The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-12-24
MISCELLANY.
A WESTERN TALE.
How a FoOEhardy MOuntaineer Risk
ed His Life for 4 P0ny.
[Rockr Mountain Neusl

ROCKY MOUNTAIN news. -
M. E. Irving. the mnnnfaineer hunter.
recently came into Colorado Springs
from the mountains, sud reported the
discovery of pony 10 company with y
herd of bison known to range among the
hills about the northern base Of Pike's
Peak. The pony had l,ften been seen by
other hunters leading the bison herd,
and long been known A. the property OF
an old citizen now absent. Irving, ht-
Iieving that he could captar. the pony,
was appointed by Justice Lyon, a de
Puiy constable, for that purpose. and he
aceordingIy left Colorado Springs about
ten davs ago, mounted on male, with a
lariat, rife and mountain outfit, On
Tuesday he returned, bringing With him
the pony.
His manner of catching the animal
was an achievement that stands alone
among lariat-throwing exploits. The
third day out in the mountains he dis
covered the pony in small park of
some fifteen acres, together with several
bison and large herd of elk. The pony
il appears, was feeding Of lisfie dist
ance from the herd. Irving. by lying
close to the back of his mule. and per-
mitting il to feed slowly along, succeed
ed in getting between il and the other
animals, when he rose mp in his saddle
and gave an unearthly scream, at the
same time bearing down on the pony.
which, with snort and bound, started
off in an opposite direction from the
now frightened herd. The bison and elk
wero soon out of sight.
The pony took toward the southern
edge of the park, where il disappeared
up a deep, narrow, rocky canon. Irving.
finding il impossible TO urge his mule
along the almost impas<able gorge, dis
mounted, and leaving the animal secur-
ed to tree, continued the pursuit on
foot. For nearly two miles he followed
the devious course Of the canon, which
in places was not more than three feet
wide, its walls rising perpendicularly to
n height of several hundred feet. The
canon unexpectedly opened into park
Of some two or threr hundred acres.
around which mountains rose with grad
ual slopes, covered with dense growth
Of the pin:on tree. Following the path
Of the pony among the pinions, along
the base Of the mountain, Irving was
startled by strange noise, the like of
which he had never heard before, and
which filled him with a nameless dread.
He hastened on, however, and soon came
upon the pony, securely in the power of
mountain lion, which had fastened its
teeth in its side, Pulling it down to the
earth.
Irving's first movement WAS to secure
the pony with his la<iat, one end of
which was fastened to his belt. No
sooner had he accomplished this than he
was discovered by the lion. which, loos
ening its hold on the pony, sank down
by its side in a erouching attitude, with
its gaze fixed upon HIM with the crush
ing power peculiar to the animal. With
the celebrity and accuracy of the expert
enced hunter, Irving sent a ball from
his Winchester through the brain of the
lion, which bounded through the air
with a roar that might have been heard
a miles and quickly expired.
The pony, slightly injured, tugeed
iustilv Mt the lariat in its efforts TO re-
gain its freedom. But Irving says that
after reading the execution to him he
seemed to give up and become quite do
cile. The hide and head OF the lion
were secured by the hunter, and were on
exhibition, at Colorado Springs yester-
day. The length Of the animal from
nose to tip of tail is eleven feet four
inches. The pony has been advertised
at constable's sale, and many bidders
are awaiting the day of sale. 1t is a
shaggy, vicious, wIld-looking animal.