Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-05-22
miscellaneous.
@
California Lions.

bEaSIS.
a correspondent of the Arizona Miner
gives the following curious account of an
adventure in the wilds of that territory ::
'On my way from Prescott l stopped for
the night at Old Camp Hulspa On the
morning of the 18th instant started early,
in order to take advantge of the little frost
on the ground, which made it better ira
yelling over the rocky flats that are found
near Anvil Rock. l reached the summit
of the Aztec Pass quite early the wind
was blowing cold, and the air was full of
snow, and l pulled a blanket about my
face and urged my horse forward as fast as
L could. l had not travelled one mile from
the summit of the Pass when my horse
stopped ; l looked forward, and in the road
not fifty yards from me, saw two caug-
ers commonly called California lions One
of them turned around so as to show to the
best advantage possible. The other
smaller one, got down close to the ground
and acted as though he intended to spring
at my horse. l lost no time in getting out
my pistol, and as soon as my horse was
quiet enough fired at the creeping monster.
l undershot my mark. The ball struck
rock about one foot in advance of the creep
ing lion, and glanced off with sharp,
whistling noise. At this moment observ-
ed five other monsters, of the same species,
rise up from the dry grass, close by the
roadside. Now, all seven hoped off about
twenty PAGES from the right of the road
and stopped on open ground, within sixty
yards Of ne. Now, this was the first hop
of the season, and here was 1 an unlimited
guest but hastily took items, and, as it
is customary to describe dress and appea-
rance at fashionable hops, l will record
items as l took them three of the lions
were very large, in fact, monsters of their
species, and would weigh at least 300
pounds the others were smaller, but l
should judge the smallest to weigh at least
100 pounds. 1t being midwinter, furs
were all the rage. The three largest of
these fellows wore dark gray bordering on
brown coat, being a little lighter on their
sides, in front and under their bodies was
white and appeared like white lace or
down. The fourth was little smaller,
and his dress was little darker in color.
The three smaller ones were dressed in n
dark chestnut coat on the sides it border
ed on yellow with the same lace of downy
trimming. The dresses glistened as they
turned, and Iesembled changeable silk !;
their movements were with much grace and
ease. They all wore tails at least four feet
long, and full three feet more than a lion
had any use for, but presume long tails
are fashionable in these parts, if not each
lion or honess had to carry his or her own
tail, and it was not for me to say how long
a tail lion should carry. One of the lar
part of the group, sat down ike a cat :; she
raised her great paw and licked it, and then
rubbed her ear and side of her head as
cat would. The movements were awk-
ward but easy. If she was washing her
face she should have done so before coming
to the hop. The second large one sat very
quiet and looked on The third large one,
which took to be male, kept little in
the rear, and appeared to be uneasy, as
though he expected reinforcements from
another direction, and | earnestly hoped
that no others would appear, as there were
already quite enough for the occasion.
The fourth, lively fellow put his big
paws on large pine root that protruded
above the ground, and raked it down as
though he was springing little bluff.
The bark flew in every direction. As
scratchest this fellow was decided sue
cess. At the same time the three small
ones lay down close to the ground. and ri
vitted their eyes on me or my horse, and
commenced crawling up as though they
would like a more intimate acquaintance.
l had heard that if one looked lion in the
face it would turn away but how could /
look three lions i'll the eye at the same
time ? Impossible. Now, l would like to
have compromised this matter by giving
horse, but my horse was trembling with
fear, which plainly told me that he would
not stand to any bargain of this kind. l
looked for a sapliug, but they do not grow
in this part of Arizona none but large
pines were in sight, and all the lions in
Arizona could not frighten me up tree
four feet in diameter. To dismount 1
would make a dead shot, but then there
wonlG be six lions left, afoot. This would
not do. resolved to try another shot, so
got my horse to face the game and again
l fired. As my pistol cracked the fore
most crawler jumped about six feet in the
air and struck on his feet, and bit his side
as though bee had stung him. At this
the large ones moved on toward brushy
thicket and the smaller ones followed. As
l turned my horse to 90 on, saw ap-
preaching me three horsemen. They came
in time-none too soon assure you. They
had seen the large tracks in the road, and
heard my shots and hurried up. L told
them what had happened, and, as they
were well heeled and appeared to be men
that had seen something Of frontier life, /
suggested that if it vas game that they
wanted they could find it in that thicket.
But they all most emphatically denied hav-
ing lost any lions. They hardly waited to
hear all my story, but passed on. As l
started ON my way my horse wanted to
run, and appeared very fresh; previous to
this he seemed little played and tired,
but be would now and then git For the
last twelve days my horse can see lion
whenever he wants TO. The fact is, he has
got what is called lion on the brain. If he
does not recover soon will sell him or
trade him off for mule"
The young ladies of Spencer City, Clay
county, Iowa, had party of their own,
and invited yonng men. The merriment
ran so high that a jolly deacon and hilari
Gus Sunday school superintendent got to
L. -.