Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-25
NOMINATION. HUNTING.
A Game that Is Worthy of the Skill of
Plucky Huntsmen.


There ia one animal that prefer 10 hunt
above all others, says q writer III the Los
Angeles Times, and that IS the mountain
Ion. / wish my readers could see the mar
veious leaps made by this huge cat when
hard pressed by a good pack OF hounds.
Nothing short of a good pack can run
him thirty and forty feet he makes At a
bound, rising like winged creature high
above tho gIease-wOOd and ctdpdTd. ;
ground scent for the dogs IS barely LETT, 50
daintiiy does he alIght the hounds must
use the slIghtly-tantel air Tor their guide.
Ii is n well-known fact that the mountain
lion stands IN the greatest terror OF dogs.
When chased by them be will first try u
outrun them failing IN this. he Will take
10 the nearest tree. But when there Is no
tree of refuge and the lion comes To bay,
then look out! One stroke OF the power
ful paw means a dead dog. and unless tho
hunter comes 70 the re.cue with rlfle or
revolver the savage brute Will slaughter
the whole pack in detail. Should he sue
coed IN killing all the docs he Will imme-
dlately turn his attention TO the human
enemy. whom he considers the most IN
RI nlhcant OF the pur5uers.
4 party whom know very well met with
q terrible adventure while hunting Tie
mountain lion. The animal came 10 bay
on the top of a pile Of rocks, far up on the
mountain side. A matter of course. the
dogs arrived there long before the hunter,
and wishing TO get as near as possible "a
the game tnev crowded On o. u small bluff
that projected above tho hons position
and from there bayed and growled at the
quarry.
The hunter, mean time, worked his way
no until he arrived, say, within thirty feet
OF the spot. Here be stopped, and was
looking around for place from whence ne
could shoot the lion dead without endau'
gering the dogs. when, with snrlll scream
that went ecAolng uD the canyon, the or
cat sprang upon him, threw hlm back
ward, and placing ITS huge paws on eItheI
arm. literally pinned him TO the ground
giving him no chance whatever TO draw
knife or pistol.
The lion ali this time was growing anc
screaming 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 OF
account Of the thick brush, did not soc
that the lion had pounced on their mas
tar, so. instead Of going 70 the rescue, a:
tn ~ always do, they, with the exception
Oh one old dog, veered TO one side and RAJ
quite little distance on the back traca
before finding their mistake.
The veteran hound that stayed behinC
leaped on the rock vacated by the lion
and from there saw the perllous position
of his much-loyed master. With deer
bav that sounded almost like roar. The
noble animal launched himself into the
AR and alighted within few feet OF the
lion.
The next bound landed him on the enc
my's back. The hon turned TO defenc
himself from this new foe. and in doing SC
lifted one paw from the mans arm
Knowing that It was his last chance fol
dear life tho huLter made desperate Ell
fort. drew his heavy pistol, and jammlnG
the barrel against the lions breast let him
have three shots IN less than as many
seconds.
Almost without quiyer tho fierce ami
nal fell dead at the side OF his intended
prey. The next moment, with wnlrr. the
whole pack was on the dead mountain
king, mangljng him with the greatest fe
rocity. as II trying TO make up for ther
unusual blunder. The hunter will Away
acknowledge that his old hound Brave
saved MS life on this occasion.