The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-10-27
Crippled BY A LION
Livingstone's Fearful Ordeal ard
His Narrow Escape.
A BATTLE WITH A MANEATER.
The Wounded and Maddened Monster.
In Parosysm of Dying Rage.
Caught the Explorer In His Jaws and


Caught the Explorer In His Jaws and
Shook Him as Terrier Would a Rat.
David Livingstone. the famous Afri
can explorer and missionary. once had
a singular encounter with wounded
lion that almost put an end TO the eX-
plorer's remarkable career before il
had fairly begun. But the story must
be unfam iliar to many persons who
have never read Dr. Livincstones
books. The adventure occurred while
he was living among the Bakatlas. not
far from the present town of MAIZE
king This account is from his own
narrative:
The people of Mabotsa were trou-
bled by lions. which leaped into the
cattle pens by night and destroyed
their milk and 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 we'll known that if one in q
troop of lions is killed the others leave
went out with the people to help them
destroy one Of the marauders. We
found the animals on a small bill COW
cred with trees. The men formed
round it in circle and gradually
closed up. Being below on the plain
with Il native schoolmaster named Ma
balwe, | saw one of the lions sitting
on piece of rock. MabalWe fired at
him. and the ball hit the rock. The
lion bit at the spot as a dog does at
stick or stone thrown at him. and then.
leaping away. broke through the cir
Gle and escaped. The Bakatlas ought
to 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 it was evident the men
could not face their foes we turned
back toward the village.
In going round the end of the hill
! saw Il lion sitting on Il piece of rock.
about thirty yards off. with a little
bush in front of him. took good aim
at him through the bush and fired both
barrels.
The men called cut. Tie is shot be
is shot" Others cried. Let Us 90 to
him."
| saw the lions tail erect in anger
and said. stop little till | load
again" | was in the act of rammin:
down the bullets when | heard a
shout. and. looking half round. | saw
the lion in the act of springinC 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 4 rat The shock pro
duced a stupor like that felt by a
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
ror. although | was quite conscious of
what was happening This placidity
is probably produced i'll all animals
killed by the carnivora. and. if 50. 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 Il 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 he 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 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 II 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 a lion resembles a gunShot
wound 1t is generally followed by
great deal of slOughing and discharge.
and ever afterward pains are felt Pc
riodicaIly in the part | had on tar
tan Jacket, which believe wiped off
the virus from the teeth that pierced
the flesh. for my two companions in
the affrav have both suffered from the
usual pains. while have escaped with
! only the Inconvenience Of a false joint
! in my limb.