The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1888-05-11

snd sseoss Thres.
Jess Dodson. who lives In the red.
woods near Signal Ridge recently had
an adventure with gang % big cat<
He was riding up the trail ON the divide
between the Garcia and Geralala riv.
ers At dusk. when hc saw live mount.
ain lions on the trail about one hum
dred yards away. Jess had no weapon
except small pocket pistol. which was
useless In such case He rode to-
ward the lions until within twenty
yards. and then swung his hat and
and yelled ~ them. hoping 10 break
up the mass meeting and get clear
path opened But tho lions. brave in
their strength Of numbers. haughtily
declined 10 be scared. and stood there
looking ut Jess in mild surprise. Jess
was mad. He turned out into the
brush and rode around them. When
he got back into the trail nc spurred
on to his cabin. harboring designs Of
revenge He seized his Winchester.
filled the magazine. and went back
along the divide 70 introduce disturb
ing element into the mass mecting:
but when he reached the place he
found that the meeting had adjourned
or gone into executive session in the
chaparraL Tho tracks of the lions led
to the right and down the side OF the
ridge, which Il very steep. Jess fol-
lowed them. keeping = sharp look
ahead to detecs the first glimpse Of
tawny hide through the brush. He
was so intent upon this lookout that
he did not watch his foofhold with suf-
ficient care. depending upon the bushes
which he grasped with one hand to
save him from too rapid descent
Suddenlya stone rolled from be-
meath his foot bush gave way. and
he plunged feet foremost down the
slope and into gulch. carrying q
small avalanche Of rocks and earth IN
his wake He managed 70 keep his
feet under him. and he landed upright
at the bottom Of the gulch. right in the
middle Of the adjourned convention.
i" Whoo-aowr' yelled Jess As he struck
solid ground. and the astounded lions
bolted without waiting to see what
made all the row. One Of them made
. leap Of At least thirty feet for
starter, landed At the foot Of big red |
wood. and clawed bark like bark
mill in getting up to the first limb
some fifty feet from the ground An
other cleared Dodson's head with :
bound, and went up the ridge a-kit-
ms. Two others scrambled into trees
close at hand. and the fifth went
scooting down the gulch in extreme
haste.
Jess took two shots at the nearest
one and tumbled him out Of the tree
with broken spine He fired At an
other and hit him in the fore leg. and.
being anxious TO get As many As pos
'ible. he turned around to shoot at the
bird without waiting 20 finish num-
Der two. Number three had the good
'ense to select = roost on the oppo-
lite side Of the tree. and jess could
lot get = bead on him from where
le was standing. He moved around
o get . shot, paying no attention to
he surly growls Of number two up
loft, and inally got sight OF tho
ions head close 70 the trunk Of the
rec.
jess had got his nerves under con-
rol BY that time. and he put bull
ct into tlss animals brain nc the first
ire just IS the lion began 70 topple
IN the limb and was about 70 fall
less heard an extra loud growl and
! whish i'm the air behind him. and
,e threw himself fat on the ground
instantly. Number two with the
,roken fore leg. had leaped from the
rec At his back and passed over him
ust Is he fell. When the broken
egged lion struck the ground he
relied with pain and bafzled rage.
tut, having missed his mark IN the
cap. he made Oh instead Of turning
'ound to give battle less cot upon
lis knees and worked the lever Of
IL Winchester. sending a stream OF
bullets after the retreating animal.
With the apparent effect only Of in
'reasing its speed. But he followed
he bloody track through the brush.
ind q quarter Of . mile beyond the
cene Of the conflict he found the
lion clawing up dirt and
biting up saplings in his death
|frugOlea N " Sun