NIGHT OF TERROR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23773, 28 September 1940, Page 2 (Supplement)

NIGHT OF TERROR

OF,0 F , all adventures with wild beasts, there has surely not been one to surpass that of Mrs. John Underwood, when camping with her husband in the Black Hills, in South Dakota, United States.

One afternoon the two had been out trying, unsuccessfully, to shoot a deer. It grew late, and Mrs. Underwood said she would return to camp to see about getting supper.. But darkness caine sooner than she had expected; she lost her way, got into very rough country, and in trying to cross a ravine dropped and lost her rifle, states a New York correspondent of a London paper. Suddenly, with a frightful scream, a great beast sprang from the bushes, and she found herself on her back with a huge mountain lion standing over her. A "Brainwave"

She shrieked with terror, but, in spite of her horror, noticed at once that this seemed to frighten the animal. It flashed through her mind that she had read of wild beasts being subdued by the sound of the human voice, and began singing, at first in faltering, uncertain tones, but afterwards more steadily and clearly. She was right. The sound distracted the beast, and presently it lay down, though with one huge paw across her body. For hours the unfortunate woman sang and sang, and it was not until dawn that her husband, who had been searching all night, at last heard

Lion Attacks Woman Hunter

her, and, coming lip quietly, shot th» panther through the head. This story calls to mind that of Lieutenant G. GarrOd, K.A.F., who, during the Great War, was sent to bomb a German ambush on the Rufigi River in East Africa; but his machine fell in a swamp and he had to try to find his way back afoot. He <*ot out of the bog and wandered till niglit in thick jungle. Then he saw a pair of green eyes glaring at him, and quickly climbed a tree. The beast, a huge leopard, moved round in circles, evidently meditating a spring. In sheer despair the lieutenant broke into song. First he sang "The Admiral's Broom." then "TwoEyes of Grey," and went on with scraps of anything he could remember. He sang until he was hoarse, and at last the brute slunk off and he was able to escape.