The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-21
FOUGHT FOR LIFE.
How Two Hunters Met Bigger
Game Than They Expected.

While the valley and plain country of
chihuahua has been almost entirely cleared
OF the larger game animals by the prowess
OF local Nimrods, there is still to be found
In the mountain gorgeS and beetling heights
OF the Sierras, which loom majestically sky-
ward like grim sentineis in every direction
from this point, game worthy of hunters
ball and powder. Antelope, black tail
deer and the fiercer jaguar, mountain lion.
panther and black bear are still abundant
there. though they have grown so cautious
that 1t Is matter of some difficulty to OH
tain glimpse Of them. BY watching the
mountain springs and streams, however,
where animals collect to drink, the hunter,
IT he has patience anG strategy, NAV soms-
times surprise them.
A few days ago two brothers, by name
Juan and Miguel Deshera, Mexicans, en-
gagged in small strengthening business.
brought into town the carcasses of two
jaguars-magnificen specimens of the kind
which they claimed to have killed the uay
before While camping on the Rio Marie a
small mountain stream. That the iaguars
had known how 10 defend themselves was
evidenced by the broken arm Juan carried
and the breast and limbs of Miguel. from
which the skin had been scratched in a fear
full manner. The account given by the
MeXicans is that ofa desperate struggle be-
tween them and the animals.
Ii appears that the men were camping on
the Rio Marie for the purpose of killing a
few antelope for the market. and had no
thought OF larger game. They had surprised
small herd of these animals late one after
noon when they had come to drink at the
stream and lad succeeded in killing two of
them and wounding third.
This latter was struggling to regain it,
footing, and the men were about to fire
upon II again, when a large animal which
they did not recognize sprang upon the
wounded antelope from clump OF bushes
close at hand.
Resenting the appropriation of tbeir
game, the hunters advanced to within few
feet of the jaguar, and, firing together.
wounded 1t pretty severely in the shoulder
and side; but though covered with blood
the animal, without hesitating turned upon
them, aud springing from the body of the
antelope, which 1t had killed by tearing a
wound in his throat, it leaped upon Miguel.
who happaned TO be near it, The attack
was so unexpected that the man fell like a
log, with the jaguar stretched upon his
body and tearing at him with its distended
claws, while II endeayored to reach his
throat with its teeth.
Juan ran to his brothers aid, but was
afraid to fire for fear of the shot missing the
jaguar and hitting the other, and SO at
tackled the animal with a hunting-knife he
red. He drove the blade to the hilt
to see 1t roll over dead, but before
he could even recover the weapon the iapuar
was upon him. He ran to a tree, against
which he had leaned his gun, and succeeded
in graSplng the weapon before the animal
overlook him, but had no time to aim and
fire.
He interpoSed the tree between them.
and such was the maddeniug rage OF the
wounded animal that it hurled itself against
Inc trunk with such force as to stun it for a
moment. AS the jaguar rolled over Juan
took advantage OF the opportunity and aim
ing this time. determined to kill the
creature, gave it both barrels in the head.
The jaguar, which had recovered itself and
was III the act OF leaping upon the Mexican,
received the charge full on the blunt
forehead, and rolled over dead, with his skull
torn into fragments.
Juan here turned his attention to his
brother, who had tainted from loss of
blood, but was recovering, when an angry
howl was heard close behind them,
ana to their dismay second jaguar came
springlng from the thicket 1t paused for
moment to look at the carcass of the first,
evidently its mate, and then growing
menaclngly and showing its powerful teeth.
advanced on the two brothers. who met it
with hasty fire, which only grazed its
bead and served to enrage it still further.
with scream OF rage 1t hurled itself upon
Juan, knocking his gun from his hand send
ing him backward against a fallen tree.
where lie fell in a heap. The animal then
turned upon Miguel, who fired at it, but
missing his aim ran for the tree beside
which his brother had fallen. Here the two
met the jaguar as it made for them with
their hunting knives, both having lost their
guns, and gaShed ii severely about the head
without, however, wounding it mortally
The savage creature bit and tore with in
credible fury, rendering IL nearly impos-
sIble to deal 1t an eifectual blow, and wound
ing the hunter with its terrible claws about
the feet and limbs until, abandoning the
struggle simultaneously, they ran to recover
their guns.
The jaguar was after them in a moment.
screaming with rage, and flinging itself on
Juan caught his right arm in its powerful
Jaws, breaking the bone and causing ex-
cruciating pain. By this time Miguel had So
cured his gun, and, running up to the
laguar, placed the weapon to the animals
head and fired. but the creature, turning to
snap at him just as he pulled the trigger,
the shot glanced aside, entering the side
and tearing terrible wound. The iaguar
sprang up, but sank back moaning It's death
agony, when Miguel, with another shot.
killed it.
Both men were so exhausted with the
struggle that hours elapsed before they
~er6 able to reach home and pro-
cure medical attention, Of which
they both stood in need, but though their
wounds were numerous, and MiguePs in
particular exceedingly painful, they carried
Their trophies to town the following day.
where the skins were sold for a good prire
Philadelphia Item.