasted delicious, and
that we ate heartily of them.