The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-09-09
ATTACKED BY A LION,
Awful Experience Of a Railroad
~ N Man In Africa.
IN THE JAWS OF A MAN EATER.

Inc 1Oil0Wlng description or an at"
tack by lion, as related to Mr.. sc.
Michael Podmore, u. y. s., while he
was returning from n sojourn In tho
wild places of the earth, is SO terribly
realistic that we offer no apology for
| printing Il. Mr.. Podmore met the
hero Of this story while on trip
icross the Pacific ocean and was
shown the terrible scars on the mans
body:
was engaged on the transcontl-
mental Cape TO Cairo line, and our
gang consisted of two white men and
fifty blacks. We each occupied sep
lratc hut.
One dark night was aroused from
sleep by hearing something moving
| backward and forward beneath my
bed. Becoming alarmed, listened
breatblessly TO loud, long and inde-
| scribable sniff-sniff which broke the
stiffness Of the night. My experience
Of Africa was not extensive. but
instantly realized that some wild ami
NAL was under my bed. Every one OF
my faculties became Immediately par
| ,lyzed with horror. 1 was unable to
utter Il sound.
After a moment or two became
| aware that man eating lion was sniff
ing his way along the edges Of the
bed, perhaps a little puzzled at the
| mosquito curtains | then felt | must
10 something, and instinctively, yet
nolselcssly, huddled all the pillows
md bedclothes over my head. No
sooner had ] done this than the lion,
with horrible pur grabbed me by
The right shoulder and dragged me out
on TO the floor and Immediately began
TO suck the blood which streamed
down my neck and chest, and every
time moved he bit me more savagely.
As raised my knees to get into n
'rouching, protective position he gave
ne a little pat with his paw which
nearly broke my leg and inflicted a
dreadful wound. Then suddenly the
monster dropped me out of his mouth,
placed one massive paw on my chest,
md then, throwing back his noble
head, he gave four terrible roars OF
rlumph and defiance.
My chum walked round the hut and
then saw with horror the hole made
by the lion, who had torn out the mat
walls and crawlcd under my bed.
Then II dawned upon him what had
happened, so he ran round to the other
'ide and kicked the door down.
All this time the only thing l seemed
10 take interest in was the loud sip
ping suck, suck, made by the lion as
he drew my blood into his reeking
laws. remembered with a pang of
''egret, that | had not lived n model
life recently, and began to pray as I
had never prayed before. AS l prayed
| thought how curious II was that
lid not feel the slightest sense of
pain with n man eating lion chewing
my flesh and drinking my blood.
I had been lying on my back, with
my neck and head resting against the
side of the hut w.len my friend
smashed the door. AS he did so the
ion drove his terrible fangs into my
into the darkness. As he ran with me
he seemed to bc twisting and jerking
ne round sideways. as though striving
10 get me ON his back.
The lion ran across the clearing
with me for about thirty yards and
put me down under big boabab tree.
lay Oh my back with the lion on top
" me, occasionally gazing with his
great luminous, greenish yellow eyes,
which filed me with unutterable loath-
ing, so expressionless and cold were
they. yet so diabolical In their ruth.
less cruelty.
The lion seemed perfectly content
with his prey. felt his long, rough
tongue scraplng up my thighs and alb
iomen, and as it crept higher and
higher felt little gusts of his hor-
'lble breath. ] half turned my head
iway, but still the long, greedy tongue
worked its way toward my throat. I
'ould distinctly feel each bite, because,
although II did not cause the slightest
pain, yet az the fearful fangs were
iriven into fresh place | was con
scious of a strange numbness In that
particular part.
During all this time the negroes kept
screaming, "Nkanga, nkanga". My
friend kept running round the clearing
in utter bewlderment. The appalling
blackness Of the night added horror
to the thing which no pen could de-
scribe.
At last two negroes were induced to
make q couple of torches of dry grass,
and by the lurid and uncertain light of
these the lion was seen standing over
my PROSTATE body. He was an enor-
NOUS brute, over ten feet In length,
and with luxuriant. tawny name
that impaired TO him most majestic
appearance. My friend told me after
ward that as he approached with his
gun was moaning and grooming
loftly TO myself. For some time he
was afraid to shoot lest he should kill
me instead OF the lion. He screamed
out, Keep cool, Jack, and l will see
what can do for you!"
As he crept nearer the lion took his
fangs out Of my groin and faced about,
growing and snarllng horribly. The
rife was levelcd, there was sharp re-
port, and the first shot hit the lion In