Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1901-07-27


the end OF the middle finger OF one
hand to the end of the middle finger OF
the other. His hands are 10 80 inches
long. Put foot rule on one OF your
hands, and you will get some idea OF
how huge monster this is.
The man who killed him is 81. Pas
chen, a native OF Schwerin, Germany.
he represents a Hamburg firm In the
little station OF Yaunde, almost In the
heart OF the Cameroons. He did not
hunt the beast for the delight OF the
chase. Men do not hunt the devil II
they can help 1t. and a devil the gorilla
Is. This part Of Africa Is the chosen
home or the hideous beast.
About year ago some savages hunt
Ing for small game on the outskirts of
the primeval forest along the southern
shore OF the Nyong river, in the Came
room district. just where it energies
from the high lands and spreads out on
the level. forming a succession OF MAS
matte swamps. spied a gorilla. They
fed without waiting to see him too
closely. and consequently when they
reached the nearest trading station and
reported excitedly that they had seen
the biggest m'punu that ever had been
seen by mortal eyes their inability to
give details made the white men incred-
uious. But soon more reports came In.
A black woman. straying from kraal
at dusk. was heard TO shrek horribly,
and the negroes. hastily arming them
selves, were just sallying out to help
her when they were checked by the
roar and then the chest beating of a
gorilla One daring man crept out far
enough into the darkness to make out
the form OF mighty manlike creature
dragging the woman away among the
trees. A few days afterwarCi her re-
mains Were found several miles OF,
deep In the forest. She had been torn
to pieces.
At last the beast became so bold that
he set up his dwelling place within
gunshot OF the Yaunde station, where
Mr.. Paschen lived. Here, undeterred
by the sight or the long, busy ware
house buildings and the constant traf-
nc. the gorilla continued his depreda-
tons until the white man was furious.
for the beasts proximity was harming
his business enterprises. The natives
would not venture along even the beat
en- roads, and. although Mr.. Paschen
still did not credit their tales OF his size
and courage. he determined to rid the
neighborhood OF the uncanny visitor.
At last. however, the ape became too
daring. he showed himself openly In a
swamp near the station and was so ut.
terry careless OF danger that he did not
even try TO hide when Mr.. Paschen,
who bad been brought TO the spot by
excited negroes. approached an opening
in the bushes and aimed at him. In
stead the creature advanced threaten
ingly. and only then did the hunter
realize what a huge beast T. was that
he had 10 face. But II was too late to
retreat. even had Mr.. Paschen wished
to do SO. Crashing his white fangs.
now roaring, then uttering curious gut
tural sounds that volleyed in a deep.
thunderous bass from his mighty chest,
beating bis breast till he produced a
noise like great muffied drums, the 20
rilla advanced with quick running
leaps. Mr.. Paschen fired at his head.
but missed his aim because the gorilla
leaped into the air as the shot was
fred. The proJectile therefore, instead
OF piercing his brain. entered his black.
leathery chest IL tore a great hole
from which the blood rushed I'm a
stream. Any other big game would
have dropped as soon as struck. The
gorilla Instead seemed only to gain re.
newed fury. He rushed toward his an.
tagonist with howl. His wicked eyes
we're rolling. and a dull red dared in
them Mr.. Paschen. knowing that he
would not have time for more than one
other shot, so fast did the gorilla ad-
vance, knelt down and waited in order
to make absolutely sure OF his aim.
Just as he was about to fire at the de-
moniac face the monster swerved and
the next instant was 40 feet high in
mighty cottonwood tree. He began to
tear immense boughs off and hurl them
with all his might at his foes.
1t was evident to oil that his design
was not to escape, but to obtain a club
with which TO do battle. AS he pulled