The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1912-10-31
CAUGHT BY A LION
Fearful Adventure With a South
African Man Eater.
FLUNG RIGHT INTO ITS JAWS.

Ordeal Of Transvaal Ranger Whe
Only to Be Gripped In Midair by the
Savage Brute-The Dramatic Finish
III any one IL eager for adventure
hunting lions In their native Jungles
will offer him abundant opportunity.
Major j. Stevenson Hamilton in the
pages OF his book. animal Life In
Africa" gives an account OF a terrible
experience that one OF his fellow ran
gers Of the Transvaal game reserve
had with a lion.
In August. 1903. he was returning
from a months patrol TO the Oilfants
river and had arrived within two days
march of the SnbI He had pushed on
ahead OF his natives and pack donkeys
In order to reach the nearest police
picket before nightfall However. the
distance was grenter than lie thought.
and darkness found him still some
three miles from his destination. riding
along path by the side Of n reed
bordered stream, accompanied only by
his big dog Bill.
As he rode through the dry bed OF
the creek. where the path crossed II In
one OF its windings. he saw something
move out OF the reeds and melt away
into the darkness ahead A few yards
farther on the dog rushed forward.
barking. and again an indstinct form
moved away. Snpposing this TO be a
buck OF some kind. the ranger rode on
without taking any special notice OF
the incident. bnt few minutes after
ward he suddenly saw the shape again,
this time apparently approaching
He had scarcely time to reflect that
this was an odd performance for
reed buck when he became conscious
that II was no antelope. hut lion In |
the act OF crouching for spring. |
Pulling his horse sharp TO the right |
just rs the lion rushed. he caused the
latter partially TO miss his mark. but
his claws tore down the horses quar-
tiers. and the frightened animal. max
ing terrified leap forward. shot its
rider over rs Tight shoulder straight
into the jaws OF second lion. which
had been coming up from behind
Horse. man and rifle all went In diff
ferent directions The horse made OF
at full speed. followed by the first lion,
which IN turn was pursued 10y the dog.
The man never touched the ground at
all. as the lion seemed TO catch him In
Inidair
The first thing he realized was that
L was trotting of with him down the
Dath He was held firmly by the right
and. lying on his bnck his
nee was ON level with the brute's
neck. while his legs were dragging
llong under it's belly
II WAS desperate predlcament and
IL soon as he was able to collect his
thoughts u little he began 10 wonder ,
whether he would he killed outright ,
" tortured first He saw no hope OF ,
scape. The pain he describes as ;
cute. which is contrary TO the expert 7
nee OF Livingstone and others. How 4
yer. being a very cool headed man
nd full OF grit he presently began TO y
ast about for some method OF saving i,
imself.
The mind works quickly In such u
ases. and suddenly he remembered HIS n
an ordinary six inch nj
lade. which was carried In an open
,ather case at the back OF his belt al
eaching underneath himself with his n,
~ hand. he discovered that the knife IN
ad not been lost so. pulling 1t out. he q,
ent all his energy on holding II tight A
nd awaited favorable opportunity. -
Fortune fayors the brave. and the
lugers chance came when the lion.
ter going with him about $50 yards.
I'd him down under small tree for OF
lie purpose either or shifting Its grip st
of commencing operations upon him pe
Feeling very carefully behind the left ia
louder for what he judged TO be a 10
tai spot he struck couple OF back. OF
Inded blows with all his force. using, an
course. his left hand II turned out I'm
AT each OF these strokes reached the 81
art no.
For what seemed hours. but was no OF
ubt only few seconds. man and IN,
asst stood facing each other. the lat. al,
r silent and the former, with some rio
zy idea of the power of the human CHI
ice. shouting out every abusive word
at rose to his tongue. The tension
is relieved by the lion turning and s
liking slowly away to spot some a
rty yards distant, where after fir,
aging for a moment. il fell heavily 70
the ground. emitted few groans en-,
d expired. IFS