The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-02-01
A GORILLA'S OOURTSHIP.
BATTLE BETWEEN GIANT APES IN
AN AFRICAN FOREST.


1t seemed monotonous, however, after
the excitement of campaigning, and,
receiving au offer to go to Africa and
collect animals for menageries, 1
jumped at IL. My work took me into
the interior OF upper Guinea, which
was then about as wild country rs
there was in the world.
zone morning left camp to make
q circuit OF some traps we had set in
the night, and, as 1 wasn't on the
lookout for big game, took only a
light rifle with me. Trudging through
the woods, I came on little clearing,
and there, not fifty feet away, saw
big male gorilla. He was on all
fours, half-squatting on the ground.
Equipped with only light rifle, L
had no ambition to meddle with the
beast. 1 slipped back into the under
brush, and was about to make off as
quietly as possible when the peculiar
ity of the gorilla's actions attracted
me. He seemed to be trying to look
as amiable as was possible for such
monster, and a second glance
showed me the reason for this. At
the right of the clearing was second
gorilla, smaller, but equally ferocious-
looking, fitting mate for the first big
brute. had evidently discovered a
gorilla courtship.
"The male gorilla, trying TO attract
the attention of the female by uncouth
motions, was beginning to advance
clumsily toward her, when suddenly
dull boom! booml sounded from far
away in the forest. Up to that in
stant the male gorilla, while savage
looking, had given no sign OF being
angry, but now all was changed. His
huge jaws shut together with q snap.
Then through the silence which had
fallen on the jungle when the first
sullen challenge was heard came n
sharp bark, followed by deep hmm
ming sound. 1t was the terrible bat
tie call OF full-grown gorilla, tho cry
sent out when he is about to fight to
the death for mate. At the end OF
each echoing challenge the hairy
giant beat with his big hands on his
chest, while at the other end of the
clearing, waiting to bestow her hand
Ou IuO NlClOI, bhb luO lGiIlhlG ROTlllh
whose charms had inspired such jeal-
GUS rage.
Suddenly there was little furry
at the left end of the clearing. aud the
challenger broke through the bushes
into plain sight. He was worthy to
do battle with the first giant. Icould
see he was veteran, with the scars
of many battles on him. His big lips
were rolled up in grim snarl, show.
ing broken teeth and great gaps, the
result OF former battles.
Neither Of the big animals wasted
time in preliminaries; they had worked
themselves up into such an insanity
of rage that only killing would satisfy
Each advanced on his hind legs until
within six feet of the other. Then the
younger gorilla began to fight. Step
ping forward with marvellous quick
ness for such an ungainly animal, he
struck flail-like blow with his huge
paws. Had the blow gone home, no
mere flesh and blood, not even the
bigboned frame OF his antagonist,
could have withstood it. But the old
gorilla had been in too many death
grapples to be caught so early in the
fight. Even as the big arm swung
around he sprang forward, coming in
close SO as to miss the full force of the
swing. Tho next instant he had
swung his own arm around the younger
gorilla's neck, encircling it with four
feet of steel muscles and holding his
enemy's head stiff upright, so that he
could not bring the terrible teeth into
play. Then the old gorilla opened his
heavy jaws, and getting firm grip on
the right shoulder of the younger 60
rilla, held on like bulldog, tearing
his way through the knotted muscle
and sinews and shoulder blade of his
opponent. AT the same time the left
arm of the old fighter wrapped itself
about the younger gorilla in a rib
breaking grip.
''It was only for an instant, how
ever, that things looked 80 desperate
for the younger fighter. The first 60
rilIa's splendid fighting ability aud
tremendous strength showed them
selves. Whirling up his left arm he
fastened his long fingers about his an
tagonist's throat and tried to break
his grip and shove his head back. AT
first the only effect of this was to
make the old fellow tighten his grip
on the others shoulder. Then the
younger gorilla put forth all his
strength. 1 could see the muscles oi
his arm, shoulders and back gather
themselves into big knots aud bunch
up as if they wonld break through the
skin. The murderous deep.set eyes
started forward, until they we're leve
with the cheekbones. A last desper,
ate effort and the big head went back
the tightly closed JAWS of the old 90
rilla tearing the flesh aud sinews as
they were showed away, but not un.
gripped. Then the old fighters righi
arm slowly aud reluctantly uncoileC
from the others neck. The younger
gorilla had broken the death grip
Both big fighters were momentaril,
free and stepped back to regaiI
breath.
although wounded, it was tn,
younger gorilla that made the attack.
This time he did not waste any efforts
on blows with his huge paws. Wher
they had approached almost within
striking distance the younger of the
fighters made a rush. He received
blow on the head that would hav
cruahed n mans skull IT, acarcal,