Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-06-13
AFTER MEXICAN LIONS.
SOARING FOUR or THEM OUT
WITH AN iMPRovsEo BOMB.

Of killing beer. Turkeys and squiFreis.
aud Pincd tor Larger Gams-Dsrsdsvti
Bob Harpsr's Proposition.
Along In the eos W. Il. Stephens. an
old and well known Texas frontiersmnih
established cattle ranch ON the Medina
river. twelve miles above the town Of
Bandera. and as his stock was large and
rapidly increasing he built several small
cabins in different parts Of his range for
the convenience OF his hands.
In 1879 the writer. with some half .
dozen companions. was up In the noun
tains above Bandera on a camp hunt.
and one night camped at one OF Mr.. Ste
phens' 'sub-ranches," as we called IL.
which that night happened to be the
camping ground Of Stephens himself
and some of his cowboys
Stephens. or Uncle Billy. az he was
called, was enraged over the depreda-
tions Of some varmint on his stock. He
had that day found fine colt and fine
Jersey bull calf dead and partially de-
voured, and. from the tracks, he was
satisfied that either Mexican lion or
painter" as he called IL, had killed his
animals
He said the country around abounded
in both. He and his men had killed a
ence between the two animals very well
LOCATING THE "cRTTTERs.-
Killing deer. turkeys and squirrels had
grown rather monotonous 70 our party,
and we determined to have try for
larger gam and more exciting sport.
We had several good hounds, and had
already enjoyed several night hunts for
wild cats and the like. Of which we had
killed several.
One of Uncle Billy's hands said he was
satisfied he knew where a pair of lions
had their den. from the fact that q few
evenings before. about sundown, he had
seen two cubs frolicking on large rock
on a small hill densely covered with
brush, about five miles from camp, and
he knew the old ones could not be far
of
lie had no dog or gun with him, but
had determined to beat up their quar-
ters the first convenient opportunity.
and he now offered to guide US to the
place. His offer was gladly accepted.
and the next morning our party set out
for the varnints' lair, accompanied by
Uncle Billy and the guide. John Jarvis
short chase brought US TO what look
ed like cave In a ledge OF rocks, or
rather beneath the ledge. and the beaten
trail leading into IL plainly showed that
II was occupied by some wild animals.
The dogs ran to the opening and
stopped They shifted around, whining
and giving an occasional yelp, but de-
clined to enter We approached eau
tiously and peered In. but could see
nothing.
Al intervals, however, our ears were
greeted with a low growi We knew We
had run something TO its lair. but whether
il was lion, panther or bear. we could
not tell The next question was how to
induce whatever 1t was TO come out and
be killed
Leaving four Of the coolest men and
best shots 10 watch the entrance, the bal
hnce of the party began a search 10 see
II there was any other entrance to the
den or cave
A short time satisfied US there was
not and we returned, when a council Of
war was held. Bob Harper proposed that
two or three of US crawl In and SEQ what
we could find We secuted the idea, and
Bob admitted that he was not in earnest.
He was just enough Of daredevil to
have tried II. though We tried to
smoke them out, but either the smoke did
not penetrate the cave or there were
crevices enough in the rocks for Il to
escape Anyhow, il didn't have the de-
sired effect
UNCLE BilLY's BRIGHT IDEA
A bright idea struck Uncle Billy. He
sent Jarvis back To our temporary camp
for a small canteen he had in his saddle
and blanket
Jarvis soon returned, accompanied by
oar two companions who had been left
10 keep camp
Uncle Billy took the canteen and
poured nearly pint of powder into it
from the horn he carried. HIS next cus
several strips from the blanket. which
he damped slightly and then smeared
with small bottle Of bear oil he had in
his pouch. rubbing them thoroughly
with powder. making a very respectabls
fuse
tie then tied a small rope 10 the can
teen, and sticking the end OF the fuse
into the mouth Of the canteen he bads
us look to our guns while he lowered the
lmprovised bomb into our den.
We formed a sort Of semicircle In
front OF the den and breafhleaalv await
ed the result Az soon as Uncle Billy
felt the canteen lodge he tied the rope,
and striking match he carefully light
ed the fuse and then fell back in good
order, calling out: +
Look out, boysi II thas darned
thing works he'll comeF" Tho .sdarned
thing" worked We heard dull report
An about three minutes, and not only
"he, but she and the little ones came;
and the old ones came "like the waves
come when nayies are stranded"
They didn't wait q second, and charged
at once on the party nearest 10 them.
Bul what chance had two hrutes, no
matter how large and fierce, against
seven or eight men armed with VIM
chesters. each with sixteen cartridges in
the magazinez
Both the old ones were badly wounded
~ the first volley, bat iG took several
shots each To finish them
The whelps were supposed 70 have
tkgasKn al. -.