The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-26
EXCITING EXPERIENCE
IN TRAPPING OF LIONS
Vivid Experiences of Hunter Who Has
Been Through the Hottentot Country.


Of beasts at his best and for making
close observations OF his character.
When a so-calIed lion tanner tells you
that ne understands his pets as well as
IL they were human beings thel~ is a
powerful significance TO his words. He
understands them as well. but no bet
ter, and this means hourly peril to him.
No two lions are alike, except in a
few leading traits. any more than two
men are alike. Every lion is supposed
70 roar at night when abroad after prey,
but not half OF them do so. When you
read OF one charging into camp. you
praise his courage; but for every one
such case I can show ten when the lion
skulked about like a dog. He may come
roaring about your camp one night,
putting you in fear that he means TO
defy the blazing fires and the wideawake
hunters. and the next night he may
creep up as softly as a cat and lie
hidden an hour for the sake of picking
up q native dog.
We were once camped IN grove on
the bank Of a creek, our party number
ing over thirty people. We had horses,
oxen, wagons and dogs, and were spread
out over two acres Of ground. 1t was in
the lion country, and they might be eX-
pected TO approach at night; but on the
second afternoon Of our camp. while
all were engaged IN cleaning " and
making repairs. an alarm was suddenly
raised.
supposed that some OF the animals
had stampeded, and ran around the
wagon to get a clear view Of the space
between US and the creek This creek
was 200 feet away and was so nearly
dry that one could step across it, The
bank on the other side was rocky
ground. pretty thickly covered with
scrub, and right on the brink stood one
OF the largest lions ever saw. He was
out in full view. head and tail up. and
stood so still for moment that I al
most doubted II he was alive.
There was a light breeze blowing to-
ward US, and as soon as our animals got
the scent it required the efforts Of every
native 10 prevent them from breaking
away My guns were being cleaned and
oiled, and my two white companions
were looking after their horses. No one
had the least idea that the lion meant
mischief, and we were dumbfoUnded to
see him spring across the creek and
come walking into camp.
We afterward measured his leap and
found IL to be twenty-eight feet He
made it without an effort. was to the
right of him. and the center Of the camp
was his objective point. The lion adj
vanced at walk. uttering no sound
and the shouts. screams and whOops OF
the men, backed by the believing Of the
cattle and the snorts Of the horses, had
no effect on him.
We had COW tied to a wheel of one
of the wagons and the lion advanced to
within thirty feet of her. when he made
spring which landed fairly upon her
back. She fell in a heap. He seized
her by the neck, gave her two or three
shakes. which broke the grass rope
around her head. after which he got her
right shoulder under her ard started of.
The COW weighed at least 500 pounds,
but he carried her with perfect ease,
her hind feet dragging on the ground,
At the creek he made jump OF eleven
feet. ascending a sloping bank without
a halt and soon disappeared in the
broken ground with his prey He was
gone before we had a gun ready. In
deed. we were lucky not 10 have lost
half our animals. was no greenhorn
IN the animal business at that date.
but this was the first time 1 had ever
witnessed such impudence in a lion.
As soon as order had been restored the
three Of US mounted our horses. and
preceded by five or six natives and their
dogs. crossed the creek and took up the
trail After going about half a mile we
discovered the lion sitting beside the
carcass in a little hollow. He was sit
ting up Ike dog, head turned toward
US. but as soon as he saw US separate he
ran or with his tail down. evidently
thoroughly alarmed. and such was his
speed that we soon lost him
We could count on his returning to
the body during the night. and the ma
lives we're therefore set to work digging
pit. They regarded the lion as being
as cunning as he was wise. and the Dit
was not dug near the body. but thirty
feet away from it and in the direction
IN which 1t vas believed he would drag
the body.
II lion or tiger leaves a body DIR
Ing the day and return 70 IL at night
the first act is TO drag Il some distance.
most cases.
During the night dozen lions scented
around our camp, but without causing
any alarm, and soon after daylight the
natives went out 70 INVESTIGATES the tran
as II fearing an ambusCade. While the
rule is not invariable. IL holds good in
No hunter ever had such a windfan be-
fore or since As night came several
lions must have scented the carcass and
gathered for a feast. The rightful owner
OBJECTED. Of course, and there was a
Tight, the result OF which was that three
grown males tumbled into our pit
This fact did not -prevent others from
picking the carcass clean. One OF those
in the pit was the cheeky old fellow
who had entered our camp. and the
other two were nearly as large In the
course OF the forenoon we had them out
and in cages. and two Of them are in
the United States today In geological
gardens
week after this capture I went ont
with some of the natives to prepare a
bait In rocky ravine. We built a
stout pen OF rocks and logs placing in
side calf as bait. The sun was nearly
down when we started for camp. and no
che had the least suspicion Of danger.
until lion. which had been crouching
beside a bush. sprang out and knocked
me down.
In spvingirg upon his prey the lion or
the tiger strikes as he seizes. This blow
OF the paw, III IL falls on the right spot
disables the victim at once I was 80
near this fellow that he simply reared
up. seized me by the shoulder and
pulled me down. I was fiat on the earth
before I realized what had happened.
The men ran off about go feet and
then halted. which was doubtless the
reason why was not carried of at once
Had / moved my arm to get my pistol
the beast would have lowered his head