The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-10
z LION Loo Sc il LEN YER.
Lassoed in a 7rse by a Dari g Young
COWBOY.
From the Denvsr Rspu,Iioan.

! Early last evening the people OF West
| DenveS. .<SIg In the vicinity of Ninth ard
Cham.a streets, We thrown int a state OF
the widest excitement
a full crown mountain lion rroi izsd the
nelghborbood with a display of vicious tenn
per, sending icy ante-mortem chills down
/ the spinal columns Of the fl eng men,
/ women and children.
The lion is the property of H. W. Wilson,
a gentleman living at No. 1879 Ninth street.
| Yesterday, as usual, the animal was sur
ming himself beniud the bars of a strong
iron cage in the Lack yard. The beast had
been taken from the freedom of his mouL-
tain confines about year ago and brought
10 the narrowed limits or prison but five
feet wide and ten long. The lion had been
a roameg in the Eagle river country in his
early youth. One day a uapper Shared
him, before bis now evide L physical
strength had been developed.
SUPPOSEDLY AS TAME AS CAT.
Mr.. Wilson, being fond of animals,
| adopted tae lion and brought him to his
West Denver residence. During the past
year the pet of the family grew to feline
manhood, and is a fine specimen of his
tribe. A lioness has been added to his
domicile to keep him company. Yes
terday dog attached to the
Wilson family began amusing himself by
I
family. The usually even temper of tbs
master of the cage was unrutfied for time,
| but the remarks Of his unwelcome visitor
becoming so annoying he made a desperate
effort to reach his tormentor through the
| bars of the prison. In the language of the
| prize ring. he ''fell short" Then, with
| sudden and impetuous dash, the lion forced
his muscular frame between the irons and
| gained his liberty
The dog disappeared in an instant. The
lion, dazed by his coming in contact with
the bars OF the cage, recklessly dashed ahead
without regard to the course he was taking.
An open door was across the path way.
With one jump he landed in room where
| MIR. wilson and his family were at supper !;
a second leap carried him across the table
without touching anybody in the party,
and in less than wink the front yard was
reached. The animal no doubt by this time
was badly frightened as the people
who saw him, for he butted against u fence
having iron bars quarter Of an inch thick,
| bending them into arcs equal to semi
circumference and allowing him to pass
through. The lion then started on a go-as-
| you-please gallop out Ninth street towards
Champa. The neighbors fled for cover. At
Ninth and Champa streets a stately tree
stood inviting in the lions track.
Obeyingithe instinct bred in the days of
his early mountain life, he climed the tree
time he was left unmolested. Pedestrians
| along Ninth street were scarce, and those
| who did not 60 too far to retreat were
| warned to look out for the ''menagerie "
J The simplest way of disposing of the lion
| would have been to have killed him. Mr..
| Wilson, however, being satisfied that the
| animal was good -natured and harmless,
under ordinary C u Instances, did not want
| to go to this extreme before measures for the
| lions capture had heen tried. Meantime both
| men and beast were quiet. Evidently each
was sparring for wind. The hon was COM
fortably ensconced among the leaves on the
apex of the tree, and began to feel more
| friendly towards mankind; so much so that
| he made move to again visit the eartn.
Again the street. was cleared of interested
spectators. The strain was too much for a
| very nervous man in the crowd. He thought
of how he migut possibly be called on to
furnish steak for the lion, who was sup
posed to be hungry.
Then a brilliant idea struck him; he
sent in an alarm to police headquarters, and
called for the patrol wagon. The officers
and the wagon arrived The lion was
| sighted. Three brave men instincti~ely
reached for their revolvers.
Don't shoot," said voice from some
where.
Catch him.
''Take him to the station and put him in
| ual.
"Give him to the hoboes to play with, y
chimed in another.
The wagon was turned toward the CITY
| hall. Three sad men accompanied it. They
had not been trained to wrestle with noun
| tain lions, and were compelled to beat an
| ing loriouS retreat.
Here's a man who will corral the lion, -
was the encouraging shout as cowboy
| came to the scene.
The cowboy was q man named Lewis,
| who did not shirk the task of twisting the
lions tail or capturing him in the least.
YES, have had some practice on them
| fellers, he said. | laSSoed five of 'em last
winter, up in the mountains. and reckon
can do this one"
A rope was secured and then the fun COM
| menced.
After several Intellectual attempts Lewis
gracefully threw the loop over the animals
neck and shoulders. But the animal was not
TO be cajoled as easily as was anticipated.
| The rope was drawn taut and made breath
ing difficult for the beast. He advanced
several feet toward the ground and then
refused to bulge Suddenly he slid in the
direction of the crowd which had gathered.
CONSERVATION Lewis was left alone.
Then the lion again assembled the tree.
Finally, after much maneuvering, he
| reached the ground in a fainting condition
One mans curiosity got the better of his
Judgment, aud he approached the animal
for an inspection. He was promptly
cinched on the leg by the beast, but escaped
being bitten.
The lion was then tied with cords and
hauled back to his cage. The people of the
neighbour lod are still congratulating them
selves that none of their number were sacri-
feed Mr. Lewis is the hero Of the affair,
especially among the small boys who wit
| messed his pluck. Later in the evening a
reporter for the Republican called on Mr.
Wilson, who said that he had never known
the lion to act in a vicious manner before
the escapade of that day. He will prob
ably dispose of the animal to some men
| agerie.
The lion positively refused to he inter-
| viewed, and the reporter was glad Of it.
RAILROAD JACK.