The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1900-04-17
TALES OF PLUCK
and ADVENTURE.
A Fatal Hunt.

4 Fatal Hunt.
n II ANY sportsmen say that nc
i iAT other hunting can compare
! v in interest and exhilaratior
with the stalking of tho
chamois or the ibex among the peaks
of the snow covered mountains. The
danger OF the sport does not lie in the
game, but in the nature Of the hunt.
ing grounds, and many a hunter has
sacrificed his life in the chase. Halt
century ago gallant young Irish
man named Peyton met with terri
BILE experience among the mountains
of India, which he thus de cribes:
I'VE arrived in Cashmere and lost
10 time in getting into the Wardwan
Valley, famous for the large horned
ibex. The country was all under
snow, aud as the snow continued to
fall for several days We were obliged
to remain indoors, aud Surgeon Wray,
who was a splendid musician, amused
the villagers by playing Lis violin to
them.
CAT last the sun came out, and We
heard several avalanchcs slipping
down the mountain. Our men were
much averse to going out, and must
say I thought they were right. How
ever, poor Wray IL 4 iocular tone said
We 'fuuked.' This settled the matter,
and out we went.
owe proceeded up the valley about
seven miles along the banks OF small
river, which divided the mountains
on both sides OF it. We saw q fine
herd OF male ibex, but in consequence
of the heavy snow We were unable to
creep round by circuitous route and
stalk the herd from above.
$50 we four spread G blanket in 4
ravlne next to where the ibex were
aud sat down close together upon it.,
keeping ourselves warm.
"SuddenIy We heard a noise like
distant thunder; then spray and stones
followed. Oar men called out, San
avalanche is fallingy' Although T had
seen several falls, this seemed to me
quite different, more like o landslip.
It covered a breadth Of at least one
hundred yards, three OR four hundred
yards long and fifty Or sixty feet il
depth. --~-,
s'Ihis enormous mass, like small
mountain tearing with its rock and
earth, moved toward us much too
quickly for us to get out Of its way by
running down before it. The whole
thing.Iooked weird and supernatural.
- ssdssa 4rsfe 1fe Z WIS t. 5fas
/: = m cut off our escape in that direc
! Ytiou. On our left was a very Wld
q trench. which separated US from
). shoulder of . mountain large enougI
e TO protect rs from the approachln
II avalanche if We could jump the chasr
!. and get shelter under 1t.
= 81 pointed out 10 my companion
g our only chance OF escape; by TIL
time the avalanche had approache
Il within fifty or Sky PAGES of Us.
le "I led tho way, made q spring &c
nv life, landed safely on the side
Ii the chasm and crouched under til
o. shelter Of the hill. which was onl
- three or four PAGES from the side
" jumped on.
"Looking around, to my horror
saw nv poor friend Wray and II
other two men dashed forward by tt
"a avalanche and buried under mou'
~ tain Of snow. Ny dear old servan
4. Abel Khan, who had all the nerve at
activity OF al ibez, could have jumpt
Of the chasm, but ths, s,s5afs a55. were Il Ri
it, Way anut 4 nc { had my heavy Lancaster
! rifle on his back.
The thought haunts me to thi:
, day. Had he had fair run he woult
have saved his lifo by clearing the
chasm as had done, although it wa:
big jump.
"By this time Patio Khan, brotne,
of Abel Khan, who had been left tc
. watch the ibex about . quarter Of g
mile to our left, came to the cave ii
which I had taken shelter. He had
witnessed the whole occurrence and
had seen his brother killed. He cried
most piteously, lamenting over the
loss of his brother and myself, who he
thought was killed also.
''I called out: quito, fate has been
hard upon US! I am safe!
| "He seemed bewildered and cried
out: sNo, you are only the spirit come
back to tell me! Ny beloved brother
aud our young sahib are gone"
"A slns1e-Hand Fight With Five Lions.
Occasionally q foolish and inter-
meddling spectator in a menagerie
will endeavor to show his briIljancy
by experimenting with the animals.
! More than once this tendencz has