River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-09-26
Catching q Lion.

Once there was q Snowman who wanted
new lot of animals, for the old ones had
got pretty wei used up, being banged
around the country in wagons. and
punched up with irons every day TO show
, f before folks and kent hungry all the
time So they would roar awtuiIg when
fed. lust to give little boys and girls their
money 5 worth. So he hired two or three
good hunters and traPpers, and they III
ted up a sailing vessel with cages, and
took along presents Of pretty beads, and
cloth. and guns and 20 ydcr and shot to
hire the natives with when they got to
Africt.
.N0w," said the Snowman, don't You
bring me home any toothless old grand
daddy lions, nor any cripples, nor young
whelps, but rea. savage chap, with long
minister's and shaggy name, chat vii
lash ~. sides with his tail, and prance
around IN the cage, and roar TIL every
boy in the show shall drop his peanuts
and ran from the ropes to the very high-
est seat in the tent
The hunters promised and started
They sailed, and sliied, about as long as
a term of school, and finally came 10 the
coast near the lion country. They found
some native hunters, and told them wha'
they wln ed-a big, savage lion' alive
The natives all opened their mouths III
wonder, and shook their heads; and one
big chief picked up a little sailor boy,
slunq him over his shoulder, and Went
running on all tours, 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 50 they dug a deep pit right 10 the
path where the lions came down TIC
m urtain to drink, and thought they
would surlv catch one; but the cunning
beasts s,Aelt something wrong, and jump
cd right over the light brush the trap
pers had spread over tho top. Then they
set big bear trap, and covered 1t care
fully with dirt; but the lion that gof
cau9ht in 1t broke it with his great teeth
and cot away. And then they iald IN
wait and shot a big lion, thinking to
wound him so they could capture him,
and then wait until he got Welt Bu'
when he felt the bullet in his shoulder
he bounced on to the hunter VINO ilred the
shot. and the others had to spear ano
Shoo; the beast in dozen places to save
the mans lif. Then they tIied to hunt
the lions with dogs-big savage blood
hounds and bulldogs; bur 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 yeip-
ing back.
Funlly one of the hunters said:
"Weu, if GIr. Snowman IS so mighty
particular about his lions, he'd better
come and catch 'em himself; don't pro-
pose to make lions meat of myself just
to give him a noble specimen Tor his old
| circns,'
When the captain of the ship heard
| this. he said he'd come cut after mons
and a non he was bound to have, even Il
| he had 70 catch a sea-ion. But he pre-
| ferred, he said, one of the African lions
and II they'd all got through he would
try his hand. "All right the hunter:
said. $50 ahead" And they joked the
captain. and asked him if he was goine
To harpoon a lion like whale, or catcf
him with a sharp hook, with little ma
i've baby for bait. But the old saiio
told EN- to wait and see.
The next day he took ten of his bes
sailors, and gave each OF them pls'o
and short sword for arms, and long slip
noases made of strong rope. And thei
he took out his s.outest net, such as the.
u sc in catching the biggest tsh,a id the
ali went 10 the mountain. Nnen the.
came 10 the spot where a monstrous hcl
had been seen TO come out OF the woods
he said something in low tone to tn
best climber Oi the sailors, and then ord
cred him, up the tree, jack" AM
Jack scam oered up tail, Sum tree, q
sprv as a monkey. Then he tgre'
down his lasso nd pullei up thenet. an
The captain and ali the Others hid in tn
, tHCk bu hes.
E About 81 hour after the moon Tos
) they heard the leaves rustling, and il
D NJ nute more great shaggy lion, with
G msne as dark as a buifdl0's came tCotln
+ osr. The captain gave u sharp wnistl
! which made the on fellow stop and pric
, / up his cars. Qaick as a fash Jack tire
r down the net and it spread ali over hin
I He reared up with great howl an
o,asped the ccrds with his paws b.
j. ( his hind tee. caught in them AMI trippe
them up, and as he rolled over 1t thre
=. tize net ali around him. If he broke OF
cord, another caught him, and the mol
: he tore around and rolled over 10 FRI
g himself the ter he was caught.
I The captain aud his men rushed ou
d and as fast as the lion got q pas thsoug
/ tie netting they threw . slip moose ov'
< Il and drew it tight. Pretty soon the
n bad a rope around each leg, and tW
e suoug men hold of the end, and the kin