Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-01-22
a LIONS FEAST.
fO0-rom Pays the Forfeit For Sacrificing
A0Other'a Life.

AOs- AOsu n.y. INC rOrtett t'Of S3crtUcl0R
Another's Life.
We had our camp at the big bend OF the
Tonga river, where it approaches nearest
the great desert OF the Hottentot country,
aud one morning word was brought in that
we hal captured a very large lion in a pit
which had been dug for that purpose.
Among the natives who went out in ad-
vance of us were two fellows who had been
threatening each other with personal vio-
lence ever since we left the Vaal river. Both
were tall, strong men. and each had his fol-
lowing, as Is alwaysthe case, even in civil
lied communities. They had been re-
strained only by threats of the colonel to
turn them ont of camp. They met at the
lion pit. and 10y accident OF otherwise one
jostled the other. twas the spark leading
TO an explosion. Tom-Tom, as we had
nicknaned one OF them. seized the other,
whose title was Joe-Joe, and with a
twist and "a wrench threw him into the Dit
upon the lion. Ii was a terrible thing to
do. and neither the colonel nor believed
that Tom-Tom really had meant to do it.
though he would not have hesitated to use
harchet or knife.
We met the natives coming back with the
murderer in custody, and they demanded
that his life should pay The forfeit The
pair OF rs ran on to the pit in hopes to save
Joe-.Ioe. but We Were too late. The lion was
not only hungry, but in a terrible temper
over his capture, and he had killed the man
n soon as he could get to him Had the
victim lost his life in fair fight. nothing
would have been done. Had he been stabbed
10 death in camp, the murderer would have
\ had TO give hi, widow or Other relatives
about 81 cents worth OF beads A. il was
the men would hearof no punishment short
/ of death.
About 10 o'clock in the forenoon, having
exhausted every effort and the men begin
/ ming 10 threaten loudly, we turned Tom
/ Tom over 10 them. He had been yery quiet
/ al the morning, and when told tina, he
mus, die he exhibited no emotion He was
/ ia his prime and had wife and three chill
/ dren nj home. but he was too brave and
pro;id spirited 10 break down He was
| given his choice of dea,h-that i. they
would strip him and leave him bound hand
| and foot on an anthill or he should be flung
| - the lion. who had 10y that time eaten ths
last mor~ei of poor Joe-Joe. He would rath
| er have been shot or dubbed to death. bu,
they thought that would be getting off to-
easy. After thinking it over for awhile hs
| said 10 Us:
Il have seen men left to the ants. and Il
was sometimes a whole day before they
died. /; ] am thrown into the pit. the Ito.
Will xii. me within n minute. and Their,
will be no suffering. And. too. the mar
who i killed by a lion dies n proud death
and his wife and children need not h,
ashamed TO say bow ne died. Nes. / vii
die that way. The lion Will not be hungry
! again before tomorrow, but wish the inef
| to ANNOY him until he raves wit . anger
| Then be VIII finish me ut once, and you cal
get the cage up and secure him
Tom-Tom talked the matter over a
calmly as II speaking OF al OK gone astrav
WeGoubled our offer only TO have Il prompt
IL rejected, and then turned him over I,
the escort and saddlsd up and rode away
What followed was told to US on our r.
turn. y portion OF tine natives arIne,
themselves with long poles ami sticks aal
stones and ange-ed the lion until he wa
positively furious Tom-Tom was then le,
forward by his guards. All agreed that b
was the least excited Of the crowd. Tw
strong fellows had been appointed TO fin
him into the pit, but when ne was brougE
forward he said:
Il am 20 die for causing the death OF
man who thirsted for my life. ] DO no
man. Unbind me and stand back. Ikno'
what a lion can do He can kill an OK wiz
q blow of his paw, and be can crush IL
larges, bone nj one bite. He Will kill IN
before you can count ~. but he would aft
erwarl be ashamed that he had killed
man vino va. helpless. .IaS him with you
poles and make him furious. That's til
way. Hear his cries OF rage. See how Ia
leaps up in hopes to get out, You are no'
going to see how n brave man dies. Loo
sharply. for you will never see the like again
When you return home, you will tell every
body that threw Joe-Joe to the lion. bu
you will also say that was killed by tn
same beast. Now am going-Goodby all.
He stepped TO the edge of the pit, whic
! was about u feet deep, and Owed head frs
down upon the lion, who was standing o
his hind feet There vas a fierce roar, mt
fled growls. struggle lasting Il few -,
onds and the men looked down and knee
tina, Tom-Tom was dead. The lion was :
thoroughly aroused that it was not unit
the next day We could make 4 move to ca
him. and IL took u over half n day to briIi
him out Of the pit and make him a secul
prisoner After he was out of the pit
looked into il. but there was very little ;
he found 20 tell of the double TRAGEDY
Then closely inspected the Gagged beas
bu; he had licked himself clean and wa
hungry :cr another victim. NJ QUAD.