Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1901-05-31
CHASED BY THREE LIONS
Hunter in Rhodss.a Has Nerve RacAing
Adventure.

! ana yet escape uulldl hlSu az wac ''iN
case with Mr.. j. a, Smith, who had
been working as d mechanical en-
gineer at the Inez, says the Rhodesia
Herald. Having finished the work for
which he had been engaged, he left
the Inez, intending to cycle into Sal
isbury, stopping for a couple Of days
at the Great Bear. lie left the latter
place for Gadzima, travelling along
the line Of railway extension. On
reaching the spot where the line
crosses the Umfuli river, he found,
as the bridge is not yet erected, that
he would have to 60 round by the
deviation and cross at the railway
drift. This necessitated wading
through the river and carrying 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 exer-
tions, staid for a brief rest. While
enjoying the rest his attention was
drawn by troop of very fine sable
two magnificent bulls and three cows
making their way up from the 9th
er side of the river in the direction
of a fringe of forest beyond. Feeling
sufficiently refreshed, he picked up
his machine, preparatory to starting
again for Gadzima, where 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 so yards
away and slightly to his right we're
three lions, so intent on stalking the
sable that they were not looking in
t his direction.
1t was an awkward position, to say
the least, and for a brief space he
stood like one petrifed, but, although
his limbs were numb, his mind was
t active enough. The largest Of the
three was a huge black~maned lion,
the second was a lionesS while the
e third was an almost full grown cub
The latter was the first to observe Mr.
Smith and, uttering low growl
s made for the unhappy man, who
}. dropping his bicycle, staid not on the
i order of his going, but went for
;, friendly tree at top speed He hac
; Just time to notice that the parent
/ lions had started in the wake Of then
young hopeful. the sight, as may b,
q imagined, only serving to accelela''
a his pace. The tree was but short
distance away, but to the hunted i
appeared a mile, expecting every sec
a ond to be struck down. 1t was desti
f tute of branches for about ten fee
q up, and how he managed to climb il
! at all will forever remain a mysteI'
to him, Just as he thought hi,onsel
/ safe, however, there was a c.,rifc roa
behind him, and he hG.d an mcann
feeling that he was being dragge
!. off the tree. d'he lion, outstrippin
his mate in the chase, had made hi
spring, missing his quarry by fe,
inches only. Even as it was, his hug
1. claws tore away the greater part q
% Mr.. Smiths trousers and inhicte
. several fairly deep Scratches nar
y row escape indeed. Exhausted an
It painting, trembling in every lint
8. with the perspiration streaming on
II of him, he managed to draw himsel
upon into comparative security, an,
here for nearly an hour he rename,
# in this dreadful position, while tn
baffied lion, now joined by the lion
ess, ragged below, every now and agair
making frantic springs, when thei
J fetid breath came so unpleasant,
= near as to almost bring on nausea
!. The tree, it should be mentioned
), was a small maponda, about Is fee
! high.
AT first Mr. Smith could not IN
derstand what had become of the
j, yonng lion, which went for him first
!, and but for the fact that he was MOI
IN position to appreciate the humol
OF the thing, he witnessed a sight
. which must have been comical in the
: extreme, though to it alone he is firm
! ly convinced his life was due. IT
seems that Leo junior stopped half
way to examine the bicycle, which
had been flung down hastily, with the
result that the front wheel was left
revolving. This arrested the young
lions attention, and, like child with
new toy, he turned aside IN CYAN