The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1894-02-08
A MAsHoNALAnD HERO.

He Has some sttrtling Experiences in
the Country of the sIAshon rs.
Soon after the British South Africa |
chartered company's band OF pioneers /
had occupied the country of the !
Mashonas sundry parties of prospect /
ors, intending settlers and others, /
were following in their wake. Among /
them was an old Dutchman who had !
sold off his possessions in the Cape /
Colony, and, accompanied by
grandson, was thus early to the front
in looking after the advantages Of |
fered by the company. Arrived safely |
at Fort Salisbury, he had outspanned
his oxen close to good feeding and
water, neither of which advantages
obtained near the township itself. |
Unfortunately lung sickness had set
in among his oxen. and for the safety
of the majority he had drafted the
sufferers. and was grazing them on
an isolated patch Of grass not far
from his wagons.
One evening his herder reported to
him that one OF the sick oxen was
too far gone to be brought into the
kraai. The next morning, the herder.
up betimes. sought the sick OK and
found it dead. He discovered also
that some large beast of prey had
made a meal off it. Off he hied back
to his master and announced that
lion had killed and prtly eaten the
OK. South African Dutchmen are
not prone to believe everything they
hear, so our trekker. in this instance,
/ pooh-poohed the notion that lion
! had ventured so near the camp. His
/ Young grandson aged 10 years, had
/ a mind infamed by the wonderful lion
kills he had heard Of on his way up,
and finally persua led the old man to
.'go and see" Catching up his rife
and handing his cartridge belt to the
boy off he started. True enough, the
carcass of the OK had been partly
eaten.
Dutchman like, lie at once looked
for spoor. but the ground was too dry
and hard to receive imp essiOns. He
then made a cast around, beating
through several patches of long
grass, but without success. A. q
little distance to the right of t, e
dead OK stood one of tho large s.ne-
hills that are the subject of wOnde =
ing interest to nearly every one W,
sees them for the first timo. SAID
the boy: ''Graa ther. the schellum
might be behind the anthi "
Leisurely the Old man directed Lis
steps toward the spot. where he. aft =
inspecting the ground on three si1es
was about to give up the quest Look
into the bunch of tambo kie grass.
suggested tae boy. Turning to do
so he was IN t in full onset by a
splendid lionass. Her spring lanIe
: her upon the mans left shoulder, her
weight carrying him to the ground,
where she lay with her teeth fast set
in the Dutchman shoulder. He lay
prone with his rifle thwartwise
under his body. Listen. ye American
lals, whose souls are fraught with
, histories of daring-do.
Tho boy, seeing the old mans
plight. did not run away or set tt
biubbering. Not he. Down he went
on his stomach and crawlcd near
enough to catch hold of the rifle.
which he drew away, and then, look
ing to see if the cartridge was al
; right, he took the best aim he could
at the lioness. His shot took eifec
4 !, half rose. and snarling' savagell
somewhat unnerved the lad. HI
withdrew few feet further back
when he removed the empty shell
= fHom the rifle, anl. carefully reload
Il ing, took second shot with pcrfec
:; success. Shot through the heart
u the animal rolle1 over on her side
Z and after tremor or two was stille'
:, in death.
By this time several natives iron
= the wagon. hearing the shots, cam
, running up They made a primitiv
kind of ambulance. on which the
y removed the wounded man to hi
= wagon. A doctor was sent for an
. the patient removed to the tempora
:, ry hospital. The writer of this al
ticle was a fever patient at the time
u and can vouch for this act of gallant
= ry cn the part of the ten-year- ci
= boy.