The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-07-10
TALES OF
WITH THE MAN-EATERS.

In 1898 Colonel Patterson, of the
British army, went to East Africa to
undertake the construction of rail-
way bridge over the River Tsavo. He
had large force of coolies with him,
but his work was hindered by the
presence of lions, one adventure with
which is described by writer in the
london Daily Mail.
The work was we'll under way
when two most ferocious and insatia-
BILE man-eating lions appeared and
established a reign of terror which
lasted nine months. At one time all
work was actually suspended for
three weeks
At first men disappeared, no one
knew how. Then it was found that
workmen were carried off as they
slept in their tents.
A witness described one occur
renee:
"About midnight the lion suddenly
put his head in at the tent door and
seized Ungar Singh by the throat.
The unfortunate fellow cried 'Choro!'
CLet go!) The next moment he was
gone, and we heard terrible strug-
gle going on outside"
The next night the attack was in
another part of the camp. And so it
went on, each night heart-rending
shrieks telling of fresh tragedy. The
lions grew very bold and would dare
everything. One night one of the
beasts sprang on the hospital tent, in
which eight men were lying, killed
one and wounded two others.
Every night for over a week Colo
mel Patterson waited and watched in
vain. The attacks which for weeks
had been made by one lion were now
made in pairs, each seizing victim.
A light staging was constructed, a
dead donkey laid near for bait, and
Colonel Patterson took up his posi-
ton. The lion came, and told by an
cry growls that the hunters presence
was detected. Then followed an un-
expected development. Says the col
onel:
The hunter became the hunted,
and the lion began to stalk me. For
two hours he Mortified me by creep
ing around and around my crazy
structure. The staging had not been
constructed with all eye to the posi-
bility of a rush at it. l began to feel
distinctly creepy.
Il kept perfectly still, but the
strain told heavily on my nerves.
About midnight something came flop
and struck me on the back of my
head. was so terrified I nearly fell
off the stage. 1t proved to be only
an owl. The involuntary start gave
! was followed by sinister growl from
below.
After this kept as still as posi-
bic, although trembling with excite
ment In a short time I heard the
lion begin to creep stealthily toward
me. | could barely see him, but
saw enough for my purpose, and took
aim. My shot was followed by tre-
mendous roar, and l could hear the
creature leaping about in all direc-
tions.
Il was no longer able to see him
OuC 1 h0pL UldLluS away III lhc oiSS
ton l heard him. At length there
came a series of mighty groans. then
deep sighs. When they ceased l felt
that one of the beasts which had SC
long harried us was no more.
'In the morning it was found thai
the lion measured nine feet eight
inches.
The second lion, killed one night
| under equally exciting circumstances
gave a remarkable example of vital
ity. Struck by two bullets, he made
off with great bounds. AS soon as
daylight came the lion was tracked
Crippled by third bullet, he was
| coming for me, when a fourth charge
brought him to the ground. On be-
ing approached, he rose and rushed
again. A Martini bullet in his heac
and another in his chest finished hin
| for good and all"