Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-09-25
SURROUNDED BY LIONS.
FAMILY'S EXPERIENCE IN THE
ARIZONA WILDS.
Beset by Mountain Lions, Two Women
and a Man Take Turns I'm Keep
ing Up the Fire on Which
Their Lives Depend

one bright day in the Rio Puerco says
writer in brakes Magazine. very
near the New Mexican line. The
tents had been pitched and the ami
mails sent out TO Craze under strong
guard. and l was walking before my
tent impatiently waiting a summons
to dinner which knew by the strong
odor waited from an adjacent coffee
pot would not be much longer delayed.
We were about ninety miles from
the nearest fort and hundreds from
any settlement There were no ranches
whatsoever in this part only some
cattle and sheep belonging TO Next
cans. which were herded through the
territory.
was in the midst of a savory re-
past when / noticed stranger APP
preaching me- He was well-built,
powerful-looking man, about 40 years
of age; his face was intellectual and
extremely handsome; he wore a full
beard and moustache. both of which
were iron gray. He was coarsely clad.
and carried no weapon. The latter
circumstance was the most remarkable
thing of all. for in those days in Ari-
IONA one scarcely moved without his
arms.
Nearing me, he asked, in pleas
ant, quiet manner, if l was the COM
manding officer.
replied that / was.
Il came to see if you would lend ire
a pistol or carbine for few days"
he said.
You don't mean TO tell me that you
are entirely without arms?" l said,
not unreasonably astonished.
Yes; have nothing OF the kind"
he answered. II have been annoyed
for the past three months by those in
fernal California lions, and if had a
shooting iron l might kill some OF
them"
Are you camping near here?" /
asked.
Il live just around the bend of the
river; will you walk down with me"
Greatly astonished, 1 asked if he
lived chere quite alone.
'Oh, no." he replied, my wife and
mother live with me-"
Little dreaming l was so near resi-
dence. | eagerly accepted his invita-
ton, and filling my pipe and leaving the
sergeant in charge OF camp | started
forth with my new acquaintance. As
we made the turn in the river saw n
largo shelving rock rising from the
level prairie. 1t was not more than
100 yards from the rivers bank and
was really quite imposing in its dimen-
sions.
/ learned that they had been living
there for three months. They came
with the intention of farming, and later
erecting n suitable dwelling.
The Indians did not modest them, but
they were worried by the lions which
came by twos and threes nightly to the
opening of their habitation. and there
howled till daylight when they re-
turned to the mountain.
They told me it was necessary for
one of them to be up all night to keep
the fire burning. which was their only
protection from these monsters.
Consequently they had taken turns
sitting up nights for the last three
months.
IL tell you what will-do, Isaid. II
will send the company in charge of the
sergeant about FIVE miles further down
the river to encamp: then / will bring
Curley with me- and we will stay here
tonight with you. Curley is an old
frontiersman, and is acting guide for
me. He is a good shot, and will enjoy
the sport"
My proposition was joyfully ac-
cepted, and l returned TO camp TO give
the necessary directions. About an
hour later the company moved out,
and Curley and l won't to the rock
house.
The California lion may have a
legitimate name. but this is the only
one l have ever heard applied To him.
He belongs to the panther and wildcat
families, being, 1 believe, cross be-
tween the two.
They gave us coffee bread and fried
bacon for supper, and our host sur
prised and delighted us by producing
from his trunk some cigars. Not a
lamp nor a candle of any description
did they have When darkness came
they went 20 bed or on watch, as the
case might be.
We told them all to retire whenever
they felt disposed. and they wanted
not second bidding. We saw that
our rifles were in good order and that
our ammunition was handy. TSen we
permitted the fire to die out
Not long did we wait.
Hero came large lion. walking
proudly along, scarcely thirty yards
from us.
do not fire." said Curley. ''Wait
until we get more of them"
A few minutes later four large lions
were in our immediate front. The
man had certainly told the truth thus
far. whatever his intention as to farm
ing might be.
you take the one on the left and
TIL take the one on the right" said
} Curley. Are you readyP"
The report of our rifles and the
screams OF the startled sleepers were
almost Simultaneous; the three we're