The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-26
TWO LIONS AT BAY.
Thrilling Adventure Of Party of
Hunters IN Mexico.


There has been great excitement preyail-
ing among the ranchmsn Of the valley OF
the Sierra Madre for some weeks over the
depredations committed upon their fiocks of
sheep and herds of cattle by some beast of
prey. What this robber was no oue could
say with any exAetness. Tor uniting an ex>
traordinary degree OF cunning with great
speed offoot. therogue invariably managed
TO elude all pursniN Morning after morn
ing some herder would report a cow calf or
sheep done to death with cruel wound in
its throat, from which the assassin had
drained its warm LIES blood. But the dead
carcass was all, that remained to tell the
story Of the coming and going Of the
spoiler, for no shadow left less trace OF its
presence ass 49,
This enemy OF their herds was all the
more feared by the cattlemeu, as there was
no guessing where the next victim was to
be found, for with incredible rapidity of
movement the animal seemed to scour the
country for miles in every direction, seek
ing with all the fnstidiousness of true
epioure the teaderest lambs and choicest
brand Of cattle The herds themselves
seemed 10 know that some foe lurked near.
and at night would huddle together as II fof
mutual protection.
AT last matters reached a climax when
the fine imported Durham COW with a
long pedigree" OF one of the wealthy stock
owners OF the vicinity strayed away from
her comfortable stall, and with the curiosity
of her sex Yves Investigating the country
when she was set Upon by the mysterious
beast OF prey. She was found literally
torn to pieces, and ID was evident that the
COW, a young one, had endeavored to make
some fight for her life, for her horns were
stained with blood, and trail of blood
leading to thicket close at hand indicated
that the animal that had killed her had not
escaped without a wound.
1t mad been believed from the FIRST that
the depredator had made its descent from
the mountains, to which it would return
after each orgy. and on bloodhounds being
sent for and placed on the trail the dogs
led at once toward the rugged peaks that
frown down on this fair valley. The blood
stains ceased with the thicket, so it was con-
cluded that the animal had nor been very
severely wounded and no further traces Of
Its passage were visible In the open country,
though the dogs showed no hesitation on the
trail. The hunting party numbered nearly
dozen, and was composed of local MINI
rods, who scented fine sport on the occasion,
and stookmen, each of whom had the loss
OF one or moro fine blooded sheep or COW to
avenge.
After some ten or twelve miles OF steady
travel facing the chill mountain that frosted
the air and spurred the wiry little Mexican
ponies into brisk trot the party reached
the little stream OF Rio Namiquipa, where
the dogs paused. Here they seemed puzzled
at some sudden turn the trail had taken, for
they ran here and there for some minutes,
finally breaking away up the river.
The dogs were observed after while to
gather about a clump OF cactus plants that
marked the trst rise of the mountains
proper, then to 20 on and finally disappear
behind mass of fallen powders, AT this
the party urged on their ponies, and it was
evident that the game was near at hand.
Old Leander, at the clump of cactus, dis
mounted, and after brief examination Of
the disturbed sand, declared at this place
the wounded animal had lain down to rest,
while the other, probably its mate, had
stood by. As the hunter paused here, the
| loud barking Of the dogs was heard at some
little distance. so, clapping spurs to the
| ponies, the party went forward at gallon.
The hounds were found TO have gathered
about small heap OF earth and stones, on
which stood an enormous mountain lion,
defying them with blazing eyes and waving
tufted tail. A magnificent male, with tawny
skin marked with veivety black, bearing
as full of pride as any monarch of Arabian
desert, and roar that woke the echoes in
the mountain gorges far above his defiant
head. The yellow smoobhneSs of his side
was broken by Jagged wound outlined in
dark, clotted blood, but his courage was
undaunted by the yelping pack of dogs that
surrounded him, making false starts at him,
yet afraid to attack him..
OF bis mate nothing was seen. The hunt
ers, each anxious to claim the lion as his
trophy, pressed forward, and, aiming over
the surging mass Of hounds, fired upon the
majestic creature facing death SO reso-
lutely. Wounded in half dozen places.
the lion sprang into the air with scream
| of agony and rage then fell, 10 be instantly
covered by the dogs, barking in currish tri-
umpb over defeated foe.
But they had fiattered themselves too
soon that the prey was theirs, for with q
desperate courage the lion struck out right
and left, sending bis enemies heels over
head with blows of his powerful paws aud
ripping and tearing with his unsheathed
claws and giant molars. Their red blood
mingled with his own and dyed the sand
crimson, and they gave back for an Instant.
until, seeing that the mountain king was
dying even as he fought, they returned to
the battle.
But as they fell upon him roar from the
frowning Rights of the mountains pro-
claimed that another foe was at hand. The
mate was returning and had scented the
battle from altar. In another moment she
leaped into view, pausing on the pinnacle of
q tall spire of rock and surveying the scene
below with an.angry can't OF her sleek, cat
like head. ~
Outlined against the tender blue of the
morning sky she seemed a carving Of yellow
marble, but only for one brief moment, for
as her topaz eyes caught sight of her dead
mate and tho frantic dogs, she sprang down
to tho crag next beneath her, just as volley
Of shots shattered the extreme end of the
one she had that instant left. She de-
scended with magnificent bounds that sent
her 1.-THE body from peak to peak with in.
credible rapidity, paying not the slightest
apparent attention to tho dogs or the
hunters, and seemingly only to see the faller
monarch below. She reached the little
gorge where he lay. A second volley had
failed to stay her as she came bounding
down, but now a third greeted her as she
spreng from the last spur of rock and gust
of crimson blood marked where some bullet
had found home in her quivering flank
Then for the first time she seemed to no
tice her human foes, and, leaping to theside
Of her dead mate. faced them with a roar
OF defiance, even as she bent her head and
licked the bloody carcass at her feet. The
dogs, taking this for sign of timidity. few
at her ferociously, but the loness, rendered
furious and reckless by her mates death
met this attack with a savage determine
| ton that sent several away yelping
wounded severely, aud stretched others
dead, while all hesitated to continue the
! fight.
Turning once more TO her dead compan.
| ion, she bestowed one last loving cares or
his stifRened form and then faced the noun.
tain, and would have sprung away had mol
the hunters who had feared to fire upon her