A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2123, 24 February 1908, Page 3

A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.

GORILLA KILLS THREE AFRICAN NATiV ES. A German naturalist forwards the following fetter to the Committee oj mo Zoological uaruens, Sydney, together wall some photograpiis (it statuary :

Gentlemen.—AVith the present I take the liberty of drawing your attention to a subject which i venture to assume will be of some interest to. you as a zealous naturalist and skilled expert iu matters zoological. As will be well known to you, tho pursuit of the gorilla in its native naunts is one on die most dangerous species of hunting than can well be imagined on account of the tremendous bodily strength and wonderful agility of movement peculiar to the animal.

A striking proof of the truth of what has been said above is furnished by the narrative of Al. l’assburg, a German planter living in the interior of the African Continent. According to that gentleman’s story, the evens about to bo related took place on the 14h of April, ii/uU. On that clay a gorilla was driven out of his hiding-place in the innermost recesses of the tropical iungle by several natives, and in his Jliglit camo out of the forest on to the main road frequented by trading caravans. Here he found himself suddenly confronted by three intrepid native hunters whose only weapons consisted of oldfashioned' flint-lock muskets and spears. At first the giant monkey contented himself with trying to escape from his pursuers, but- finding it impossible to do so, he quickly assumed the offensive. First of all he snatched the gun of the nearest negro away from him and broke it into small pieces. Thereupon with an agility marvellous to behold he seized the defenceless native and clasped him tightly in his fatal embrace with such deadly force that the hunter’s chest was completely crushed in. The monkey only let go of his prey when all life had flown from the body and threw the corpse aside. In the meantime one of the negro’s comrades had attempted to approach the gorilla from the rear, although the brave native was only armed with a large dagger. His aim was to disable the animal and to prevent him from doing any further mischief. But all his hopes were in vain ! Despite the negro’s aporoach from the rearthcnipnkey had alreadv caught sight of him. Like a flash of lightning the gorilla whisked round, seized his assailant by the throat, and did not let go of bis opponent until the brave fellowhad succumbed to his death-bringing embrace. „ , ... The third hunter had, while these events were proceeding, attempted to distract the attention of the ruinous monster from his doomed victim But ho. too, was seized by the throat, lifted up from the ground to a great height and then dashed down with such terrific force that he chared the evil fate of his two comiaTho whole disaster only occupied a period of time extending over a few minutes. The gorilla hurled the lifeless bodies aside and escaped to the "' Tho' host proof that the existing narratives, with regard, to the fierceness of the gorilla, are m no way exaggerated, is that they are amply corroborated by the testimony of M. Pas-sburg. The chase led , directly past Ills store and ho was himself Py-ove-witness of the manner in which the three natives fell victims to the l ' r Tpfrine recent years hunters have gorilla tribe. .