Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-07-11
AFTER MEXICAN LIONS.
SOARING FOUR OF THEM OUT
WITH AN iMPROW6ED BOMB.

oSCdD1ISAeU q C2CIi6 TanCu Oh e&fc Isas5NAAis
river, twelve miles above the town of
Bandera, and as his stock was large and
rapidly increasing he built several small
cabins in different parts of his range for
the convenience of his hands.
In 1879 the writer, with some half a
dozen companions, was up in the noun
tains above Bandera on camp hunt,
and one night camped at one of MIR. Ste
phens' "sub-ranches, as VIC called it,
which that night happened to be the
camping ground of Stephens himself
and some Of his cowboys.
Stephens, or Uncle Billy, as he was
called, was enraged over the depreda-
tons of some varmint on his stock. He
had that day found fine colt and fine
Jersey bull calf dead and partially de-
voured, and, from the tracks, he was
satisfied that either Mexican lion or a
painter" as he called it, had killed his
| animals.
He said the country around abounded
in both. He and his men had killed a
number of each, and he knew the differ
ence between the two animals very well.
LOCATING TEE CRITTERS"
Killing deer, turkeys and squirrels had
grown rather monotonouS to our party,
and we determined to have a try for
larger game and more exciting sport.
We had several good hounds, and had
already enjoyed several night hunts for
wild cats and the like, of which we had
killed several.
One of Uncle Bnly's hands said he was
satisfied he knew where pair Of lions
had their den, from the fact that few
evenings before, about shutdown, he had
seen two cubs frolicking on large rock
On small hill densely covered with
brush, about five miles from camp, and
he knew the old ones could not be far
off.
He had no dog or gun with him, but
had determined to beat up their quar-
tiers the first convenient opportunity,
and he now offered to guide us to the
place. His offer was gladly accepted,
and the next morning our party set out
for the varnints' lair, accompanied by
Uncle Billy and the guide, John Jarvis.
A short chase brought us to what look
ed like cave in ledge of rocks, or
rather beneath the ledge, and the beaten
trail leading into it plainly showed that
it was occupied by some wild animals.
The dogs ran to the opening and
stopped. They shifted around, whining
and giving an occasional yelp, but de-
clfned to enter. We approached eau.
tiousiy and peered in, but could see
nothing.
At intervals, however, our ears were
greeted with low growl. We knew we
had run something to its lair, but whether
it was lion, panther or bear, we could
not ten. The next question was how to
induce whatever it was to come out and
be killed.
Leaving four of the coolest men and
best shots to watch the entrance, the bal
ance Of the party began a search to see
if there was any other entrance to the
den or cave.
A short time satisfied us there was
not, and we returned, when council of
war was held. Bob Harper proposed that
two or three Of us crawl in and see what
we could find We secuted the idea, and
Bob admitted that he was not in earnest.
He was just enough of a daredevil to
have tried it, though. We tried to
smoke them out, but either the smoke did
not penetrate the cave or there were
crevices enough in the rocks for it to
escape. Anyhow, it didn't have the de-
sired effect.
UNCLE BILLYS BRIGHT IDEA.
A bright idea struck Uncle Billy. He
sent Jarvis back to our temporary camp
for a small canteen he had liz his saddle
and q blanket.
Jarvis soon returned, accompanied by
our two companions who had been left
to keep camp.
Uncle Billy took the canteen and
poured nearly pint of powder into it
from the horn he carried. He next cut
several strips from the blanket, which
he damped slightly and then smeared
with a small bottle of bear oil he had in
his pouch. rubbing them thoroughly
with powder, making very respectable
fuse.
He then tied small rope to the can
teen, and sticking the end of the fuse
into the mouth of the canteen he ba.ds
Us look to our guns while he lowered the
improviSed bomb into our den.
We formed sort of semicircle in
front of the den and breathieSsly await
ed the result. As soon as Uncle Bully
felt the canteen lodge he tied the rope,
and striking match he carefully hight
ed the fuse and then fell back in good
order, calling out:
Look out, boys! If that darned
thing works he'll conner The ''darned
thing" worked We heard duh report
in about three minutes, and not only
''he," but she and the little ones came;
and the old ones came like the waves
come when navies are stranded"
They didn't wait second. and charged
at once on the party nearest TO them.
But what chance had two brutes. no
matter how large and fierce. against
seven or eight men armed with Win
chesters, each with sixteen cartridges in
the magazine: