The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-07-21


| servants reported that one of the vaguero
had not come in as usual This, however
was no uncommon occurrence, and II
one was much concerned about it, as
was supposed he had gone in pursuit o
stray cattle.
Soon after dark, as we were Sitting
on the veranda, horse, riderless, came
dashing up to the gate covered with foam
One of the men exclaimed that it was
the horse of Sanchez, the missing herds
man We fastened to examine
the animal it was covered
with blood, and on close examln-
alton we found several long deep scratches
on its back and TANKS, that were evident
ly made by the claws of jaguar. Poor
Sanchez the appalling truth forced
itself upon us,that the jaguars had killed
him. Ny friend Velas4uez, ordered
horses saddled at once, and we rode out
to look for the Ioor fellow though we
knew that he must be beyond help. We
could not follow the trail in the dark,
and were soon obliged to return, resolved
to take the field in the morning with
dogs, and never give up the chase until
we had rid the country of those terrible
pests.
Daybreak found us in the saddle
well armed, and accompanied by dozen
of the best hunters at the hacienda, and
two fine blood hounds We followed the
horses tracks for several miles, when we
came to a small patch of chapparal, which
/ had been the scene of the fearful Tragedy
Here were the tracks of the savage
beasts, and pool of blood here too was
i the wretched mans hat There did no,
appear to have been any struggle j; proba
bly, the jaguar had sprung upon hin
from behind, and killed him at once
We could not find any trace of the body
} in this chapparal /; it had been carried off
The dogs were soon upon the trail, anc
led us about two miles, when we came tt
another patch OF chapparal. AS | have
said, Velasquez and were we'll armed
with capital rifles and revolvers, but the
vagueors were not so we'll furnished only
three had guns, and these were the
clumsy esc0petds of the country, and the
others had only lassOs and knives. Vel
| asquez assured me, however, that if WI
could ovcrtake the jaguars in the oper
ground, the lasso could be used to gooc
advantage; but there was little hope o
, that in the daytime. They were mos
. likely in the chapperal, where they haC
escaped before. My friend, howevel
swore by all the saints that they shoulc
not escape this time, if he had to follow
them into their lair. AS we came up t,
: this second patch of chapperal, SHOWED
that our game was here they rushed
: about, baylng furiously, their hair brs
thing with excite ment, but neither o
them could be made to enter. We hell
a short consultation with regard to the
a best method of driving them out AM
. decided to try to burn the tbicket; th
bushes were green, but there was dea
of dry dead wood ON the ground, that "
hoped might burn enough to drive tn
!: jaguars out. We stationed ourselves OF
Y different sides Of the chapparal, an,
!, applied the match in several places a
: once; then remounting our horses, await
/ ed the result. We had not long TO wal
n dense clouds of smoke arose, and tn
/ flames spread rapidly; in few second
q loud roars and then the crashing of til
! bushes, told that the jaguars were tryin
to escape. Velasquez and spurred on
n horses around toward the spot for whic
e our game seemed making, to cut off thei
= retreat, but before we reached ii, saw tw
= great spotted bodies dash out of the fer
p circle, and with prodigious bounds pas
h by the man who was guarding that point
Now for 9 gallop! Tallyho away we flew
! plying the spurs for dear life Every
: thing depended on our overtaking til
I; lJaguars in the open country; ii we coul
4. only get within shot now, we would b
# all right. | had good horse; one of til
best, but my heavy weight kept me bacl
: and | was obliged to be one of. the hinC
$ most never saw any of the cat kind s
n swift they bounded as though made
India rubber, their beautiful black an
: yellow skins gllttering in the sun.
s They were making for deep gull,
= oyergrown with dense chapparal, whic
S we were now approaching, and which til
g yaqueros said was their iavorite strong
hold; but the pace was telling on them
II the true teiidae though Wonderful
J, strong and active, cannot hold out for
long chase and we could see that bot
were covered with foam, and runnin
Y heavily. Now is the time to push th
:, horses One more desperate squirt, an
J. they must turn tn bay Yeasquez, VIII
/, was of very light weight was consider,
! bly, ahead, and suddenly saw him ris
e in his stirrups, and seize his lasso On
S jaguar, the female, was in the rear, ey