The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-07
Mountain Lions.

LANDER, Wyo., April Noun
tain lions have been very numerous
in the Big Horn Mountains all win
ter, and their depredations have cost
the stockmen Big, Horn heavily.
Sheep have been killed on the open
prairie at all hours of the Gay and
the very correls have been invaded
and colts and calves carried off.
Numbers of the bold and savage
raiders have been killed, but their
forays still continue. The great
strength and daring nature Of the
mountain lion il well exemplitied
ty late hunting adventure Of Mr..
John Luman, a leading stockman OF
the basin, and Mr. A. A. Conant, Of
oil fame. They had wounded very
large Big Horn, or Rocky Mountain
sheppard were on the trail through
the blood ficked snow. The chase
was headed for the almo.. impent-
trable roughs" of the Medical
Creek, and the trailer. pressed eager
ly forward, afraid of losing their
quarry in the Medicine labyrinths.
At last the stricken Big Horn was
sighted, straining bravely through
the STOW in his efforts to reach a
place of refuge The hunters gained
rapidly, and Conant was already
speculating on the chance of shot
when the air resounded with the
wild yell of mountain lion. The
wounded sheep at once halted and
gave vent to its terror in pathetic
bleats. 1t had not long to wait its
fate. From an overhanging of rocks
there shot down a long, 1.-THE and
powerful body, and the noun
tain sheep died in the clutch of the
mountain lion.
The hunters now pushed forward
more eagerly than ever, hoping to
secure both the lion and the sheep.
The lion raised himself from his
prey and boldly watched his coming
foes. ID a moment, however,
he seized the carcass of the
sheep, and swinging it lightly across
his shoulders, moved off easilv un-
der the enormous burden. A short
retreat brought him to the edge Of
frightful chasm fifteen feet in width.
With the sheep still astride bis
shoulders the lion cleared the chasm
at bound, and his tawny length
disappeared in dense juniper thick
ct on the other side.
Thus audaciously robbed of the
game for which they had so eagerly
toiled, the baffied sportsmen retrod
their steps. Just before reaching
their camp they heard from a tan
gled juniper thicket the sound OF
loud and eager baying. Luman at
once said that Towser, his camp
dog. had brought some "yarm:nt !"
to bay, and the hunters sought the
spot. In the center of the thicket
they found "Towser" at the foot OF a
twisted juniper tree, in the crooked
forks of which crouched a huge
lynx. Luman at once
said that "Towser +" himself should
kill the "varmint." Accordingly the
savage cat was punched from his
perch by means of a stout pole, and
landed in front of Towser in decid-
edly fighting temper. For some
time the savage conflict was evenly
balanced. and the cat and dog gave
and took with equal good will and
fortune. Stimulated by his masters
voice the brave dog finally fastened
a grip upon the cats throat that no
effort could break, and in q short
time the lynx died, fighting to the
last gasp.
Messrs. Luman and Conant were
out for a week, and during this time
shot three elk, FIVE big horns and
eleven deer. the latter being both
black and white tail.