Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-12-07
LION HUNT IN ZAMBEsI.


Unique Armament Of Body Of Hunt.
ers-peath Of a Man Eater.
Far away on the confines Of the
northernmost Praza of Portuguese
Zambesia lies little village nesting
among the trees at the foot Of huge
rock. Like other native villages in this
part Of Africa 1t consists of a few
round huts placed anyhow in a more
or less imperfectly cleared space in the
forest and is inhabited by happy,
careless population.
One May morning 1t was the scene
Of fearful tragedy. only too common
In such villages. Four men had been
hoeing in the mealie patch along the
side of neighboring kloof, when sud-
denly, says a correspondent Of the
London Field, a lioness sprang among
them. seized one man by the leg and
endeavored to drag him away. What
ever vices these natives may have,
cowardice Is not one. Two attacked
the lioness with their hoes and were
frightfully mauled In the melee. A
third took up his bow and sent two
arrows into her side.
1t was of no avail. The ioness stuck
to her quarry. and carried him of,
shrieking with agony, which was mer-
cifully ended by his death. and the
Mortified villagers carried the survi-
vors back to their homes and applied
such remedies to their hurts as their
limited knowledge Of medicine dictat-
ed.. The hunting men went out to
track the animal to her liar; the 9TH
ers rapidly erected a stockade around
the village, long experience Of similar
occurrences having taught them the
futility Of delay In this matter; the
appetite for human flesh. when once
cultivated is never appeased and the
raids of a man eating lion can only be
ended by its death.
1t happened that next day five white
men found their way to the village.
They were new to the country and not
long out from home, and all being
keen sportsmen they naturally jumped
at the chance Of having some excite
ment and ridding the country Of such
pest as well. On their arrival they
had a lengthy indaba with the head
man and were promised the help OF
the entire male population Of the VII
lage as beaters IL they would go out
and kill the lioness. The bow and ar
row champion of the previous day
agreed to act as. guide, and daylight
next morning saw a lengthy procession
following a fairly evident blood spoor
from the garden into the bush.
I must now describe the men and
their armament, as the latter is prob
ably unique in the annals Of African
lion shooting. A, the leader, short
man, brave as a gameccck, was armed
with a double barrelled cordite .450 RI
fe which kicked like mule and devel-
oped a muzzle energy which would
bowl over an elephant. Aroupd his
middle was suspended Wesley revol-
yer loaded with hollow pointed bullets,
and from his belt hung a huge knife,
watches, compasses, notebook, and
other impedimenta recommended to
sportsmen." Behind him stalked a
doughty heathen carrying second RI
fe, a e-Metford carbine, loaded, at
full cock. and with the cutoff open. b,
a large edition of A. was with the ex-
ception of the knife similarly armed
and had also an attendant carrying q
second rifle.
Next in order came x, wearing q
white helmet and armed with a Lee
Metford rife and revolver, fiery
man, keen as mustard and eager for
the fray. Y followed him, a man OF
elephantine build, whose rubicund
countenance glowed with excitement
z, armed similarly to the others, took
up the rear. Behind followed a mixed
crowd carrying shotguns, spears, axes
knobkeries, cameras on stands, lunch
con baskets and other impedimenta
eagerly scanning the bush and ready tc
drop their loads and clear at the first
sign Of danger. The bow and arrow
man in his capacity as guide led them
to an open space in the forest Near
it's centre was clump Of tall grass and
on one side and to their rear was
pool Of water. Into the grass the blood
spoor led. "Alipo!" Che is In there!)
said the bow and arrow man.
A hurried consultation followed. II
was decided to advance on the clump
in column and to deploy to the left In
front Of 1t, while the beaters from the
other side drove the brute out into q
semi circle of rifles. The manoeuvre
began. With all rifles at full cock,
led the column toward the clump oi
grass. then turning to the left pro-
ceeded to take up his position. B fol-
lowed. Conspicuous by his white
headgear, x approached too near the
grass. There was a sudden rustic,
couple Of bounds, a magnificent spring
andsa huge lioness dashed at him.
He received her on the muzzle OF his
rifle, holding it at the ready, as II to
repel a bayonet attack. Though 1t
raked her from stern to stern the bull
let missed her heart. simultaneously
AS and BIS rifles cracked, or rather
doomed. The beast died in midair as
she made her spring. She fell on K
laying him out on the ground. She
never even twitched muscle, but KS
troubles were by no means over. A
tremendous fusillade from all rifles
except those carried by A and was
opened on the corpse as 1t lay on top
Of X. One boy completely emptied his
magazine before the firing was stop
ped. X was extricated. shaken but not
hurt and unscathed by bullets.
fz' 1t is calculated that we burn
0,000, 900 tons Of coal every year In
this country, which costs the consum-
-. .-..o.t,,otoI,, e7nn nm nm