The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-01-07
A FEARFUL ENCOUNTER,
Fight with a. Mountain Lion in the Noun
tains of Colorado.

The following story of an encounter
with a mountain lion is told by the
Denver Netcs:
Count Won Hoeckel, while out on a
hunting trip in the mountains, was
overtaken by darkness in desolate re-
gion and obliged to pitch his tent where
| he was.
Casting about for sheltered situation
in which to camp for the night he dis
covered what had evidently been the
lair OF some wild animal. 1t was
snug nest situated in the shelter of
rocks and provided with Il soft bed.
| Count Won lIoeckel deemed himself
extremely fortunate in making dis
| covery of this kind, and lie at once took
| possession Of it. He had killed some
game during the day, and, being hun
CRY, he broiled rabbit, using portion
of the lining OF the nest for this purpose.
Being tired, he at 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 few feet of him 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 in the moonlight and
therefore plainly visible while the count
lay in the shadow of rock, and as vet
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 growl.
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 a few minutes, q.
which, however, appeared an age to
the count. Cautiously moving his hand
to his belt ho seized his hunting-kuffv
and felt somewhat more reassured He
was given sufficient time to consider the
situation, as 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'
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 one of the sheltering rocks, and the
lion found no difficulty in composing
himself for rest. 1t happened, however,
that one of the counts feet had been
taken by the lion for pillow.
The lion had soon sunk. into deep
state of repose. The count, however,
was extremely wakeful. After half an
hour the constrained position of the
count became unbearable 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 roar from the lion |
convinced the count that his position |
had better remain unchanged.
The lion soon relapsed into a state of |
partial quiet, but it was evident to the |
mind Of the count that the suspicious OF !
his bedfcllow were aroused. He slept |
C1easily and it became evident that he |
was liable to awake at anv moment. |
The count became convinced that action |
was imperative. Drawing his knife from
his belt quietly a. possible. he raised |
himself gently 10 q halt-reclining posi- |
ton and aimed 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 painful wound.
Count Won Hoeckel has only vague
recollection of what occurred during
the next few minutes, and this is made
up of savage lunges with his knife into
the body of the lion and the still more
savage gnashing of the lions teeth into
the counts flesh.
Over the ground the two rolled in the I
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
from under them and the count at once
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 one 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
that he had but poor lease of life at
best. His thoughts on the matter. how
ever, were brought to q sudden termina-
ton by striking heavily upon a 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
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.
forced suspension of hostilities for q
brief space, and the count was given an
opportunity to take in the situation.
oldnclHS up, he estimated InaL tne ue-
scent made was fully three hundred
feet, and 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 un-
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