The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-12-31
TWO MOUNTAIN LIONS.
Their Magnificent Courage When
Brought to Bay.
They Fight to the Death with Pack oi
Bloodhounds. Backed by Armed
Hunters. and Bravely Meet
Their Doom.

among the ranchmcn OF the valley of
the Sierra Madre for some weeks over
the depredations committed upon their
docks of sheep and herds Of cattle by
some beast Of prey. What this robber
was no one could say with any ex-
actness, for. uniting IN extraordinary
degree Of cunning with great speed Of
foot, the rogue invariably managed to
elude all pursuit Morning after
morning some herder would report a
cow. calf or sheep done to death with u
cruel wound in its throat from which
the assassin had drained its warm
life's blood But the dead carcass was
all that remained to tell the story OF
the coming and going of the spoilcr,
for no shadow left less trace of its
presence.
This enemy Of their herds was all
the more feared by the cattlemen. as
there was no guessing where the next
victim was to be found. for with in
credible rapidity Of movement the ami
nal seemed to scour the country for
miles in every direction, seeking with
ell the fastidiousness of a true epicure
the tenderest lambs and choicest brand
Of cattle. The herds themselves
seemed to know that some foe lurked
near. and at night would huddlc to-
gether rs If for mutual protection.
At last matters reached q climax
when the fine imported Durham COW,
with long pedigree" Of one of the
wealthy stock-owners of the vicinity
strayed away from her comfortable e
stall. and. with the curiosity of her
sex. was investigating the country.
when she was set upon by the mysteri-
Gus beast Of prey She was found lit
orally torn to pieces, and it was evil
dent that the cow, q young one. had en-
deavored to make some fight for her
life. for her horns were stained with
blood. and trail OF blood leading to a
small thicket close ut hand indicated
that the animal that had killed her had
not escaped without a wound.
II had been believed from the FIRST
that the depredator had made it's de-
scent 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 ut once to-
ward tie rugged peaks that frown
down on this fair valley, The blood
stains ceased with the thicket, SO it
was concluded that the animal had not
been very severely wounded, and no
further traces of its passage were visi-
BILE in the open country. though the
dogs showed no hesitation ON the trail.
The hunting party numbered nearly a
dozen and was composed of local Nim-
rods. who scented fine sport on the oc-
casion. and stockmen. each of whom
had the loss Of one or more fine blood
ed sheep or cows to avenge.
After some ten or twelve miles OF
steady travel, facing the chill noun.
tain that frosted the air and spurred
the wiry little Mexican ponies into a
brisk trot, the party reached the little
station 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
TOR some minutes. finally breaking
away up the river. But after Q run OF
. hundred feet or so the old Chihuahua
hound Miguel made q stand, and then,
with warning cry to his mates,
turned and sped back to where the
hunters waited The pack followed
him. though with some hesitation, un.
til, pressing him close as he went
leaping from one to the other of the
stepping stones that crossed the
stream. they seemed all at once to un.
derstand his maneuvers and leaped for
ward up the shelving bank with Joy.
ful cry Of certainty. Old Miguel's
master. an aged Mexican. by name
Leanier. explained that the dogs had
here struck the trail Of some other
animal that had come down the river
to drink at that spot He had. he
thought, Joined the one they sought,
and the two had struck out together
for the mountains With renewed in.
terest the hunters walked their horses
across the shallow stream and followed
the dogs. which were now only dark
specks on the golden sands that
washed the foot Of the grim and mighty
Sierra
The dogs were observed after awhile
to gather about clump of cactu.
plants that marked the first rise OF the
mountains proper. then to 60 on ant
finally disappear behind q mass o.
fallen powders At this the party
urged on their ponies, as it wa.
evident that tho game was near q
hand Old Leander ut the clump O
catcus dismounted, and after Q brie
examination Of tho disturbed sand de
clsred at this place tho wounded ami