The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-10
BICYCLE SAVED HIS LIFE

II falls Ia the lot of but few men TO
come so near 10 violent death and yet
escape unharmed as was the case with j.
A. Smith, who had been working as a
mechanical engineer at the Inez Having
finished the work for which he had been
engaged. he left Inez, says the Rhodesia
Herald, intending 10 cycle into Salisbury
stopping for a couple of days at the reat
Bear. He left the latter place for Cad
zima, travelling along the line of railway
extension. ON reaching the spot where
the line crosses the Emfull river he
found. as the bridge Is not yet erected,
that he would have to go round by the
deviation and cross at the railway drift
This necessitatcd wadlng through the
river and carrying the bicycle. on reach
Ing the level again he put his machine
down i'm order to resume his boots and
socks and, feeling rather fatigued after
his exertions, stayed for brief rest
While enjoying the rest his attention was
drawn by troop OF very fine sable--two
magnificent bulls and three cows-mak-
Ing their way up from the other side of
the river I'm the direction of a fringe OF
forest beyond. Feeling sufficiently re-
freshed he picked up his machine pre-
paratory to starting again for Gadzima,
which he wished 10 reach before IL be-
came dark. The next moment Mr. Smith
FOR many day About 80 yards away,
and slightly to his right. were three
lions, so intent on stalking the sable that
they were not looking I'm his direction.
1t was an awkward position, To say the
least and for a brief space he stood like
one petrified, but. although his limbs for
"A moment were numb, his mind was act
I've enough, The largest of the three was
huge black-maned lion the second was
lioness. while the third was an almost
full-grown cub. The latter was the first
TO observe Mr.. smith and, uttering a
low growl. made for the unhappy man,
who, dropping his bicycle, stayed not on
the order OF his going, but went for
friendly tree at top speed, lie had Just
time to notice that the parent lions had
started I'm the wake of their young hope
full, the sight. as may be imagined, only
serving TO accelerate his pace. The tree
was hut short distance away, but TO
the hunted il appeared a mile expecting
every second 10 be- struck down. II was
destitute OF branches for about ten feet
up, and how he managed to climb IL at
all will forever remain mystery TO him,
Just as he though himself safe. however,
there was a terrific roar behind him. and
he had an uncanny feeling that he was
being dragged of the tree. The lion.
outstrippng his mate In the chase. had
made his spring, missing his quarry by
"A few inches only, Even as IL was his
claws tore away the greater part OF Mr..
Smiths trousers and inflicted several
fairly deep scratches--a narrow escape,
indeed
AZ first MIR Smith could not understand
what had become of the young lion. which
went for him first and but tor the fact
that he was not ia a position 90 appre-
Ciate the humor OF the thing, he witness
od n sight which must have been CONT
cal i'm the extreme though To IL alone he
Is firmly convinced, his life was due IL
seems that Leo junior stopped halfway
20 examine the bicycle. which had been
flung down hastily with the result that
the front wheel was still revolving. This
arrested the young lions attention. and.
like child with now toy he turned
aside TO examine this curious phenome-
non. cautiously giving 81 a pat with
one OF his huge paws, which only made
10 40 round faster. his wonder incrCa spd
and he sat down ON his launches regard
Ing 20 with puzzled air. and not for
some time did lie join the parent couple
~ the foot Of the tree, but not until he
had "mouthed" tho machine consider
| ably and twisted the handlebar. During
the tenure OF his unpleasant perch MIR
Smith cast many wistful glances i'm the
direction of his double harreled gun
which was strapped Co his bicycle hut Il
might as we'll have been a hundred miles
| away. lie east his eyes about I'm order
20 discover some place OF retreat a.
soon as the lions should retire and To-
his great JOY saw q hut some So yards
away Just before dark his captors be
gen to pay Tess attention 10 him. and
scentiug the sable again In the vicinity
by the aid of strong breeze. thcv left
| after ab0utt threc-uuarters of an hour "a
the extreme relief of their unfortunnt la
prisoner After waiting for about half
an hour. until everything was quiet. he
cautiously descended. and. not daring to
40 back Tor his gua. fcarfuliy made his
Way 10 the hut referred to- making quiet
sprints from tire, To tree There was no
roof. and the hut was but a imsy struct-
ure. but after making tho entrance ~
secure as possible and kiudline 4 bis IRE