HUNTER’S FORTITUDE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 169, 13 April 1935, Page 18

HUNTER’S FORTITUDE

Drove Car After Being Mauled

The South-West African Commissioner. .Mr. Harold Fedes, who, after being mauled by a, lioness was taken by lorry 230 miles over terrible roads from Knringkiirii to Tsumeb. is lying in Tsumeb Hospital, where, although his condition was at. the outset very grave, he is progressing as satisfactorily as can bo expected. Unless complications set in. his recovery is anticipated. He was mauled on Boxing Day by a lioness which he shot and which he approached, thinking it was dead. This animal was one of a number which have made severe depredations among native cattle for the.last four months. This particular lioness carried off a paralysed native woman from a kraal. .Mr Fedes, who was accompanied bynatives. showed remarkable fortitude, for after he hail killed the lioness he ordered the natives to bandage his wounds with bark stripped from trees

near by and to carry aim to his car, which he had left several miles away.

Although only Imlf-conseii'Us. he drove the car back to hi* station, where missioners attended to his wounds, after which he wa< transported by lorry to Tsumeb. In tile meantime advice was sent by a native runner to Tsumeb. and then by telephone to Windhoek Au aeroplane, piloted by Captain >'ook. set out, but was unable to hind Returning to Grootfontein. Captain Cook secured serum and medicines, which he threw down after scouting to the north of Tsumeb and finding the convoy. Remarkable courage was d’splayed by Eedes's wife in accompanying her husband and nursing liim on Hie way. as well as in hospital at Tsumeb ■Mr. Eedes controls a tremendous district populated by 20.000 natives. It is malarial, semi-tropical ami practically uncivilised.—Reuter.