Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-12-02
A RACE WITH A LION.
A Cyclists Adventure in Central AZ
rica-The Chase Lasted
TH0 Miles.

Mr.. d. c. Robertson. Gala estate. Ma
mazi, about midway between Blantyre and
Zomba, sends the following note to the
British Central Africa Gazette:
L rode out on my bicycle from Blantyre
on Monday afternoon. August %, and
reached Mr.. Stroud's Mrs. Bruce's AGENT
before the sun went down. and after wait
ing for few minutes started again. just
after sunset. BY the time l got to the
Namazi crossing (where my private road
crosses the Blantyre-Zomba main road
beyond Mr.. Morkel's plantation) it had got
quite dark, except for little light the
new moon was giving. The road leading
to the Gala estate from the main road has
only just recently been made. and is quite
soft and lumpy. besides being very steep
for. at least half its length. The rest of
it is fairly level. but none of it is in a
condition for cycling yet, except the por-
tion which extends from my first plantation
to my house. which was made some time
ago. and is now nice and hard.
When left the main road dismounted.
and started pushing my bicycle up the
hill. but before | had gone far | heard Il
heavy body pushing its way through the
bush on my left. 1 thought it was some
big game. possibly an Gland or buffalo.
but as l felt certain amount of uneasi-
ness ! went to the other side of the road
and pushed away as quickly as l could
When l had gone short distance up the
slope l looked around and almost had a
fit when I saw full grown lion standing
across the road. broadsde on. with his
head turned towards me. and as l looked
he started In pursuit l attempted to
mount my machine. but. owing to the
slope, and my excitement / failed twice.
The third time | succeeded in getting away
and did pedal for all was worth but
the machine kept wobbling across the road
and | saw that the lion had lessened the
distance between US by about half though
l was still fifty yards from the top of the
slope. He kept up a low growing all
the time. and | could hear him more and
more distinctly every time as he still less
ened the distance between US. l think I
could easily have outstripped him il II had
rattle, over the inequalities of the road.
and once or twice | was almost thrown off.
l did not dare to look back: indeed. there
was no need. as the growl plainly told me
that he was almost on me. but at last /
reached the crest and flew down the oppo-
site 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 1t without being 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
was twisted and the front wheel grated
against it. it was not quite jammed. and I
was able to ride on. When / reached the
smooth part of the road near my first
plantation. I was able to get up a good
rate of speed. but l no longer heard the
back along the road. and found the lion
had come as far as the culvert. and had
there come to a stand. The chase. there
fore lasted along the whole road from the
main line through the forest to my house.
distance of about. two miles.