The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01
HELD CAPTIVE BY HYENAS
TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE OF A HUNT
ER IN AFRICAN wILDS.
Carried Miles, While Pretending to
BE Dead and Guarded in a Cave
by Laughing Beasts.

London Letter in St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Arthur Spencer, who has just returned
from sotourn IN Africa. tells the following
story OF his adventure with hyenas. He
SAYS:
''At the time Of the occurrence of the fol-
lowing adventure I was in the employ of
f. G. Warner, the South African agent of
Carl Hagenbeck, the wild animal dealer of
Hamburg. Germany, and engaged in the
capture OF wild animals and their transpor-
tatiOn to different parts of the world, to
supply the demand of menageries and
geological gardens.
"Our stockade, in which the animals were
kept pending their shipment was at that
time located twenty-five miles north of
Cape Town, where all animals were brought
after capture and there kept until orders
were received for them from Hamburg
EARLY one spring our stock of lions hav-
ing become exhausted by reason of an IN
usually large demand for them the pre-
ceiling winter, we decided to at once set
out upon a lion hunt. One afternoon, about
5 o'clock, we left the stockade with the IL
tention Of proceeding to the nearest Kaffir
village, some fifteen miles away, there 10
engage guides and heaters and TO leave the
village early on the following morning for
the Jungle. We arrived at the village about
s O'Clock. having come on horseback. and
auc- making the necessary arrangements
with the natives. retired to rest
THE next morning we arose about
o'clock and, after a hasty breakfast and
leaving our horses in charge OF couple of
men in the village, we started for the near
est Jungle some eight miles away. We
reached there shortly after daylight and,
entering the jungle preceded oy our sulueS,
began our task of searching Tor the spoOr
or track Of animals IN themselves N sear 1a
OF what in that country, IS called an ele-
plant tank or watering place where AMI
mails come to drink
LAS il was in the dry season, anu nus $50, %
she regular water courses dried up, we were
~ou,reIled TO trust 70 chance Tor siSlS u
the coveted spoOr. We had TaNeIeu $500 -, a.
hours iabOriOusly maklnS ouL way slIi -
me rauk underground, when, upon dp
Y,roacbine the west side or the jungle
espied some fifty yards or more ~" go .
tail celba tree which cast lu4uIldAt s.s sS
Tor some distance around. ana. oSlHS -.
80 NJ ionr tramp. 1 concluded, without
telling any one. TO rest IoF sllVl - -. US
meath it, and then, before the p SL = 80
ouf of hearing. TO rejOin them L accoruIns
" dronDed behind and made my way dcl az
the veldt TO the tree and sat down ptLe an
its comforting shade Worn OuI ~, NJ bareiy
long walk through the jungle hetu 90.
Touched the ground when l was asleep
LAUGHING HYENAS.
.sTTo1v long I slept 1 know not, bur wheh
I avvobe II was far in the afternoon ana
deathly silence reigned everywhere. Even
the buzzing Of gnats and the dreaded 'se'ss
fv was bushed Just as 1 was trying 70
collect nv scattered senses L thought
heard a faint laugh. At first L tnougnl II
was some OF my companions, amused al
nv discontinue, but hearing 1t AGAIN anu
this time being able TO locate the souno,
srosa -, ny, chow and looked around the
g., 80 across the veldt / there saw
what at first / thought TO be a nero on
small antelope but hearing me so AM
again. and by this time being apie ~ IoeSv
tinguish the forms Of the anIm2ls, Als"
them 10 be the spotted or Laughing ny ehaS'
tho gravediggers Of South Africa. .,
For moment / was undecided via az
do. 1 knew IL / attempted 10 isse''