EXTRAORDINARY LION STORY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1666, 3 February 1904, Page 20

EXTRAORDINARY LION STORY.

APIECE OF WONDERFUL FICTION.

> (From Our Own Correspondent.)

LONDON, December 18. Lest unbelievers scoff I may say the following extraordinary lion story, told by Game Ranger .Wolhuter, in the service of the Transvaal Government, has been “legally certified” by the Act-ing-Resident Magistrate of the Barberton .district. The value of the legal certificate may he called in- question, but that the story is unique cannot be gainsaid. Wolimter was riding along a Kaffir path in the game reserve, hoping to get to a kraal at Metzi Metz before night fell. As he rode along liis dog set up a furious barking at what Wolhuter took to be reeflbucks, but a moment later he saw a lion crouching for a spring on the off side. Turning his horse swiftly Wolhuter escaped the lion’s stroke, but his horse was badly clawed, and its answering spring unseated the rider. As the horse bounded away pursued by the lion, Wolhuter saw another great feline bounding towards him. Before lie could make an effort to save himself the second lion picked him up and, gripping hip by the right shoulder in such a position that he was face up, with legs and body dragging underneath the lion’s belly, proceeded to trot off down the path, uttering all the time a loud growling purring noise. Wolhuter, who had read Livingstone’s aocount of being seized by a I on. says that instead of experiencing the apathy and absence of pain described by the great explorer, he suffered terribly both physically and mentally, especially the latter, during his conveyance by the lion over a space of some two hundred yards. A HAPPY THOUGHT.

He continues:—‘'Suddenly I • bethought me of my sheath knife, which I carry on my belt behind my right hip; as the lion had hold of my right arm and shoulder I had! to reach behind with my left hand, but I at last succeeded, and I am sure no one over gripped anything so tight as I did that knife after I got it out-. On reaching a large tree the lion stopped, and I then stabbed him twice in the right side with my left hand, near where I judged the heart to be. I found afterwards that the first stab touched 1 the bottom of the heart, and the second one slit it down for some distance. The lion immediately dropped me, aip I again struck him in the throat with all my force, evidently severing some large artery or vein, as the blood pdured over me. Hie jumped back, and stood.! two or three yards off, facing me, and growling.” Wolliuter scrambled to his feet and, remembering tales of the effect of the human, voice on brute beasts, commenced to objurgate the lion in a manner which he confesses would' not hear repetition in cold print. Either his language or the wounds ho had inflicted on the animal had the desired effect, for, turning, the lion slunk away growling. Soon its growls turned to moans; these shortly ceased, but Wollruter, though feeling pretty sure that he had killed his assailant, was taking no chances and had, with wliat sped he oonild muster with his lacerated arm and shoulder, climbed into the tree. He had hardly make himself comfortable a dozen feet above ground than lion No. 1 returned from his unsuccessful chase of the horse, followed by Woilhuter’s dog, who had, with great courage, pursued and hampered the king of beasts whilst be was hunting Wollmter’is mount. Encouraged by his master the dog continued his attention to the lion, and after an ineffectual attempt to silence his noisy, persistent and agile foe, the lion made off. Tying himself to a branch lest he should 1 faint from loss of blood, and fall out of the tree, Wolhuter waited for succour. Presently some Kaffirs came along and" escorted the wounded man to bis camp some fopr miles off. There he was roughly attended to, and was sent by litter to Koomatie Poort, and thence to' Barberton Hospital. His horse was found next morning very little the worse for its encounter, and the dead lion wag also discovered. It was an obi male, whose worn teeth denoted great age and its empty stomach a long period of fasting. Mr Wolhuter attributes the fact Of the lion not striking or biting him when he stabbed him to the knif ©touching his heart the first time and v dazing him. The knife used was an ordinary sheath knife.