The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-08-15
Catching a Lion,


Once there was a showman-perhaps
it was old Barnum himself-who wanted
a new lot of animals, for the old ones had
got pretty well used up, being banged
around the country in wagons, and
punched up with irons every day to show
off before folks, and kept hungry all the
time so they would roar awfully when
fed, just to give little boys and girls
their moneys worth. So he hired two CT
three good hunters and trappers, and
they fitted up sailing vessel with cages,
and took along presents of pretty beads,
and cloth, and guns and powder and shot
to hire the natives with when they got
to Africa.
"Now," said the Snowman, "don't
you bring me home any toothless old
grand-daddy lions, nor any cripples, nor
young whelps, but real savage chap,
with long whiskers and shaggy name,
that will lash his sides with his tail, and
prance around in the cage, and roar till
every boy in the show shall drop his pea
nuts and run from the ropes to the very
highest seat in the tent"
The hunters promised and started.
They sailed, and sailed, about as long as
a term of your school, and finally came
to the ceast near the lion-country. They
found some native hunters, and told
them what they wanted-a big, savage
lion, alive. The negroes all opened
their mouths in wonder, and shook their
heads; and one big chief picked up a little
sailor boy, slung him over his shoulder,
and went running off on all-fours, to
show the hunters how the lion would
serve them if they tried to catch him
alive.
But the hunters were bound to try;
and so they dug deep pit right in the
path where the lions came down the
mountain to drink, and thought they
would surely catch one; but the cunning
beasts smelt something wrong, and
jumped right over the light brush the
trappers had spread over the top. Then
they set big bear trap, and covered it
carefully with dirt; but the lion that got
caught in it broke it with his great teeth,
and got away. And then they laid in
wait and shot a big lion, thinking to
wound him so they could capture him,
and then wait until he got well. But
when he felt the bullet in his shoulder,
he pounced on to the hunter who fired
the shot, and the others had to spear and
shoot the beast in dozen places to save
the mans life. Then they tried to hunt
the lions with dogs-big savage blood
hounds and bulldogs; but you might as
well try to hunt terrier dog with mice,
for the lion killed the biggest dog with
one cuff of his paw, and the rest ran
yelping back.
Finally, one of the hunters said,-
" Well, if Mr.. Snowman is SO mighty
particular about his lions, he'd better
come and catch 'em himself; l don't pro-
pose to make lions meat of myself Just
to give him noble specimen for his old
circus"
When the captain of the ship heard
this, he said he'd come out after lions,
and a lion he was bound to have, even if
he had to catch a sea-lion. But he
preferred, he said, one of the African
lions, and if they'd all got through he
would try his hand. call right" the
hunters said, "go ahead" And they
joked the captain, and asked him if he
was going to harpoon lion like whale,
or catch him with a sharp hook, with a
little native baby for bait. But the old
sailor told 'em to wait and see.
The next day he took ten of his best
sailors, and gave each of them a pistol
and short sword for arms, and long slip
nooses made of strong rope. And then
he took out his stoutest net, such as they
used in catching the biggest fish, and
they all went up to the mountain.
When they came to the spot where a
monstrous lion had been seen to come
out of the woods, he said something in a
low tone to the best climber of all the
sailors, and then ordered him, cup the
tree, Jackp And Jack scampered up a
tall, slim tree, as spry as monkey.
Then he threw down his lasso and pulled
up the net, and the captain and all the
others hid in the thick bushes.
About an hour after the moon rose
they heard the leaves rustling, and in 8
minute more great shaggy lion, with a
name as dark as a bufalo's, came trotting
out. The captain gave sharp VIII stle
which made the old fellow stop and prick
up his ears. Quick as a fash, Jack
threw down the net, and it spread al
over him. He reared up with a grea-
howl and grasped the cords with hi
paws. But his hind feet caught in then
and tripped them up, and as he rolled
over, it threw the net all around him
If he broke one cord, another caugh
him, and the more he tore around ant
rolled over to free himself, the faster ht
was caught.
The captain and his men rushed out
and as fast as the lion got paw through
the netting they threw slip-noose Owe
it, and drew it tight. Pretty soon the,
had rope around each leg, and TIVE
strong men hold of the end, and the kin,
of beasts was as helpless as mouse in
trap. How to get him down the hill
was the next question. But the captain
was smart enough for that. He sent on
of the sailors back, and had the mel
bring a small boat from the ship. Int
the boat they rolled the lion, and dre1
him down the hill a-kiting." The
dumped him into the cage, and the
reached through the bars with long pal
of shears and cut off the net. And h
| wasn't hurt bit. So after that they a
ways called the captain, cold Lilo
Catcher"
He'd Rather Walk.
Apropos of the lately renewed and r,
generated lie by Mark Twain about hi
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