The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-30
MOUNTAIN LIONS SIEGE.
NIoETs OF TERROR FOR A FAMILY
IN THE ARIZONA WILDS.

Keeping Ali Night the Fire on Which
Their Lives Depended - Welcome
Scouts.
From brakes Mdgdsine.
While in command Of a small scouting
party in Arizona went into camp one
bright day on the Rio Puerco, very near the
New Mexican line. The tents had been
pitched and the animals sent out to Craze
under a strong guard. and l was walking
In front OF 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 settle
ment. There were no ranches whatsoever
in this part, only some cattle and sheep be-
longing to Mexioans, which were herded
through the territory. These we're in charge
of the Mexicans, who lived much the same
kind of life as did their stock. Their blanket
was their only house. and when night came
on they would lie down wherever it might
u~ertake them. For miles around the land
was as level as the bed OF a billiard table.
Mountains were seen in the distance, which
we're inhabited by Indians. But my little
command and a few rattlesnakes and
tarantulas we're the only living things near.
"DinEer is ready. lieutenant" was the
welcome summons with which my cook
greeted me, and was soon doing justice to
q field dinner of bean soup ana 'slap-
jacks.
was In the midst of this savory repast
when noticed a stranger approaching me.
He was well-built, powerfuI-looking man,
sbout 40 years Of age his face was intel
lectual and extremely handsome; he wore a
full beard and moustache, both of which
were iron gray. He was coarsely clad, and
stance was the most remarkable thing of
all, for In those Gays in Arizona one
scarcely moved without his arms.
Nearing me, he asked, in pleasant. quiet
manner, II l were the commanding officer.
replied that was.
~ came to see IL you could lend me a
pistol or carbine for few days." he said.
"You don't mean TO tell me that you are
entirely without Rrmsp l said, not uu-
reasonably astonished.
Yes; have nothing OF the kind" he
answered. II have been annoyed for the
past three months by those Internal Cali
fornia lions and II l had shooting iron
might kill some OF them"
"Are you camping near hereP 1 asked.
~ live just around the bend of the river;
will you walk down with me7"
Greatly astonished, | asked II he lived
there quite alone.
10. no" he replied, my wife and mother
live with men
Little dreaming l was so near residence
eagerly accepted his invitation, and filling
my pipe and leaving the sergeant in charge
of camp, | started forth with my new ac-
quaintance. As we made the turn in the
river / saw a large shelving rock rising
from the level prairie. 1t was not more
fbs han
was really quite imposing in its dimensions.
1t struck me as so peculiar-so entirely out
Of place. that expressed my surprise to my
companion,
''Yes,n he answered, 81 fancy it Is a me-
teorite. am under great obligations to it,
whatever it is, and however it came here,
for it has protected me for months. That
rock is my house."
By this time we had reached the natural
dwelling. At what might be termed its
opening the rock was ten feet orssmore from
the ground, and it sheltered space about
twenty feet in breath, gradually sloping
backward and downward. AS | stepped
under the protecting roof saw two women
sitting at work.
My host presented me to his mother and
wife respectively, and saw at glance that
they were Mexicans; not of the class. how
ever, known as greasers. but representa-
OF much higher grade. Like most Mexi-
cans, they were disinclined to converse in
any language but their own, but when they
learned that my knowledge Of their tongue
was too slight to enable me to understand
them they overcame their reluctance, and
we chatted quite pleasantly.
learned that they had been living there
for three months. They came with the in
tention of farming, and later proposed
erecting n suitable dwelling.
The Indians had not molested them, but
they were worried by the lyons, which
came by twos aud threes nightly to the
opening of their habitation. and there
howled till daylight when they returned to
the mountain.
They told me it was necessary for one Of
them to be up all night to keep the fire burn
ing, which was their only protection from
these monsters.
Consequently they had taken turns sitting
up nights for the last three months.
Having listened to q graphic description
of their far from pleasant neighbors, told
them frankly that If l had "A pistol or car
bine of my own l would willingly lend or
give them one, but all the weapons ia the
command, even those on my person, be-
longed to the government, and that the
orders respecting them were so stringent
that l was unable to accommodates them.
" had pistol when / came" said my
most, but lost it crossing the river. Since
then you are the first psrson that has been
this way"
felt real sorry for him ami also felt that
they might think l had given very himsy
reason for refusing the loan they asked.
That three human beings should be an
noyed night after night by wild beasts, and
company Of cavalry unable TO give them
protection, seemed incredible, yet such was
the case.
At length happy thought struck me.
II tell you what / will do" said. VI
VIII 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 to- night
with you. Curley is an old frontiersman
and Is acting guide for me- He is a good
snot, and will enjoy the sport"
my proposal was joyfully accepted, and l
IetuTneo TO camp TO give the necessary
directions. About an hour later the com
pany moved out and Curley and were
What sort of an outfit is that down
tnere" said my companion pointing to the
stone manson had recently left.
L cannot tell you," l answered. "The
people say they are worried by the lions,
and have told them you and l will stay
with them tonight and sample few"
Some escaped jailbird, suppose" said
Curiey. The country's full of them."
Yes" ans wered. "the country is full Of
them, but | am sure this man is no crimi-
nal. His manner and his appearance, bar
ring his olotboo -