The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-01-08
A FEARFUL ENCOUNTER.
Fight with y Mountain Lion In the Noun
tains Of Colorado.

The following story of an encounter
with a mountain lion is told by the
Denver Ners:
Count Won HOcckel. while out on a
hunting trip in the mountains, was
overtakcn by darkness in % desolate re-
gion and obliged to pitch his tent where
he was.
Casting about for II sheltered situation
III which to camp for tho night he dis
covered what had evidently been the
lair OF some wild animal. 1t was a
snug nest, situated in the shelter of
rocks and provided with a soft bed.
Count Won HOeckel deemed himself
extremely fortunate in making "a dis
cOvery of this kind. and he at once took
possession of it. He had killed some
game during the day, and, being hum
CRY. he broiled a rabbit, using a portion
of the lining of the nest for this purpose.
Being tired, he ut once lay down to
sleep.
The count says he must have slept
until near midnight. He was awakened
by the peculiar sound made by an
animal in crushing bones between the
teeth. and gazing cautiously about dis
covered within a few feet of him u huge
mountain lion making a meal of the
game which he had left. and within a
few feet of where he lay.
The animal was i'm the moonlight and
therefore plainly visible while the count
lay in the shadow of a rock. and as yet
probably unobserved.
The count reached cautiously for his
gun, but the movement. slight as it was.
aroused the attention of the mountain
lion, which ceased its process of bone
crushing long enough to indulge in an
ominous grow1.
This warned Count Won HOeckel that
any movement on his part would be in
terpreted by the lion as an overt act of
hostility, and that trouble might at once
be expected to begin.
The lion seemed satisfied with the
state of repose into which the count had
sunk, and the ~bone-crushing proceeded
uninterruptedly for Il few minutes,
which. however. appeared an age to
the count. Cautiously moving his hand
to his belt he seized his hunting-knife
and felt somewhat more treasured. He.
was given sufficient time to consider the
situation, US the lion appeared to be in
no hurry with his unexpected meal.
The count decided that he did not want
the lion if the latter would forego a
claim on him. In accordance with his
plan he determined to remain quietly
where he was in the hope that the lion
might not detect his presence. He did
not begrudge the game to the lion, and
only wished that he had been more
fortunate in his days hunting.
The meal of the lion was finished at
last, however. and the lion prepared to
retire. To the horror of the count it
became manifest that he was in the bed
of the lion. and that it was clearly the
intention of the lion to claim his own.
Fortunately the count had lain close
to n of the sheltering rocks, and the
lion found no difficulty in composing
himself for rest. 1t happened. however,
that n of the counts feet had been
taken by the lion for a pillow.
The lion had soon sunk into a deep
was extremely wakeful. After half an
hour the constrained position of the
count became unbearablc and he found
that he would have to lean on his side,
even at the risk of disturbing the noun
tain lion.
In an instant a roar from the lion
convinced the count that his position
had better remain unchanged.
The lion o o relapsed into a state of
partial quiet. but it was evident to the
mind of the count that the suspicious OF
his bedfellow were aroused. He slept
~uneasily and it became evident that he
was liable to awake at any moment.
The count became convinced that action
was imperative. Drawing his knife from
his belt quietly as possible. he raised
himself gently TO a half-reclining posi-
ton and aimed a blow at the heart of
the sleeping lion. He struck with all
his might, but unfortunately the knife
came in contact with a rib Of the lion
and effected only a painful wound.
Count Won Hoeckel has only a vague
recollection of what occurred during
the next few minutes. and this is made
mp of savage lunges with his knife into
the body of the lion and the still more
savage gnashing of NE lions teeth into
the counts flesh.
Over the ground the two rolled i'm the
fierce encounter. now the lion on top
and then the count. but without APP
preciable advantage being gained by
either until suddenly solid ground passed
AAcah ohNOh nv t"O ~ ~ nv
realized that the two had fallen over
the brow of the cliff.
This circumstance did not appear to
disturb the lion in the least, so intent
was he in gnawing at n of the counts
legs.
The fearful thought of falling 1900
feet was robbed of some of its terrors in
the mind of the count by the knowledge
thot ho hoA hpt an nnA. lnocn rs lsxo NJ
best. His thoughts on the matter, how
ever, were brought to a sudden termina-
ton by striking heavily upon n project
ing ledge of rock. Fortunately for the
count it happened to be his turn to be
on top at the time of alighting, and the
lion got decidedly the worst of the fall.
He was still in the ring, however, and
Notwithstanding the fact that his back
was broken, he held on to the counts
leg.
The ledge was not wide enough to
accommodate both conveniently, and
the lion hung over the edge. holding on
to the counts thigh for his main sup
port.
The position of the two caused an en-
forced suspension of hostilities for Il
brief space, and the count was given an
opportunity to take in the situation.
CHANGING up, he estimated that the de-
scent made was fully three hundred
feet, and a look down showed him the
jagged edges of the float twelve hundred
feet below. The ledge upon which he
lay was rough and gave him a good
hold. He determined that any further
partnership with the lion would be I'M
bearable, and, using his utmost strength,
he managed to shake off the beast.
Upon losing his hold the claws of the
lion scraped sharply against the rock
for a moment. and then, with a wild
roar. which showed that for the first
time he realized that he had fallen over
the precipice, the lion fell away through
the twelve hundred feet still to be made.
The sound of his fall scarcely reached
the ears of the count.
The count kept his position on the
ledge, although faint from the loss of
blood and almost frozen. In the morn
ing his position was observed by the
people living in Wagon Wheel gap. and
n party was started for his relief, and
by noon a rope was handed to him and
he was taken off. Kind treatment at
the hotel in n short time allowed him to
return to his desk in the railroad Office,
where he will probably be content to
remain for some time without trying TO
scale any more mountains.
60
An. Answer Wanted.
Can any one bring us a case ofKidney
or Liver Complaint that Electric Bitters
will not speedily cure? We say they can
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