The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-03-22
A CDRLLA'S COURTSH|P.
Battle Between Apes In an
African Forest
THE STORY OF A WITNESS
The Fierce Foes Were Fighting for
Mate, and the Muscles Of the
Younger Proved Too Much for the
Experience Of the older.


unpleasantness with the South" said
Capt. Jack Benton, in the New York
Sun, 'T drifted back into civil life. It
seemed monotonous, however, after tie
excitement of campaigning, and. re-
ceiving an offer to go to Africa and col
lect animals for menageries l Jumped
at 1t. My work took me into the interior
OF upper Guinea, which was then about
as wild country as there was in the
world.
"One morning 1 left camp to make
circuit OF some traps we had set in tn
night, and, as l wasn't on the lookout
for big game, took only a light rifle
with me- Trudging through the woods
came on little clearing, and there
not nifty feet away, 1 saw n big male
gorilla. He was on all fours, half-squat-
ting on the ground.
Equipped with only light rifle,
had no ambition to NEEDLE with the
beast. l slipped back into the under.
Drush, and was about to make off as
quietly as possible when the peculari-
W OF the gorilla's actions attracted me-
lie seemed to be trying to look as ami
able as was possible for such monster
and second glance showed me the
reason for this. At the right of the
clearing was a second gorilla, smaller
but equally ferocious looking, htting
mate for the first big brute. | had evil
IDENTIFY discovered a gorilla courtshp.
THE male gorilla, trying to attract
the attention of the female by uncouth
motions, was beginning to advance
clumsily toward her, when suddenly "a
dull boom booml sounded from far
away in the forest. Up to that instant
the male gorilla, while savage looking
had given no sign of being angry, but
now all was changed. His huge jaws
shut together with a snap. Then
through the silence which had fallen Oh
the jungle when the first sullen chat.
lenge was heard came a sharp BARE
followed by deep humming sound. II
was the terrible battle call of n ful'-
grown gorilla, the cry sent out VIII
he is about to fight to the death for
mate. At the end of each ech ing
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 on the victor, sat the
female gorilla whose charms had in
spired such jealous rage.
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 urtl
within six feet of the other Then the
younger gorilla began to fight step.
ping forward with marvellous quickne-s
for such an ungainly animal, he struck
hail-like blow with his huge paws
Had the blow gone home. no mere nrsh
and blood, not even the big -boncd
frssarN 80 4. .4a
withstood it, But the old gorilla had
been in too many death grapples to be
caught so early in the fight. When they
had approached almost within striking
distance the younger of the fighters
made rush. He received blow on In
head that would have crushed man
skull. 1t scarcely staggered him. Then
his long arms wrapped themselves
about his opponents neck and holding
his antagonist tightly clasped, he be-
gan biting with fierce energy not
steady gripping bite, but furious. tear
ing gnashings which ripped skin and
flesh from face and shoulders ana
chest.
1.-THE older gorilla was taken by sur
prise at this sudden rush and change
of tactics by his opponent. But though
at disadvantage, he was too old
fighter to be easily dismayed First he
secured grip on his opponents throat,
and straining every muscle, tried to
tear himself free from the infuriated
grasp OF the younger beast He might
as easily have broken a steel cable as
the strangling hold of his enraged op-
ponent. Then the older fighter relaxed
his grip on the others throat, and plac-
ing both his big human-like paws on
the younger's face tried to force his
head back.
For what was probably half a min
ute, but seemed an hour, the two semi
human shapes stood there putting forth
every energy At last the younger
lighters face was within two inches of
his opponents head. The younger gorll-
la made supreme effort, twisted his
head suddenly and before his opponent
could dodge Aad fastened his teeth in
a death grip on the throat of the vet
eran fighter.
up to this time the battle had been
fought In silence. but as the old goril
la gave up the contest and felt the
teeth of his antagonist sinking deeper
and deeper into his throat, the pain
was greater than he could bear. He
broke into wailing cry that echoed
through the Jungle ] have heard the
death cry Of many animals, but never
"A call like that of the dying gorilla For
II was not like an animal, but the wall
of man in overmastering pain,
choking half sob, half shrek. Again
and again 1t rose up. lifted my rifle
and then lowered it, for l could not
help the old gorilla, and to NEEDLE in
that fight with only my light rifle
meant my own death. The half human
wall broke out again, but while was
standing irresolute II ceased. The fierce
hard fighting hard-bfting yS.aSger gor-
lila had been working his way through
his antagonists throat and had at last
bitten through the wind pipe The great
fight was over, and the veteran OF
many similar contests had met the fate
he had meted out to others.
81 watched the younger ape, az "
fascinated, while he wreaked his .
venge on the body of his dead enemy. |
Then with Il start, It occurred to ME
that I would suffer a similar fate II |
stayed in that vicinity, But had no
real cause OF anxiety. The gorilla had
other matters to think of. The last
glimpse l had OF the conqueror was as.
with the glare of battle still in his eyes
and covered from head to foot with his
own blood ond that of his enemy he |
marched off in triumph toward her for
whom he had fought so desperately |
ana so well "