BACK FROM RHODESIA.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16710, 28 January 1926, Page 6

BACK FROM RHODESIA.

FRANKTON SPORTSMAN.

MR JOHN HOLMES RETURNS,

The well-known spoilsman, Mr John Holmes, of Frankton Junction, who accompanied the late Mr W. It. Twigg, of Auckland, on flic expedition to the interior of Rhodesia, where Mr Twigg met his death as the result of being mauled by an infuriated wounded lion, returned on the Ulirnaroa yesterday. When approached by a pressman, Mr Holmes said he did not feel disposed lo talk about the expedition, since the tragic death, of his companion had cast a shadow over the trip that even time could not obliterate. Mr Holmes left New Zealand with the late Mr Twigg, and Mrs Twigg, on June 5, last year. On arriving in Soulh Africa they lost no Urn 3 in pushing on into the interior, and left the Kabunda River for the big game country on July 31. From Chambcsi they struck east lo the Lungwa Valley Watershed, and then treked south to Mpika, which is in the Awemba territory, at the top of Northern Rhodesia, 30 miles from the railway line. The late Mr Twigg met his death near Mpka on October 22, when he came upon one of two lions which he had wounded the day before. Ere he could kill the animal he was savagely attacked, and an effort lo climb a tree proved futile. Mr Twigg was badly mauled, but was still alive when the animal left him. Unfortunately he moved an arm, in order to signal the native attendants that he was still alive. The lion noticed the movement and attacked him again, when one of the natives seized a rifle and gave the savage beast quick despatch. The dying man had io be carried a long distance over rough country, and his life might have been saved had it been possible to place him in an iodine bath He died of blood poisoning.

Had it not been for this traffic end to the expedition the (rip would have been most successful, said Mr Holmes. The country in which they were shooting was teeming with big game, and altogether 120 head, including 25 different, kinds of animals, were shot.

Mrs* Twigg, who was slaying at Livingstone, Central Africa, when the fatality occurred, also returned on the Ulirnaroa.