The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1900-07-13
RAILWAY STOPPED BY LIONS.
Ate Twcnty-eight Men and Delayt d
Construction for Il Month.

Ate Twenty-eiEht Men and Delayt d
Construction for Month.
Speaking in the House of Lords Of the
progress Of the Uganda railway, Lord
Salisbury mentioned that among the un-
expected difficulties encountered were a
pair of man-eating lions, which stopped
the works for three weeks before they
were shot. says the London Spectator.
AS scmc 5000 men were at work on the
line, their intimidation by two lions
seems almost Incredible. Yet it is fact
that so dreadful was the pressure excr-
ciSed by the constant attacks of this pair
of understanding wild beasts and so Gu
mulative the fear caused among the In
dian laborers by the sight and sound of
their comrades being carried eff and de-
voured that hundreds of these Industrious
workmen. trained on similar duties I'M
der the service Of the government Of In
dia. abandoned their employment and pay
and, crying out that they agreed to work
for wages. not to be food for lions or
devils, rushed to the line as the trains
for the coast were approaching and, fling
ing themselves across the metals. gave
the engine drivers the choice either of
to take them up and carry them back to
MGmhasa. Many of these men were not
timid Hihdus. but sturdy Sikhs. Yet the
circumstances We're so unique and the
scenes witnessed from week to week so
bloody and appalling that their panic and
desperation are no matter for surprise.
Lord Salisbury tlnterstated the facts.
Though the works were stopped for
three weeks the lions campaign lasted.
with intervals Of quiet when one or the
other had been wounded. from March till
the end of December. In this time they
killed and ate twenty-cight Indians, and
it is believed at least twice this number
of natives. Sawhills and the like, beside
woundng and attacking others. They
attacked white engineers, doctors, sol
dicrs and military officers, armed -Ahys-
sinian askaris, sepoys, bunniahs, coolies
and porters. Some they clawed, some
they devourcd. some they carried off and
left sticking In thorn fences because they
could not drag them through. At first
they We're contented to take one man be-
tween them. Before the end of their ca
reer they would take man apiece on the
same night, sometimes from the same hut
or campfire.
He Took the Rest.
It happened in the early days of Aus
tralian history, when bushranging was
common, says London Tit-Bits.
A gentleman was riding along lonely
loud cries for help proceeding from a
neighboring grove. He Immediately rode
to the assistance of the person who
seemed to be in distress. Arriving at the
spot whence proceeded the cries, he was
surprised and shocked to find man Sc
curely tied to a tree.
What is the matter here?' he asked.
ooh, SIR" replied the poor fellow, I'm
so glad you have come! A few hours ago
I was stuck up by bushrangers, who ri
fed my pockets, and, after stealing ev-
erything had except bundle of notes
in my inside breast pocket, which they
fortunately overlooked, bound me to this
tree and decamped."
'"The scoundrels!" calculated the new
conner; land so the wretehes robbed you,
eh?'
Eyes, sir"
'"rook everything you had except
bundle Of notes in your inside pocket,
eh?''
Eyes, SIR
'"The villains! And then they tied you
here?''
Eyes, sir"
'And you are still tied tightly-so tight
~ that you. cannot escape?
Eyes, sir"
''Then I'll take the notes the other fel.
lows left!' And he did, r