Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-05-28

two cougars Commonly called California
lions). One of them turned around so as
to show to the best advantage possible.
The other, a smaller one, got down close
to the ground, and acted as though he
intended to spring at my horse. lost no
time IN getting out my pistol, and, as
soon as my horse was quiet enough, fired
at the creeping monster. undershOt nv
mark. The ball struck a rock about one
foot in advance Of the creeping lion, and
glanced off with sharp, whistling NOISE.
At this moment | observed 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
to the right OF the road and stopped on
open ground within sixty yards Of me.
Now, this was the first hop of the season,
and here was l, an unlimited guest; but
| hastily took items, and, as it is custom
airy to describe dress and appearance at
fashionable hops, | 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 800
pounds each; 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 border
ing 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 a little
darker in color. The three smaller ones
were dressed in q dark chestnut coat; on
the sides it bordered on yellow with the
same lace Of downy trimming. The
dresses glistened as they turned, and re-
sembled changeable silk; their move
ments were with much grace and ease
They all wore tails at least four feet long,
and full three feet more than lion had
any use for, but, presume, long tails are
fashionable in these parts, if not each
lion or liOnesS had to carry his or her own
tail, and it was not for me to say how
long tail a lion should carry.
One of the larger ones, which I took to
be mother of part of the group, sat
down like a cat; she raised her great paw
and licked it, and then rubbed her ear
and side of her head as a cat would. The
movements were awkward 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 a 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 al
ready enough for the occasion. The
fourth, q lively fellow, put his big paws
on large pine root that pToIuded above
the ground, and raked it down as though
he was springing little bluff. The bark
flew in every direction. AS a scratchist
this fellow was a decided success. At
the same time the three small ones lay
down close to the ground, and riveted
their eyes on me Or my horse, and COM
menced crawling up as though they
would like more intimate acquaintance
had heard that if one looked lion in
the face it would turn away; but how
could l look three lions in the eye at the
same time? Impossible.
Now | would like to have compromised
this whole matter by giving q 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 Sapling, but they do not grow in
this part of Arizona; none but large pines
were in sight, and all the lions in Ari-
IONA could not brighten meup a tree four
feet in diameter To dismOunt l would
make a dead shot, but then there would
be six lions left, and I afOot. This
would not do. [ resolved to try another
shot, so | got my horse to face the game,
and again fired. AS my pistol cracked
the foremost crawler jumped about six
feet in the air and struck on his feet, and
bit his side as though he had been stung
by bee. At this the large ones moved
on toward a brushy thicket, and the
smaller one followed.
AS [ turned my horse to go Oh | saw
approaching 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. | told them of what had happened,
and, as they were well heeled and APP
peared to be men that had seen something
Of frontier life, suggested that if it was
game they wanted they would find it in
that thicket But they all most emphat-
ically denied having lost any lions. They
hardly waited to hear all my story, but
passed on. AS | started on my way my
horse wanted to run and appeared very
fresh; previous to this he seemed little
played" and tired, but he would now and
then look back and "git." For the last
twelve days my horsa.can see lion when
ever 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.