Catoctin clarion., 1900-06-28
A GORILLA 5 COURTSH|P.
Battle Between Apes In an
African Forest

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.
After the adjustment of our little
unpleasantness with the South" said
Capt. Jack Benton, In the New York
Sun, II drifted back into civil life. 1t
seemed mOnotonouS, however, after the
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
If upper Guinea, which was then about
us wild country as there was in the
world.
lone morning l left camp to make
circuit of some traps we had set in the
night, and, as l wasn't on the lookout
for big game l took only light rifle
with me. Trudging through the woods,
came on little clearing, and there,
not fifty feet away, l saw big male
\ gorilla. He was on all fourS, half-squat-
ing On the ground.
Equipped with only a light rife, l
had no ambition to NEEDLE with the
beast. / slipped back into the under
brush, and was about to make off as
quietly as possible when the peculiarl-
ty of the gorilla's actions attracted me.
He seemed to be trying to look as ami
able as was possible for such monster
and a second glance showed me the
reason for this. At the night Of the
clearing was second gorilla, smaller
but equally ferocious looking, fitting
mate for the first big brute. | had evil
IDENTIFY 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! boom! sounded from far
away in the forest. Up to that instant
the male gorilla, while ge-lookng,
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 on
the jungle when the first sullcn chal-
lenge was heard came n sharp bark,
followed by a deep humming sound. 1t
was the terrible battle call Of a full
grown gorilla the cry sent out when
he Ia about to fight to the death for
mate At the end of each echping
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
Fpired 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 until
within six feet of the other Then the
Younger gorilla began to fight. Step.
ring forward with marvellous quickness
for such an ungainly animal, he struck
fail-lke blow with his huge paws.
Had the blow gone home no mere flesh
and blood not even the big boned
frame Of his antagonist, could have
withstOod it But the old gorilla had
been in too many death grapplcs 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 the
head that would have crushed mans
rkull. 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 and
chest.
"The older gorilla was taken by sur
prise at this sudden rush and change
of tactics by his opponent But though
at a disadvantage, he was too old
fighter to be easily dismayed. First he
lecured 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 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 youngers face tried to force his
head back.
For what was probably half min
ute, but seemed an hour, the two semi
human shapes stood there putting forth
every energy. At last the younger
fighters face was within two inches Of
his opponents head. The younger goril-
la made a supreme effort, twisted his
head suddenly and before his opponent
could dodge had 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 a wailing cry that echoed
through the jungle. l have heard the
death cry of many animals, but never
call like that of the dying gorilla. For
it was not like an animal, but the wall
of a man in overmastering pain,
choking half sob, half Shrek. Again
and again it rose up, l lifted my rifle
and then lowered it, for | 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 it ceased The fierce
hard fighting, hardbiting younger 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.
II watched the younger ape, as If
fascinated, while he wreaked his re-
yenee on the body of his dead enemy
Then with a start, 1t occurred to me
that l would suffer a similar fate if
stayed in that vicinity. But / had no
real cause of anxiety. The gorilla had
other matters to think of. The last