The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-10-17
Crippled by! A LION
LWihgstone's Fearful Ordeal and
h His Marrow Escape.
A BATTLE WITH A MANEAT En-.

The Wounded and Maddened Monster,
In Paroxysm of Dying Rage,
Caught the Explorer In His Jaws and
Shock Him as Terrier Would a Rat.
David Livingstone, the famous Afri-
can explorer aud missionary. ONCE had
a singular encounter with wounded
lion that almost put an end to the ex-
plorer's remarkable career before 1t
had fairly begun. But the story must
he unfamiliar to many persons who
have never read DR.. Liyingstones
books The adventure occurred willie
he was living among the Bakatas. not
far from the present town of Mafe-
king. This account is from his own
narrative:
The people of Nfabotsa were trou-
bed by lions, which leaped isto the
cattle pens by night and destroyed
their milk ana draft animals. They
even attacked the herds boldly by day
light. and although several expeditions
against the wild beasts were planned
the people had not the courage to car.
~ them through successfully.
1t is VOL known that If one in n
troop of lions Is killed the others leave
that part Of the country. therefore
went out with the people to help them
destroy one of the marnnders We
found the animals on n small bill GOV
cred with trees. The men formed
round It in circle and gradually
closed up. Being below on the plain
with native sehoolmuster named Ma
bnlwe. saw one of the lions sitting
on Il piece of rock Mabalwe fred at
him. and the ball hit the rock. The
lion lit at the spot rs a dog does Mt a
stick or stone thrown at bin. and then.
leaping away. broke through the cir
Gle and escaped. The Bakatlas ought
10 have speared him in his attempt to
get out. but they were afraid.
When the circle was reformed we
saw two other lions in it. but dared
not fire lest we should shoot some OF
the people The beasts burst through
the line. and as IL was evident the mcu
could not face their foes we turned
back toward the village.
In going round the end Of the hin
I saw lion sitting on piece Of rock
about thirty yards Off, with little
bush in front Of him. took good aim
ut him through the bush and fred both
barrels
The men called out. "Ile is shot he
is shot" Others cried. let us so to
him.
saw the lions tail erect in anger
and said. stop little till | load
again. was In the act OF rammmg
down the bullets when | heard a
shout. and. looking half round, ! saw
tile lion in the act Of springlng at me.
He caught me by the shoulder, and
we both came to the ground together.
Growing horribly, he shook me as a
terrier dog does n rat The shock pro.
duced stupor like that felt by
mouse in the grip Of the cat 1t caused
a sort of dreaminess, in which there
was no sense of pain or feeling OF ter
ior. although l was quite conscious Of
what was happening. This placidity
IS probably produced in all animals
killed by the carnivora, and. IL so, It is
a merciful provision OF the Creator for
lessening the pain Of death.
As he had one paw on the back of
my head. | turned round to relieve my.
self of the weight and saw his eyes
directed to Mabalwe. who was aiming
at him from distance Of ten or tif.
teen yards. The gun missed fire in
both barrels. The animal Immediately
left me to attack him and bit his
thigh. Another man. whose life had
saved after be had been tossed by a
buffalo. tried to spear the lion. upon
which he turned from Mabalwe. and
seized this fresh foe by the shoulder.
At that moment the bullets the beast
had received took effect, and he fell
down dead. The whole was the work
OF a few moments and must have
been his paroxysm of dying rage. In
order to take out the charm from him
the Bakatlas on the following day
made huge bonfire over the carcass,
which was declared to be the largest
ever seen.
Besides crunching the bone into
splinters. eleven OF his teeth had pen
etrated the upper part Of my arm. The
bite Of lion resembles gunshot
wound. 1t is generally followed by n
great deal Of sloughing and discharge.
and ever afterward pains are felt pc
riodically in the part. 1 had on a tar.
tan Jacket. which believe wiped OF
the virus from the teeth that pierced
the flesh. for my two companions i'm
the ARRAY have both suffered from the
usual pains. while have escaped with
only the inconvenience OF false jent
in my limb.