The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-01-09

savage Encounter Between Mountain
Lion and = stallion.


Lion and . Stallion.
Lander wy Cor. Cheyeuns Leader
A " essenger and Black Hawk stall
ion belonging to c. H. Ferguson, a
professional hunter of the mountains.
Is the hero CT late gallant exploit.
against a huge mountain lion.
IN both cunning and prowess, he has
come OF victorious. Lightfoot unites
IN a remarkable degree the qualities OF
the draft and the saddle horse. Strong,
supple and clean lImbed, he draws his
load with irresistible power, or bears
nls rider with easy grace. At once
courageous and gentle, he has long
)een the constant companion of his
wner on his many hunting trips, and
was on one OF these that took place
Cls terrible encounter that has sent
the stations name through the
maintains and given the gallant horse
wunds whose honorable scars viii
be with him till his dying
dg. Camped on the banks OF
a tributary OF the Wind RIv-
er far up IN the mountains, Fergu-
so had selected a small bunch
OF cottonwOods as his temporary
hme. These gave him both shelter
ad tlrewOod, and for many night
tEIr shadows fell darkly on his tent.
Sine little distance from the camp
te there stood an enormous and
bKurlant cottonwood apart from all
dhers. It was truly a giant OF It's
Ind. Some SIX or eight feet above
ne ground the large parent stem be
an to send forth its prolific output of
ranches. They reached far on all
4des, and IN some cases almost
OuChed the ground with their eXtrenI-
les. Beneath them was a space as
yell sheltered from the mountain
itorms as though its roofing had been
he shlngle Of civilization instead OF
he leaves Of the hemountain. Here was
ne abiding place Of LightfOot, and IN
lis leafy stable the hardy stallion had
many acOmfOrtables sleep. About two
weeks since Ferguson was aroused
rom sound sleep one night by a
ne4gh from the stallion. The sound
seemed TO be one Of rage rather than
alarm, and hastily arising Ferguson
Issue,1 from his tent and looked
anxloualy IL the direction of the
horse. The animal was standing IN the
tulI light of a bright moon some
twenty teel from the tree, and seemed
to be IntenTy regarding some objects
II Its branches. As Ferguson's gaze
followed that Of his horse, the branch
es We're violently agitated, a wild yell
was heard, dark object hurled itself
through the air and Lightfoot had an
enormous mountain lion for a rider.
The horse leaped madly IN the air.
utterlnga a scream little inferior 10 that
OF the ion IN shrlllness and savagery.
Though he returned TO the ground
again With tremendous conclusion, he
failed to shake the lion from his firm
position on the WiUhers. Dark spots
Of blood now appeared on the stall
ions shoulders and neck. The lion
vas tearing his way to the IuguIar.
The horse realized the desperate sItua-
tiOn, and his brain worked with hu-
man quICkness and precision. Crouch
ingln his tracks he sprang with the
force OF a bullet straight into the
thickest tangle OF the cottonwood
bOughs. The huge limbs we're true TO
their old friend. The lion was struck
from his bloody seat and cast back
ward with great violence. The stall
ion passed through and turned to con
front his foe ID the open space be
yOnd. The lion speedily recovered
himself and sprang once more
into the branches, and from thence
made another leap toward the horse.
But he failed to connect. The fight
henCefOrward must be on open ground
and equal terms. The mountain ter
rOr now began a series Of circles, near
er and nearer to the horse drew the
long, 1.-THE and powerful body. Turn
ing as his enemy CIrCled, he horse,
with an eye of flame and heart of
confronted the danger. The
leap came and the stallion met it.
With the rapidity OF thought he
changed front, and his hind feet, heav-
ily shod, struck the assaIlant full ID
the breast. The stricken brute rolled
over and over, giving vent TO yells Of
pain and rage. Gathering himself up,
he once more launched his tawny
length IN the attack. This time he
rushed to his death. The heels OF the
agile and powerful steed were fairly
between thegreen eyes, and the mount
air hons skull crushed ike a pistol
report. 1t had been fractured from
side to side A few convulsive strug-
giles, a stitfening Of the powerful limbs
in death, and the gallant Black Hawk
and Messenger stood victor over the
corpse OF his terrible foe.