Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-01-11
TWO MOUNTAIN LIONS.
rhsy Fight - the Death with Pssk -
DlsodhsaadA. EseksA ~ Armed
Hunters. add ErAvsly Meet
TAetr Doom.

DsssdhsssAA EscksA ~ Arnsa
nanssrs. add Erzvsly Meet
TAstr Dssm-
There had been great excitement
.mong ths ranchmen Of the valley Of
the Sierra Madre for some weeks over
the depredations committed upon their
focks Of sheep and herds of cattle by
some beast of prey What this robber
was no ono could say with any ex-
setaesA for. uniting an extraordinary
degree Of cunning with great speed Of
foot. the rogue invariably managed to
elude AL pursuit Morning after
morning some herder would report Q
COW. calf or sheep done to death with .
cruel wound in its throat from which
the assassin had drained its warm
LIES blood But the dead carcass was
all that remained 70 tell the story Of
the coming and going Of the spoiler.
for no shadow left less trace Of its
presencc.
This enemy Of their herds was ell
the more feared by the cattlemen. as
there was no guessing where the next
victim was to be found. for with in
credibl rspidity OF movement the ami
MAJ seemed to scour the country for
miles in every direction. seeking with
all the fastidiousness Of true opicure
the tenderest lambs and choicest brand
Of cattle The herds themselves
seemed to know that some foe lurked
near. and at night would huddle TO-
yether as il for mutual protection
At last matters reached a climax
when the fine imported Durham COW.
with long pedigree" of one of tho
wealthy stock-owners of the vicinity
strayed away from her comfortable
stall, and. with the curiosity Of her
lex. was investigating tAe country,
when she was set upon by the mysteri-
sus beast Of prey She was found lit
orally torn TO pieces. and 1t was evil
dent that the cow, young ono, had en-
ieevored to MAKO sofac fight for her
ife. for her horns were stained with
blood. and n trail OF blood leading to q
small thicket close at hand indicated
hat the animal that had killed her had
not escaped without q wound.
II had been believed from the first
that the deprcdator had made its de-
scent from the mountains. to which 10
would return after each orgy, and, on
bioodhounds being sent for and placed
on the trail. the dogs led at once to-
ward tie rugged peaks that frown
down on this fair valley The blood
stains ceased with tho thickct, SO 1.
was concluded that the animal had not
been very severely wounded. and no
further traces of its passage were visi-
bic in the open country. though the
dogs showed no hesitation on the trail.
The hunting party numbered nearly q
dozen and was composed OF local MIN
rods, who scented Gnc sport on the oc-
casiou. and stockueu, each of whom
had the loss of one or moro fne blood.
Cd sheep or cows TO avcnge.
After some ten or twslvc miles OF
steady travel. facing tbs chill noun
cain tia. frosted the ais and spared
the wiry li..le Mexican ponies into a
brisk trot. the party reached tho little
staten Of Rio Narniquiss. where the
dogs paused Here they seemed
puzzled az some sudden tarn the trail
had taken. for they raa .erc and there
Tor some minutes finally breaking
away mp the river. But after . run OF
hundred feet or SO the old chihuahua
hound Miguel made stand. and then.
with a warning cry tc his mates,
turned and sped back TO where the
hunters waited. The pack followed
Mira. though with some hesita.ior. un
Oil. pressing him close as he wen,
lcapinx from one to the other Of the
stepping stones that crossed the
stream. they seemed all ~ once 70 un
dcrstsnd his nancuvcrs and lcaped for
ward up the shelving bank with joy
ful cry Of certainty. Old Miguel's
master. an aged Mexican. By name
Ieand>r. explained that the dogs bad
here struck the trail Of solne other
animal that had come down the rive'
In drink at that spot Fe had. h
thought. joined the one they sought
and the two had struck out togetheI
for the mountains With renewed in
terest The hunters walked their horses
across the shallow stream and followes
the dogs which were now only dari
specks en tae golden sands tina
washed the foot Of the grim and mighty
Sierra
The dogs were observed sfter awhile
to gather about . clump Of cactus
plants that marked The FIRST rise OF sh'
mountains proper. then to 60 On ans
fnailv disappear behind . mass o
fallen bow lderx Al this the part,
urged on their ponies. a. 10 wa
evident that the game vas near =
hasd Old Lennder ~ The eiump o
cateus Sisrountsd. and after . hrie
examinatisu 81 the disturbed sand de
eIarea 81 this riacs the wsunded sni
MAJ he'd lam lawn 20 rest while tn
ether. probably iss mate. had ssco'
~ A. the hunters paused here IN
lsud barking Of the degs wrs heard .
some isttle dissance. - cisppirG spur
~ the ponies the party wcss fov~sr'
st sailop
The hounts wsrs fconi - hsv
gathered ssou* . small heap q ear*i
ard stores. -, which ssocd ss sros
nous meaatasa Lon defring Tier
With elsz:nx eyes se3 ~s-ire safie'
aiL he wsa . nawnifsesns male. vie
svay skia m.rked ~sss ~-s---s - -