The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-09
THREE LIONS AND A MAN.
How "a Bicycle Helped to Save the
Fugltivc's Life.
From the Rhodesla Herald.

FuEittNc's Life.
From the Rhodesia Herald
II falls TO the lot of but few men TO
come so near TO a 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. Hav-
ing finished tho work for which he had
been engaged, he left the Inez, intending
to cycle into Salisbury, stopping for a
couple of days at the Great Bear. lie
left the latter place for Gadzima, travel
Ing along the line of railway extension.
On reaching the spot where the line
crosses the Umfuli river he found, as the
bridge is not vet erected, that he would
have 10 go round by tho deviation and
cross at the railway drift. This necessi-
tated wading through the river and carry
Ing the bicycle. ON reaching the level
again he put his machine down in order
to resume his boots and socks, and. feel
ing rather fatigued after his exertions,
stayed for brief rest While enjoying
the rest his attention was drawn by a
troop of very fine sable-two magnificent
bulls and three concentrating their way
up from the other side of the river in
the direction of a fringe of forest beyond.
Feeling sufficiently refreshed he picked
up his machine preparatory 10 starting
again for Gadzima, which he wished TO
reach before it became dark. The next
moment Mr.. Smith received a shock
which he will not forget for many long
day. About fifty yards away. and slight
ly to his right were three lions. so in
tent on stalking the sable that they were
not looking in his direction!
1t was an awkward position, to say the
least, and for brief space he stood like
one petrlhed, but although his limbs for
a moment were numb. his mind was ac-
tive enough. The largest of the three
was a huge black named lion. the second
was a lioness, while the third was an al
most full-grown cub. The latter was the
first to observe Mr. Smith, and utterinV
a low growl, made for the unhappy man,
who dropping his bicycle, stayed not on
the order of his going, but went for a
friendly tree at top speed. He had just
time to notice that the parent lions had
started in the wake of their young hope
full, the sight, as may be imagined, only
serving to accelerate his pace. The tree
was but a short distance away but to
the hunted 1t appeared a mile, expecting
every second to be struck down. 1t was
destitute of branches for about ten feet
up, and how he managed 10 climb 1t at
all will forever remain a mystery to him.
Just as he thought himself SAFE however
there was a terrific roar behind him, and
he had an uncanny feeling that he was
being dragged Off the tree. The lion, OUT
stripping his mate in the chase, had made
his spring, missing his quarry by eew
inches only. Even as 1t was, his claws
tore away the greater part of MIR. Smiths
trousers and inflicted several fairly deep
scratches--a narrow escape indeed. EN-
hausted and painting trembling in every
limb, with the perspration streaming out
of him he managed to draw himself uD
into comparative security, and nere for
nearly an hour he remained in this dread
full position, while the baffled lion, now
joined by the lioness, ragged below, every
now and again making frantic springs,
when tEeir fetid breath came so uGpleas-
antly near as to almost bring on nausea.
The tree, it should Nbe mentioned, was
small maponda, about eighteen feet high.
At first Mr.. Smith could not understand
What had become of the young lion, which
went for him first, and but for the fact
that ne was not In a position to appre-
ciate the humor of the thing, he wit
messed "a sight which must have been
comical in the extreme, though to II alone
he is firmly convinced, his life was due.
1t seems that Leo junior stopped halfway
TO examine the bicycle. which had been
dung down hastily, with the result that
the front wheel was still revolving. This
arrested the young lion attention, and,
like a child with a new TOY, lie turned
aside TO examine this curious phenomenon.
Cautiously giving 1t pat with one of his
huge paws, which only made il go round
faster, his wonder increased, and he sat
down on his launches, regarding ii with
a puzzled air and not for some time did
he Join the parent couple at the foot of
the tree but not until he had mounted
the machine considerably and twisted the
handlebar. During the tenure of his I'M
piea SAINT perch MIR. Smith cast many visit
full glances in the direction of his double
barrelled gun, which was strapped to his
bicycle, but it might as well have been
a hundred miles away. He cast his eyes
about in order to discover some place OF
retreat as soon as the lions should retire,
and, to his great joy, saw hut some
three hundred yards away. Just before
dark his captors began to pay less at
tention to him, and, seeming the sable
again in the vicinity by the aid of a strong
breeze, they left after about three-quar-
ters of an hour, TO the extreme relief of
their unfortunate prisoner. After waiting
for about half an hour, until everything
was quiet, he cautiously descended, and,
not daring 10 60 back for his gun, fear
fully made his way TO the hut referred to,
making quick sprints from tree to tree.
There was no roof, and the hut was tut
a fimsy structure, but, after making TIE
entrance as secure as possible, and kind
ling a big fire, he soon dropped off 10
sleep At daybreak he was able to resume
his journey, eventually reaching Gadzima
and Sansbury little the worse beyond a
very natural nervous shock, for his thrill
ling experience.