Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-05-16
A YOUNG HERO.

A correspondent of the american Field,
writing from Coal Creek, Col, says last
winter there occurred in that section a
wonderful piece of youthful bravery.
which, from its successful termination is
worthy of record. The little hero's name
is Amos Bennett, aged II years, and he is
the son OF the present proprietor of the
Carlisle Springs Rancho. A brighter and
more intelligent little fellow it would be
hard to find in the State, and his superior
for courage l do not think can be found
anywhere. Master Amos, in January last,
loaded up his shotgun and taking his dog,
Curly" started up the gulch beyond his
fathers house to hunt rabbits. After
having gone little ways up the gulch, he
noticed that his dog showed signs of fear
and uneasiness, frequently taking hold of
hls clothing, whining, and in every way
trying to get his young master to go back.
Taking but little notice of his dog
however, Master Amos went on his way.
bent only upon securing rabbit or two
little dreaming of the terrible ordeal he was
soon to pass through. Just as the boy
rounded point of rocks about three hun.
dred yards from his fathers house, his ewes
almost jumped from their sockets to behold
directly in front of him a huge mountain
lion. that had evidently just killed the
large gray mare of Phil Golden, which was
being wintered on the ranch, and the
lion was still feasting upon the warm,
quivering flesh of its prey. When the
monster saw the boy, it stopped eating,
crouched down upon the ground, whining
like puppy, and with a gliding motion
peculiar to this species of animal, began
approaching the boy, lashing his sides with
his tail, preparatory for the fatal spring.
The boy saw his awful position-a hide.
GUS death was staring him in the face, and
no other aid was at hand save his gun and
his faithful dog, which was now crouchine
at his feet, too weak and powerless to rem.
der any aid, and too brave to desert his
young master in his hour of trouble. The
gun contained but small charge oi
mustard-seed shot, capable of killing
scarcely anything but small game. and
that only at short range. With 8
fervent and silent petition to Heaven fol
aid, the boy waited the awful moment that
was to separate him from all he loved, ol
give him victory over the most formidable
and weak as himself.
The boy says the animal seemed to be
hours coming. The beast appeared to gloa,
over the abject fear of the youth, and the
boys hair actually silvered over as with
old age during the brief moments he stood
there waiting the coming of the monster.
Never once did the beast stop its onward
movements, but continued to glide toward
its expected prey with distended nostrils,
glaring eyeballs, and It's tail lashing from
side to side At last the awful moment
came, and with jaws wide open and
claws extended the beast sprang
toward the boy, who had not moved
since the first view of the animal was
gained. The boy stood firm, with his gun
cooked and thrown forward ready for the
assault, determined 10 sell his life dearly.
The faithful dog still couched at his feet,
growing When the lion spraDg into
the air the boy took steady and
deliberate aim, and fired when the
animal was high in the air, the charge en-
tering the animals mouth and passing out
through the top of its head; going directly
through the monsters brain and killing it
instantly, the animal dropped at the boy
IeeG ueau, Inc Deast measured ii feet and
8 inches from the end of its nose to the tip
of its tail, and was one of the largest and
most powerful animals of the kind ever
seen in this section of the State. The
young hero of this exploit says he does
not think he was much scared, but
does not care to have his courage tested in
that way again. His dog, he says, was the
happiest of the two over the fortunate re.
suit of his shot, bounding upon him and
licking his hands with Joy, and showing
his appreciation of the situation in every
way possible.