The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-11-19
A RACE WITH A LION.
The wheelmap, Luckily for Him. Came in
Ahead.
ID. G. Robertson in British Central At
RIGA Gazstte.)


ID. G. Robertson in British Central AT
RIGA Gazstte.)
rode ON my bicycle from Blantyre on
Monday afternoon, August 20, and
reached Mr.. Stroud's (Mrs. Bunce's
agent) before the sun went down, and
after waiting for a few minutes, started
aga in, just after sunset. By the time
got to the Namai crossing (here my pri-
vate road crosses the Blantyre-zombr
main road-beyond Mr. MorkePs planta-
tion) it had got quite dark, except for
little light the new moon was giving.
The main road has only just recently
been made, and is quite soft and lumpy.
besides being very steep for at least half
it's length. The rest of it is fairly level,
but none of it is in condition, for eye
ling yet, except the portion which extends
from my first plantation to my house,
now nice and hard.
When I left the main road I dismount-
ed, and started pushing my bicycle up the
hill but before had gone far heard
heavy body pulling its way through the
bush on my left. ! thought it was some
big game. possibly an Gland or buffalo,
but as felt a certain amount of uneasi-
ness went to the other side of the road,
and pushed away as quickly as I could.
When had gone short distance up the
slope looked around and almost had fit
when saw full grown lion standing
across the road, broadside on, with his
head turned towards me- and, as looked,
he started in pursuit. I attempted to
mount my machine, but, owing to the
slope and my excitsmnt. failed twice.
The third time succeeded in getting
away, and did pedal for all was
worth, but the machine kept webbing
across the road, and saw the lion had
Iessened the distance between us by about
half, though I was still fifty yards from
the top of the slope. He kept up low
growing all the time, and could hear
him more and more distinctly every time
as he still lessened the distance between
us. I think / could easily have out
stripped him if it had been level, but the
MACH n Q kept up rattle, rattle, over the
INEQUALITIES in the road, and once or
twice was almost thrown off. did not
dare to look back; indeed, there was no
need, as the growl plainly told me that
he was almost OF me, but at last I
reached the CREST and flew down the OPP
posite slope. then suddenly remembered
that there was an open culvert across the
road some 200 yards ahead, but there was
no time to dismount, so rode into it,
and the shock flung me high out of the
saddle, but fell back on it without be-
ing knocked off. Fortunately the side of
the drain next the hill was high and the
opposite side low, so that the machine
was not stuck in the culyert, and though
the front fork was twisted and the front
wheel grated against it, it was not quite
iammed. and I was able to ride on. When
reached the smooth part OF the ron'i
near my first plantation was abs TO
get up good rate of speed, bu5 | no
longer heard the growl in the rear Ne:--
morning l went back along the road, an
| found the lion had come as 'ar Us tho
culvert and had there come to u stand
The chase therefore lasted along the
whole road from the main line through
the forest 20 my house, distance OF
about two miles.