The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-02-10
An IJnwelcome Visitor.

The Cheyenne Ne,Ds has an account
of how Nathan Williams, near Fort
Laramie, got away from mountain
lion. Mr.. Williams resides on ranch
near the fort, and recently, while in the
mountains after firewood, sat down in o
clump OF bushes to adjust his overshoes.
Hearing the bushes crackle behind he
looked around to see who was disturbing
his meditation, and was somewhat sur
prised, If not startled, to look into the
eyes of q mountain lion. Mr.. Williams
was quite vexed that the lion should in
trude upon him in this unceremonious
manner, and therefore slapped him
across the face with his overshoes, where
upon the lion ran away and Mr.. Will
liams didn't follow him. Mr.. Williams
lives in house with one room, the only
occupant besides himself being hired
German. That night he was suddenly
awakened by the lion jumping in
through the window, deliberately walk
ing across the room, and very composed
" laying himself down by the fireplace.
MIR. Williams doesn't keep hotel, and
therefore wished that his guest had less
cheek, and had remained out of the
house until invited in. The broken
sash and window was another matter
which preyed upon his mind, and it was
matter of doubt how, if ever, he'd get
his pay for that He lay in his cot
long time, cogitating in his mind how
to manage. His rifle was within reach,
and he once became SO angry that he
cooked it, but just then he thought
what mean advantage he would be
taking of the lion, who was enjoying the
hospitalities of the house, even though
unbldden. Besides, he was afraid that
he would only wound the animal, when
the latter might take the little joke as an
insult and infiict punishment. There
fore, he decided not to shoot, but re-
NAMED quiet, not forgetting, however,
to keep his rifle in his hands and ready
cooked. 1t was a bright moonlight
| night, and no curtain, not even glass,
intervened to render the cabin dark and
dim. The big logs in the fireplace cast
comfortable glow over the room, and,
as the lion was stretched out at full
length enjoying the warmth, the picture
was beautiful one, though Mr.. Will
llams did not enjoy it. The phlegmat C
German was snoring away like the bass
notes of trombone, entirely indiffer-
ent and obvious to these matters of in
terest. The night seemed to be a long
one. 1t appeared to the owner of the
cabin as though some modern Joshua
had been along and stopped the moon.
He grew tired of waiting, though, singll-
lar as it may appear, he did not grow
sleepy. 1t was his usual custom to get
up first in the morning, but on this oc-
casion he concluded to let the German
do the morning chores, thinking, also,
that the guest might desire to remain
and breakfast with them, in which case
he was willing that his hired man should
do the honors of the table. The lion
scarcely changed his position, and his
purring sounded to Mr.. Williams like
thunder. Daylight at length began tc
light up the country. And Hans crawled
out of his bed, gathered his pants in his
hand, and started for the fireplace tc
dress by its warmth. Just as he raised
his right leg to thrust it down into his
pants, his gaze rested upon the lion
For about half minute he didn't say
anything, but his eyes bulged out like
a sea crabs. He then gave shout
which was enough to waken the dead
and nearly lifted the roof from the
cabin. 1t lifted the lion, who with {
, howl of fright sprang out OF the window
Mr.. Williams giving him parting
, salute as he went o t. The state O
) their appetites and the high prices O
food rendered it necessary that the,
| should economics; therefore, they ate
light breakfast. The repast ended the,
' went out to look for their nights guest
The snow on the ground was marked
: with blood, and they had no difficult,
| in tracing him. In short time he wa
overtaken, whereupon each opened fir
/ and the lion "shed out his life sweet
there" He was q monster in size, weigh
s ing 617. pounds.