Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-02-24
KING OF BEASTS.
A More Formidable Beast Than the
Lion 10 the Buffalo.

Gus at times. The Romans knew no bet
ter sport than to see a powerful bull
of the common domestic species toss
lion, unless 1t was to see him toss
man: and bull fights are still the
most loved diversion in all Spanish
and Spanish-American countries. The
American bison used to be a fine fight
er, the only indigenous animal which
could whip him being the grizzly bear
But unquestionably the flercest and
most formidable gladiators Of this
genus are the buffaloes Of Asia and
Africa. .......
Experience has taught the lions OF
Africa discretion, and they never hunt
the buffalo singly, but always in pairs
or companies. The buffalo is far larg-
er and more powerful than the lion,
and one good toss Of his long, sharp,
powerful horns, which frequently ex-
ceed twelve feet from tip to tip, is
usually enough to kill the so-called
king Of beasts" In fact, one buffalo
| is almost a match for two lions. Once
when Sir Samuel w. Baker was hunt
ing in Africa he found the dislocated
skeleton Of buffalo lying intermixed
| with the broken bones Of lion. He
concluded from appearances that two
lions had attacked one buffalo. and
that the buffalo had killed one Of them,
but had finally succumbed to the 9TH
er. Major Vardon and Mr.. Oswell once
saw buffalo bull carry on success
fully fight against three lions until
he suddenly dropped dead from the
effects Of a wound which Major Var
don had previously given him.
The Asiatic buffalo Is smaller and
less muscular than his African cousin,
but he has his full share Of prowess.
He Is more than a match for the tiger,
which declines the combat unless
urged to it by hunger. Even the do
mestic bull buffalo usually will whip
the tiger. The Indian driver Of a
pair Of large buffalo bulls plunges un-
.hesitatingly into the darkest and
most tangled forest, aware that the
tiger probably will not attack him
when thus accompanied, and that even
IL 1t should his team would make
short work Of the ferocious beast
with their massive horns. 1t Is said
the buffalo sometimes kills the Ella
phant, its mode Of attack being TO
thrust it's horns into the elephants
belly. This may happen sometimes,
but can hardly take place often. as
the great weight and strength of the
elephant make 1t when enrage1a 4 foe
which neither the buffalo nor any 9TH
er animal can Withstand. Buffalo
fights and fights between buf;.,oes
and tigers are main features in the en-
tertainments Of Indian princes.
Most species Of wild animals usually
get along pretty we'll among them
selves, but fights between buffalo bulls
are frequently and deadly. The victor
in such contests always rancorously
pursues the flying vanquished and tries
to hook him in the rear. Sir Samuel
W. Baker once came upon a pair OF
old bulls, which, while fighting, had
got their horns interlocked so they
could not get loose. Having a rife of
great effectiveness he killed them both
at one shot. ...... . .."
The buffalo Is not only one Of the
most redoubtable Of fighters but Is
also the most ruthless and ferocious,
whether It's antagonist be man or some
Lother animal. Many animals charge
when infuriated," says Sir Samuel w.
Baker, but they can generally be
turned by the stunning effect Of rifle
shot, even though they may be not NOR
tally wounded; but a buffalo Is a devil
incarnate when it has once decided on
the offensive. Nothing will turn 1t. If
not killed 1t will assuredly destroy its
adversary. There is no creature In ex-
istence that is so determined to stamp
out the life Of its opponents. Should
1t succeed In overthrowing its antag-
onist 1t will not only gore the body
with its horns but it will endeavor to
tear it to pieces, and will stand upon
its lifeless form and stamp 1t with its
hoofs until the mutilated remains are
disfigured beyond all recognition. 1t
is this ferocity Of the buffalo which
makes buffalo hunting so exciting and
so perilous a sport"
Experienced hunters are always very
careful not to stand in front Of buf-
falo which has been felled by bullet
and is apparently dead, for after every
sign of life is gone 1t may spring to
its feet and deal destruction in every
direction. Baron Harnier, a Prussian,
shot a buffalo on the White Nile sew
eral years ago. His native servant had
just taken a position near the head Of
the animal, which was apparently dead
when it sprang to its feet and knocked
the man headlong. Baron Harniers
rifle being unloaded, he courageously
clubbed the weapon, and tried to drive
the buffalo off. The animal turned fu-
riously upon him and stamped and
gored him to death. The missionaries
who found his body also found the
carcass Of the buffalo lying near 1t,
and little further away was the body
Of his servant.
No land animal, except possibly the
elephant, loves water so much as the
buffalo, In a wild state 1t frequents
swamp ground. where it wallows In
the water and plasters itself with mud.
It's coat of mud, when hardened in the
sun, affords it protection from the
great gadfiies, which, especially in Af-
rica, cause it much annoyance. The
buffalo does not lose its love OF water
when domesticated, and its practice OF
lying down in every stream 1t comes
to, even when hitched to a cart, gets
It many cudgellings and cursings from
its Indian drivers.
The buffalo's usual way Of affording
sport is as the hunted. The Singhalese
of Ceylon train it to be hunter. A
favorite game Of the Singhalese Is the
swamp frequenting waterfowl. The
waterfowls are accustomed to buffa-
loes being near, and do not fear them.
The Singhalese, therefore, teach the