Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-06-02
Boz, THE lIok KILLER.
An Old Wyoming Hunter Who He'd .
Mountain Lion for o Bed Fellow,

as might be supposed, derived his
queer title from the number OF noun
tain lions he has slain in that vicinity.
Various are the ways in which he has
slain the animals, for he no sooner
gets on the trail Of one Of the var
minis than he scarcely halts or stops,
but continually shadows the animal
day and night until it is brought 10
bay and dropped by the unerring aim
Of his rifle.
Though Gerard Bob is fairly Gov
cred with scars and deep gashes from
fierce encounters with lions and other
brutes, every Of which indicates a
thrilling adventure, yet he protests
that he is not afraid Of the most savage
mountain lion hat ever walked, for lie
considers the whole tribe base cow
ards. On one occasion he had a noun
tain lion for bed fellow and he af-
firms that he rested perfectly easy,
and without any undue excitement
IL came about in this wise: One of the
ranchmcn living in the foot hills near
the North Platte river had heen miss.
ing large numbers Of his sheep, and
they had evidently been slain by some
wild animal. The depredations in
stead of decreasing were rapidly aug.
menting till each morning two or more
members of the flock would be found
slaughtered AID their carcasses partly
eaten. The owner of the ranch con-
cluded that it was the work Of a lion
and employed Gerald Bob TO bring in
the animals skin.
The first day out, though he fol
lowed the lion though deep valleys
and over the rocky sides of the noun
tains for nearly forty miles, yet not
nce did he catch sight of the beast
though at several times he was vt-y
near. AT m place among some thick
brush the lion stopped long enough TO
kill a good sized deer, and was feast
ing on the carcass, when the noise of
the hunters approach caused him to
flee again.
The hunter, after taking a fair
nights rest under some shelving
rocks, was 1ut again at the first dawn
of day and soon discovered the lair Of
the beast where it had lain during the
previous night. Then another toll
some dsy vas spent in following the
lion, but Bob got one glimpse of him
behind some bushes. This greatly en-
couraged the hunter, as be noticed
that occasionally the lion halted at in
tervals, indicating that he Was grow
ing tired. At the earliest streak of
light on the following morning Bob
hastily swallowed his cold lunch of
jerked meat and riscuit and was off
after the lion as usual. The trail led
straight for a cave, and Just as Bob
entered at one end the lion rushed out
ike IA fash at the other. But a quick
shot from Bob's rife wounded the lion
and in its fight left a trail Of blood in
the path. On it went. up the sides of
the steep, crsggy mountain, with Bob
IN steady and determined pursuit.
Now he felt certain of his game, the
blood enabling kinl 10 follow it easily.
Still the animal did not exhibit any
uncommon signs Of fatigue until late
in the day. At various times, how
ever, it endeavored 10 secret lis trail
by doubling and springing in and out
OF the water, but the hunters eagle
eye readily detected the effort at de-
ception and the latter lost but little
time with blind trails.
Late in the afternoon, as Bob was
carefully feeling his way up among
the crags. suddenly ne was startled by
a low growl, and instantly he saw the
form of the animal in mid-air, coming
directly toward him. Stepping 10 one
side he barely lodged the beasts paw,
and il landed far below him, and
again disappeared in a twinkling. He
now pursued it with more vigor, and
that evening lust at dusk discovered
where the animal had crawled in a
hole between some rocks. Bob halted
at the outside only long enough to eat
his dry meal, and then. with his Win
chester in hand, boldly entered. AT
first he could hear growls and the ami
NAL seemed TO be moving not far from
him, but he could not distinguish a
object. Soon he came to where
the hole forked, and as he did not yet
see the animal, lie decided to remain
in the den until morning and Jrevent
It's escape. All the time he could hear
the movements Of something near,
and he lay with his finger touching
the trigger, ready 10 shoot. Hours
wore away, and he thinks he must
have fallen asleep, but how long he
did not know, for when he woke up
he forget where he was and put out his
hand. As he did SO he touched the fur
Of the lion, and il Immediately gave a
snarl. Two eyes now glared fercely
upon him. In another instant he |
pointed his gun toward the two glis-
eyes and fired. The report was
quickly followed by a cloud of dust
and violent struggles of the beast.
Then all became calm. A few min
Dtes afterwards he found the corpse Of
The dead lion, and then began the task
1f pulling it out Of the hole. On ar
at the surface he was consider
surprised 10 find the day quite
well advanced, and after SHINING the
animal at once FASTENED for the settle
ments. The lion measured almost
nine feet, and was a real western mon
ter.-Laramie City Cor. St Louis