TRAGIC ENCOUNTER WITH A LION.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 22, Issue 91, 24 November 1911, Page 5

TRAGIC ENCOUNTER WITH A LION.

The “ East African Standard ” gives the following account of the lion hunt in which Mr. Grey, brother of Sir Edward Grey, was fatally mauled: ;

For several days the ostrich camp near Sir Alfred Pease’s homestead, at Athi River, had been worried by lions, and as that gentleman had just arrived by the steamship Guelph, in company with his sons and Mr. Grey, the news to hand was heartily welcomed as affording MOST OPPORTUNE SPORT. A party was promptly organised, consisting of Sir Alfred Pease, Mr. G. Grey, Messrs. Howard and Edward Pease, Captain Slatter, Mr. Clifford and Mr. H. N. Hill.

The hunt started on Sunday morning. The plan of campaign was to divide into two parties, one consisting of Sir Alfred and Mr Hill. After about half an hour’s ride, in drawing a donga, Mr. Hill espied two big lions making off about half a' mile to the right, and the party of* two galloped after the quarry, endeavouring to keep them in sight. Sir Alfred followed the bigger and slower, animal, and Mr. Hill the leader, which was some 400 or 500 yards to his left.

The object of the hunters was to turn the game into a donga, thus giving time for the rest of the. party to come up, hoping that Mr. Grey would be given the opportunity to open the shoot. Unfortunately, the second party had no opportunity of learning the tactics which had been agreed upon by Sir Alfred and Mr. ) Hill, . i j Mr. Grey, seeing the game, put ibis horse to the gallop, and practically i started to course the ’brutes. His 1 companions were immediately alarm'j ed at his foolish temerity, and endeavoured ■ ' TO WARN HIM OF THE TERRIBLE, DANGER j he was courting. They were alarmed at seeing one of the lions { preparing to charge. Mr. HIU, j thereupon dismounted and fired a' quick shot at the bigger lion, in the' hope of attracting his attention frbm< Mr. Grey. ! i The bullet unluckily tell short, and the lion charged Mr. Grey, who jumped off his pony, and awaited the onslaught. At about twenty yards he fired, and the shot went into "his the shoulder, but without stopping the deadly charge. He got in another shot at about five yards, hitting the brute in the mouth, breaking two of his murderous fangs, and, injuring his jaw. The lion flung his victim to the ground and began to worry him, just LIKE A DOG WOULD A RAT.

Meanwhile, Mr. H. Pease had foW lowed Mr. Grey, and the party waved him to come up on the flank; they then covered the 800 yards be-, tween them and the lion and hia vie*' tim at top speed. When some fifty yards .off, the lion noticed his fresh 1 antagonists and ceased to maul Mr. Grey. J At twenty-five yards the party dismounted and ran in. The beast immediately made towards them, and at this awful moment of peril Mr. Hill’s rifle jammed, and he, too, was out of action. Almost simultaneously Sir Alfred and Mr. H. Pease fired and the halls entered the lion's ribs. The thrice heavily wounded animal then returned to his victim. The horrified relief party scarcely remember what happened during the next brief moments further than that the lion was on top of Mr. "Grey, and animal and man were so mixed up that it was most difficult to distinguish the lion’s head from Mr. Grey's body in order to get 'in a deadly head shot, which was found impossible to place until the lion was almost lifeless. 4

During the fray the other lion''was distant only about 100 yards, growling and lashing his tail. In spite of the double danger threatening them, the hunters paid no attention to the second animal, being intent on relieving their comrade. j Mr. Grey’s wounds were very mim? erous. The lions severely clawed ‘his face and head, bit bis arms, handf and thighs, and inflicted severe wounds on his back. After being rescued from his deadly peril Mr. Grey was perfectly collected and quietly instructed his anxious friends how they could best handle his lacerated body. Mr. Grey afterwards died frojn the eflects of his injuries. i! , V