VENTURESOME LIONS

Shannon News, 18 September 1925, Page 4

VENTURESOME LIONS

APPEARANCE AT D WEIiLINGS EAST AFRICAN SENSATION. The unusual appearance of lions in Entebbe, the capital of Uganda, is the subject of an interesting story publsihed by an East African newspaper, a copy of which has been received by a resident of Auckland from a relative in the district. ( The report states that Entebbe was kept alive for some days through the activities of the lions —three of them, one being a cub. The report first came out through the incoherent statement of a native who is resident in a hut there. One day having occasion to leave his house for a few minutes he was terrified on returning to see a lion in his compound munching one of his goats. Not stopping to question the bona fides of his august visitor he made a bolt for his own door, just then having caught sight of a lion cub lying some distance away contemplating his sire. But his bolt did not stop at the hut, for on reaching his abode he discovered another full-grown lion prowling round inside it The news having spread about the lion's visit, little credence was placed on it till confirmation was forthcoming from Mr. Cashmore, who lives

temporarily in a grass banda, and hi the night time he was honoured with the lion's presence. At this time there was apparently only one. That night two bullocks were taken, and the next day some, hundred. men of the King'sAfrican Rifles were told pff to round up the beast with loaded rifles.

Notwithstanding that a rigorous search was made, and that the beast's tracks were plainly visible all over thcBolanic Gardens, and especially in a i sandpit there, where the animal had had a sand bath, nothing concrete resulted from the search. More kills j were made by the lion, and though it is said that two bullocks were tied up i as a bait, and one of them poisoned, this particular lion took the - sound . one and left the other one -untouched.! In the meantime the riflemen continued their energies—and so did th lion for another visit was paid to Mr. Cashmore's bungalow, which is situated some distance away. Then four men volunteered to stay in Mr. Cashmore's banda and watch for the enemy with loaded rifles. Some extra preparations were deemed necessary to meet the lion's cunning. And to this end a sort of electric light was rigged up which was to throw its beams at will upon a baited trap, which consisted of a young cow or bullock.

A grass screen was also erected which was to serve the purpose o:

secreting the volunteers. Every preparation, and precaution having been taken it was arranged that the two centre men would Are dead on when the lion was in full view of his meal, the light being switched on just when it was deemed advisable, the two outside flank men beng ready to fire if the centres failed or if the lion swerved.

After some patient waiting the Hon was heard at his meal and the electric light was turned on. But the. lion was too quick for them and scampered off, evidently put out at being thus rudely disturbed. wait was made and though a longer time was given him on this occasion to get down to his food, a similar thing happened w r hen the light was switched on. There was nothing for it then but tc wait till he was half-way through with the bait before turning on the light, and this method being adopted the lion was fairly caught. The two centre men fired under the full glare of the ekctric light and the lion dropped like a stone. The skin, it is said, was pvesented to the Governor.

A wave of relief now passed over everybody, but unfortunately it turned out that the boy in the first instance could not have exaggerated his count, for a couple of nights after the "kill,", another native living in the vicinity was very severely mauled by a lion.