Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-12-31
Huat.ny the Mountain LION.

IhJre is one animal that prefer 10
hunt above all others. and that is tie
mountain lion. visa my readers could
see The marvellous leaps made by this
huge cat when hard pressed by a good
pack Of hounds. Nothing short of a
good pack can run MIN 30 and 40 feet
he makes at u bound, rising like a wing
Ell creature high above the greasewood
and the chapparel. Ground scent for
the dogs is barely left, so daintily does
he alight; the hounds must use the
sliGhdy tainted air for their guide.
1t is a well-known fact that the noun
tain lion stands in the greatest terror OF
dogs. When chased by them he will
first try to outrun them failing in this
he Will take to the nearest tree. But
when there is no tree ofrcfuge, and the
lion comes TO bay, then look OUT One
stroke of the powerful paw means q
dead dog, and unless the hunter comes
to the rescue with rife or revolver, the
savage brute Will slaughter tue whole
pack i'll detail Should he succeed in
killing all the dogs he will Immediately
turn his attention TO the human enemy,
whom he considers the most insigniii-
cant of the pursuers.
4 party whom | know very well met
with terrible adventure while hunting
the mountain lion. The animal came
TO bay on the top of a pile frocks, far
up on The mountain side As mat
ter of course the dogs arrived there long
before the hunter, and wishing to get as
near as possible to the game, they
crowded on to small bluff that pro
jected above the lions position, and
from there bayed and growled at the
quarry The hunter meantime worked
MS way up until he arrived, say, within
80 feet Of the spot.
Here he stopped and was looking
around for a place from whence he
could shoot the lion dead without en-
dangering the dogs, when, with shrill
scream that went echoiDg up the canon
the big cat sprang upon him, threw him
backward, and, placing its huge paws
oe either arm, literally pinned him to
tie ground, giving him no chance what
ever to draw knife or pistol. The lion
Ill this time was growing and scream
ing with fury.
SO near were the yellow fangs to the
hunters face that the froth dripping
from the beasts mouth nearly blinded
the PROSTATE man. The hounds, for
some reason, perhaps on account of the
thick brush, did not see that the lion
had pounced ON their master so in-
stead Of going to the rescue, as they al
ways do, they, with the exception of
one old dog, yeered to one side and rau
quite Il little distance on the back track
before finding their mistake.
The veteran hound that stayed behind
leaped on the rock vacated by the lion and
from there saw the pcrilous position of his
much-l loved master. With deep bay that
sounded almost like roar, the noble animal
launched himself into the air and alighted
within few feet of the lion. The next bound
landed him on the enemys back. The lion
turned to defend himself from this new foe,
and in doing so lifted one paw from the mans
arm.
knowing that it was his last chance for
dear life, the hunter made desperate effort,
drew his heavy pistol, and, .iamming the bar
rel against the lions breast, let him have
three shots in less than as many seconds.
Almost without culver the fierce animal
fell dead at the side of his intended prey.
The next moment. with whirl, the whole
pack was on the dead mountain king, man
Cling him with the greatest terocity, as if try
ing to make up for their unusual blunder.
cNhuntcr will always acknowledge that his
< hound Bravo saved his l;fc on this occa-
hn.-iOs angeles Tones.