The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-02-28
KING OF BEASTS.
A More Formidable Beast Than the
Lion is the Buffalo.

The bulls, of all the species Of the
genus "bos," are most savage and
dangerous at times The Romans
knew no better sport than to see a
powerful bull OF the common domes-
tic species toss lion. unless it was
to see him toss man; and bull fights
are still the mos: loved diversion in
all Spanish. and Spanish-American
countries. The American bison used
to be fine fighter, the only indig-
enous animal which could whip him
being the grizzly bear, But unques-
tionably the fierccst and most formi-
dable gladiators OF this genus are the
bufaloes 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 larger and more powerful than
the lion, and one good toss of his
long, sharp, powerful horns, which
frequently, exceed twelve feet from
tip to tip, is usually enough to kill
the so-called "king of beasts" In
fact, one buffalo is almost match
for two lions. Once when Sir Sam
uel w. Baker was hunting in Africa
he found the dislocated skeleton of a
buffalo lying interrnixed with the bro
ken 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 othc-.
Maj. Vardon and Mr.. Oswell once
saw a 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 cous-
in, but he has his full share of Prov
ess. He is more than match for the
tiger, which declines the combat un-
less urged to it by hunger. Even
the domestic buffalo usually will
whip the tiger The Indian driver Of
a pair of large buffalo bulls plunges
unhesitatingly into the darkest and
most tangled forest, aware that the
tiger probably will not attack him
when thus accompanied, and that
even if it should his team would make
short work of the ferocious beast
with their massive horns. 1t is said
the buffalo sometimes kills the ele-
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 it when enraged a foe
which neither the buffalo nor any
other animal can withstand Buffalo
fights and fights between bufaloes
and tigers are main features in the
entertainments of Indian princes.
Most species of wild animals usu-
ally get along pretty well among
themselves, but fights between buffa-
10 bulls are frequent and eadly.
The victor in such contests always
rancorously pursues the flying van
punished and tries to hook him in the
rear. Sir Samuel w. Baker once
came upon pair of old bulls, which,
while fighting, had got their horns
interlocked so they could not get
loose Having rifle of great effec-
tiveness 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 other animal "Many animals
charge when infuriated," says Sir
Samuel w. Baker. "but they can gen
orally be turned by the stunning ef-
feet of rifle shot. even though they
may be not mortally wounded; but
buffalo is devil incarnate when it
has once decided on the offensive