IN A TIGHT PLACE.

Evening Star, Issue 13145, 29 December 1908, Page 4

IN A TIGHT PLACE.

A Transvaal police trooper has just come off victorious in a struggle with a lioness. 'J'he 'Telegraph' says that on his way from Kbodcs's Drift to Messina Trooper Eagle met some tiaiHpnrt riders who hud just killed two young lions. A liitle further on he encountered i lie parents, who were following the waggon up. The lioness approached and growled jiieuueingly, ond the trooper fired, his bullet chattering hor dlwulder. He lit dice made •IV fr.r ramp, intending to pet assistance, 13 he knew the lioness was badh hurt. She, however, headed him off. n.n<! sprang upon him, tearing him from his horse. His carbine wus knocked out of his har.d. Fortunately, he landed on his feet, the borsr clearing from under him when t}ie lioness sprung. Eagle, who is a powerful fellow, closed wi'.h the brute, forcing the lingers of his right Land into her nostrils, and twisting the Host; as iar ns possible, gripping the animal round the neck with his left arm, and kicking her in the belly with all his might. All the time the brute was biting and clawing him. Just us he thought he must succumb sho released her grip, possibly on account of her wounded condition, but not before bho bad inflicted several terrible wounds, almost severing several finders of tho trooper's right hand with her teeth, while there were several hug* gashes of great depth in his thighs- The left arm wag n'fo badly lacerated. Finding himself free, Eagle picked up his carbine and raised it again, but found himself powerless to use it owing to his wounds. Just then two men who Jtd luckily heard tho shot came up and despatched the lioness.