The morning call., 1891-05-16
A LION TREED BY DOGS.
He Is Then Lassoed Front and Rear an
Falls an Easy Prey.

he Is Then Lassoed Front and Rear and
Falls an Easy Prey.
John r. Hall, Familiarity known on the
frontier as "Arkansaw," lassoed mountain
lion few weeks ago, assisted by noted
hunter called TEX" Hall resides in Ridge
way, Ouray County, Colo, which includes
some of the rugged and lofty peaks OF the
San Juan region of Colorado.
Having learned of Hairs wonderful feaS
of lassOing this lion, made visit to his
home last week to learn the details, says
writer 10 the 81. Louis Star Sayings. lie
and | were standing in front OF the iron
bars, at which the angry lion had maze
savage lunge. His paws cllnehed the iron
rods. A Kissing, cat-like sound came
through the open jaws, followed by an an
cry grOwl. Being unable to get out OF the
cage, the lion dashed his long tail and
crOuched again for another spring at the
bars.
Back, there, into your den," commanded
Arkansas Hall, the lion hunter and tanner.
WhereupOn "Ridgeway"-for that is the
lions name-slowly retreated to the rear OF
the cage and crOuched down in the hay.
Some one has been teasing the lion"
explained Arkansas, flor he seems quite
angry this morning" In an adjoining cage
was Eliza" a lioness, that mad been las
seed by the HotchkiSs boys, who are also
famous lion and bear hunters in the San
Juan. Eliza was little more dOcle than
RidgeWay and made no hostile demOnStTa-
ton.
Arkansas is fond Of his dogs and old rife.
and not until he had described them did he
tell me the story of how he captured Ridge
way. the lion. 1t would be of little use for
writer to talk with Western sportsman if
he could not sympathiZe with him in his
affection for the rifle and hunting dogs, for
they really are the "toolS" of the chase.
Arkansas and Texas, together with four
OF their favOrite dogs, were on mountain
lion hunt.
They soon came on the tracks of lion,
and put their dogs on the trail. The lion
was freed in few minutes. The yelplng
of one of the dogs brought the hunters TO
the spot, and, on discovering what fine lion
it was, Arkansas resolved to take it alive.
II is dangerous to attempt TO capture tie
mountain lion when he is fresh In the chase,
and hence we scared him out Of the tree to
round him. Every time lion makes big
leap it knocks some of the wind out OF him.
The dogs ran him up another tree half
mile distant, from which we made him
jump, thereby getting more wind out OF
him. and as we neared the third tree into
which the dogs had run the lion, we heard
terrible barking. Says l to Tex" added
Arkansas, "'either the lion hes got the
dogs, or the dogs the lion,' for
there was some Lively barking and angry
growing, aid the underbrush was crack
les as though there was a hard fight
going on. 1t was most likely that the lion
had the best of the fight, for after Tex and
l had hurried to the spot the lion was up a
tree and the four dogs we're barking at him.
Notwithstanding the battle between the
dogs and lion, lie still seemed to be in pretty
good condition for a fight. and we thought
It best to wind him some more by running
him to another tree, which the dogs accom-
plished, about half mile distant. This
was the fourth tree in about two miles, and
the lion, having but little wind left in him,
Tex and prepared TO capture him.
THE lion was up the tree about twenty
FIVE feet" continued the hunter, 'and by
giving the lasso quick swing l landed the
loop over the lions head. and gave it hard
pull around tile neck. Then the circus be-
gan. The lion, feeling the cord tightening
around the neck, gave a fearful leap into the
air. Well. ! hardly know how far it jumped
or how often. With powerful blows from
its paws the lion would knock the dogs
heels over head. All this time l was pull
ing at the rope, which, with the worry
caused by the dogs, got all the wind out of
the lion. Tex, then, watching for good
opportunity, gave an underhand throw with
the lasso. catching the lion by a hind leg.
Then with one lasso over the head, and an
other on hind leg, we were perfectly safe,
for by pulling both ways the lion could
reach neither one Of us. We put the lion in
a wagon, hauled him to town, and there lie
is now in the cage"