The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-09-25
Catching a Lion.

"+ Catching Lion.
| Once there was a Snowman who wanta,
a new lot Of animals, for the old ones ha,
got pretty well used up, being bange,
around the country in wagons. an,
punched up with irons every day to SHOW
ctf before folks. and kept hungry all tn,
time so they would roar awfully whe,
fed, just to give little boys and girls thei
moneys worth. So he hired two Or thre,
good hunters and trappers, and they fit
tea up sailing vessel with cages, ant
took along presents of pretty beads, ant
cloth, and guns and powder and shot t.
hire the natives with when they cot t.
Africa.
"Now," said the Snowman, "don't YOU
BRING me home any toothless old grand.
daddy lions, nor any cripples, nor young
"helps, but rea! savage chap, with lone
Whlskers and shaggy name, Chat will
lash his sides with his tail, and prance
around IN the cage, and roar till every
BOY IN the show shall drop his peanuts
and run from the ropes to the very high.
est seat in the tent" H.. .
The hunters promised and started
They sailed, and sailed, about as lone as
a term of school, and finally came TO the
coast near the lion country. They found
some native hunters, and told them what
they wanted-a big, savage lion, alive,
The natives all opened their mouths in
wonder, and shook their heads: and one
big chief picked up little sailor bow.
slung him over his shoulder, and went
running on all tours, to show the hunters
how the lion would serve them if thew
tied to catch him alive. ."
But the hunters were bound to trv:
and so they dug deep pit right in the
path where the lions came down the
mountain to drink, and thought thew
would surly catch one; but the cunning
beasts s.nelt something wrong, and iump-
ed right over the light brush the trap
pers had spread over the top. Then they
set a big bear trap, and covered it care
fully with dirt; but the lion that GOT
caught in 1t broke it with his great teeth
and got away. And then they laid in
wait and shot big lion, thinking to
wound him so they could capture him,
and then wait until he got we'll. But
when he felt the bullet in his shoulder.
he bounced 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
we'll try to hunt a terrier dog with mice.
tor the lion killed the biggest dog with
one cuff Of his paw, and the rest ran yelp-
ing back.
Finally one of the hunters said:
tt'Well, if Mr.. Snowman is. so mighty
particular about his lions, he'd better
come and catch 'em himself: I don't pro-
pose to make lions meat of myself lust
to give him a noble specimen for his old
circus" E"
When the captain of the ship heard
this, he said he'd come out after lions.
and lion he was bound to have, even if
he had to catch sea-ion. But he pre-
terIed, he said, one Of the African lions,
and If they'd all got through he would
try his hand. Call right" the hunters
said, Ego ahead" And they joked the
captain, and asked him if he was going
to harpoon lion like whale, or catch
him with sharp hook, with little ma.
tive baby for bait. But the old sailor
told 'em to wait and see. s,- T..
The next day he took ten of bis best
sailors, and gave each of them a pistol
and short sword for arms, and long SLIP
nooses made of strong rope. And then
be took out his stoutest net, such as thew
use in catching the biggest fish, and thew
all went to the mountain, When thew
came to the spot where monstrous lion
had been seen to come out of the woods.
ne said something in a low tone to the
oest CLIMBER OF the sailors, and then ord
cred him, up the tree, Jack!" And
Jack scampered up tall, slim tree. as
spry as a monkey. Then he threw
down his lasso and pulled up the net, and
he captain and ali the others hid in the
;hick bushes.
About an hour after the moon rose
hey heard the leaves rustline. and in p
minute more great shaggy lion, with
name as dark as bufalo's came trotting
'ut: The captain gave sharp whistle
Which made the old fellow stop and prick
lp his ears. Quick as flash Jack threw
Town the net, and it spread all over him
lie reared up with a great howl and
'iasped the cords with his paws. But
lis hind feet caught in them and tripped
hem up, and as he rolled over It threw
he net all around him. If he broke one
ORD, another caught him, and the more
le tore around and rolled over to free
llmselt, the 70 ;ter he was caught.
The captain and his men rushed ont
nd as fast as the lion got paw through
he netting they threw slip moose over
and drew it tight. Pretty soon thew
ad rope around each leg, and two
t1ong men hold of the end, and the kino
i beasts was as helpless as a mouse in q
rap. How to get him down the hin was
ne next question. But the captain was
mart enough for that. He sent one Of
ne sailors back, and had the men bring
small boat from the ship. Into the boat
hey rolled the lion, and drew him down
ne hill "a-kiting." They dumped him
nto the cage, and then reached through
ne bars with long pair of shears and
ut OFT the net. And he wasn't hurt a bit
9 after that they always called the CAP
lin, sold Lion Catcher,
To Get Kia Of Rats without Poison.
a German paper gives the following
lethod of doing this Shaving first for