Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-17
"a HERO or MAsHoNALANp.
How Boy Rescued HIS Grandfather Frsn
an Enraged Lioness.


an Enraged Lioness.
Soon after the British South Africa cb.,.
tered company's band of pioneers had oc.
cupied the country Of the Mashonas, sun.
dry parties of prospectors, intending set.
tiers and others were following in their
wake. Among them was an old Dutch.
man. who had sold off his possessions in
Cape Colony, and accompanied by a grand.
son was thus early to the front in looking
after the advantages offered by the com.
pany.
Arrived safely at Fort Salisbury, he had
outspanned his oxen close to good feeding
and water, neither of which advantages oh.
tanned near the township itself. Unfortu.
nately lung sickness had set in among his
oxen. and for the safety of the majority be
had drafted the actual sufferers aud wa,
grazing them on an isolated patch of grass
not far from his wagons.
One evening his herdsman reported IA
him that one of the sick oxen was too far
gone to be brought into kraal The next
morning the herdsman up betimes, sought
the sick OK and found it dead He discoy.
cred also that some large beast OF prev hr
made meal off it. OFF he hied back to h,s
master and announced that a lion had
killed and partly eaten the on
South African Dutchmen are not prone
to believe everything they hear. so our trek
ker, in this instance, poohpoohed the no
ton of lion venturing so near the caum
His young grandson, aged 10 years, had
mind infiamed by the wonderful lion kill,
he had heard on the way up and finally
persuaded the old man to go and see"
Catching up the rife and handing his car
fridge belt to the boy, off he started True
enough, the carcass of the on had been part.
ly eaten. Dutchmanlike, he at once looked
for spoor, but the ground was too dry and
hard to receive impressions. He then made
cast around. beating through several
patches OF long grass, but without success
At a 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
Leisurely the old man directed his steps
toward the spot where he, after inspecting
the ground on three sides, was about to
give up his quest. Look into that bunch
of tambookie grass suggested the boy.
Turning To do So he WAS met with full
onset by ,plendd louess 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
Dutchmans shoulder He lay prone with
his rifle thwartwlse under his body Listen,
| ye English lcds, whose souls are naugns
with histories of derriug do.
The boy, seeing the old mans plight, did
not run away or set to blubbering. Not he
| Down he went on his stomach and crawlod
| near enough o catch hold of the rife, which
he drew away, and them looking TO see ii
the cartridge was all right, he took the best
aim he could at the lioness. His shot took
effect through the loins of the beast, which
half rose and, snarliug slvagely, somewhat
unnerved the lad.
He withdrew Il few feet farther back,
when he removed the empty shell from tho
rifle and, carefully reloading took "A second
shot with perfect success. Shot through the
heart, the animal rolled over On her side,
| and after Il tremor or two was stilled in
death. By this time several natives from
the wagon, hearing the shots came running
up. They made primitive kind of ambu.
| lance, on which they removed the man TO
| bis wagon. \ doctor was sent for and the
patient removed to the temporary hospital.
! The writer of this article was Il feverp pa.
tient at the time and can youch for the
truth of this act of gallantry on the part
| the 10 year-old boy.-LundOn Globe.