The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-09-09
Eaten by Mountain Lions.

On or about the 1st Of July two prospect
ors completed their outfit at Pitkin, Colo
RADIO, and departed In search of pay dust and
saleable holes. They travelled on for some
days, and stopped only for few hours now
and then to examine the deceptive rock that
rose before them on both sides. They at
last reached II small valley in the mountains
and were passing through It, when sudden
~ number Of mountain lions made their
appearance and started Immediately for
their prey. One OF the men made al effort
to repcl the attack of the hideous beasts,
while the otlicrsought protection IN his legs,
and, running to u projecting rock on the
mountain side, was enabled TO sec the terri
BILE encounter between his comraie and the
lions. They were in bloody battle, while
the shining claws of the beasts were seen
to combine aud strip the flesh from tho man
who was battling with the stock OF his gum
The coward, who unfortunately lived to
tell his story, says that suddenly the pro-
spcctor was on the ground and that his en-
ragged adversarics were devouring him.
Thinking that possibly one man would not
appease their appetites, the locker. on
thought it about time to leave aud so has
tened away. lie was now without any
weapon against tho invasion of hunger or
the chill mountain weather, and his only
recourse from inevitable death was to reach
camp. 10 return through the valley he
dared not, and by making q circuitous
route he trusted that he would strike q
trail. lie started on, however, and wanted
to reach the trail before night was there to
lead him astray with her myrads of star
lights. This was where he committed his
error, for he wandered from the right di
rectlon, and wearicd and discouraged, he
sat down and built a fire. The light came to
succU him, but now hunger advanced, and
soon visions of comfortable cabin and
plenty of food danced before him, as if
gloating upon his misery. He did not Sue
coed IN finding The trail that day. and when
nlghttall came he ate "A few pine burrs and
laid down exposed to the elements again
This continued for eight days and nights,
and at last he accidentally discovered a
trail. He reached this, and when he 81 ould
have been overjoyed at his prospects, all
hope seemed to desert him aud ho laid
down, not caring what came. He remained
there some hours probably, when party
OF prospcctors came along, and found him
almost unconscious. They administered
lltth. brandy and succeeded in revivng him.
Ane.l was prepared, but his stomach, that
had been denied food for SO many days,
ro1used TO retaini. lie was taken up and
strapped upon horse, beng unable to keep
his seat without it, and tho narrow condi-
ton OF the trail prevented them from riding
beside and supporting him. The reporters
lnformants met the party with the man
shortly aflerward, and, halLing then cicited
the above, but neglected to ascertain the
names OF the unfortunate prospccLors. The
man with his days Of starvation was almost
reduced into nothingncss, while his tisslred
lips and cheek-bones that appealed for aid
presented revolting picture. The nun
will, no doubt, follow his friend into e,er-
nifty, but i'll way not SO tragic and horri-
bic.