Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1892-01-14
TWO MOUNTAIN LIONS.
Their Magnificent Courage When
Brought to Bay.
They Fight to the Death with Pack Of
bioodhounds, Backed by Armed
Hunters, and Bravoly Meet
Their Doom.


among the ranchmen of the valley of
the Sierra Madre for some weeks over
the depredations committed upon their
hocks of sheep and herds of cattle by
some beast of prey. What this robbcr
was no one could say with any ex-
actness, for, uniting an extraordinary
degree OF cunning with great speed of
fcot the rogue invariably managed to
elude all pursuit Morning after
morning some hcrder would report
COW, calf or sheep done to death with
cruel wound in its throat from which
the assassin had drained it's warm
aife's blood. But the dead carcass was
all that remained to tell the story of
the coming and going of the spoiler,
for no shadow. left less trace of its
presence.
This enemy of their herds was all
the more feared by the cattlemen, as
there wasn 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
all the fastidiousness of 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 huddle to-
gether as If for mutual protection.
AT last matters ,k.chcd climax
when the fine impc,H Durham COW,
with long pediR...,' of one OF the
wealthy stock-owners of the vicinity
strayed away from her comfortable c
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 evi-
dent that the cow, 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 q
small thicket close at hand indicated
that the animal that had killed her had
not escaped without wound.
/, 1t had been believed from the first
tAt the depredator had made its de-
ht from the mountains, to which it
lAuld return after each orgy, and, on
S5loodhounds being sent for and placed
lon the trail, the dogs led at once to-
ward the rugged peaks that frown
Ycwp on this fair valley. The blood
MI ceased with tho thiclSet, SO it
Is,as concluded that the animal had not
been very severely wounded, and no
/ further traces Of its passage were visi-
pie in the open country, though the
logs showed no hesitation on tho trail.
he hunting party numbered nearly a
g MP and was composed of local Nim-
=, who scented fine sport on the oc-
.4l..1n, and stockmen, each of whom
= ar.he loss of one or more fine blood
} 5sheep or cows to avenge
XAfter some ten or twelve miles Of
Steady travel, facing the chill noun
Z tain that frosted the air and spurred
N the wiry little Mexican ponies into a
N brisk trot, the party reached the little
h station OF Rio Namiquipa, where the
dogs paused. Here they seemed
Iuzzled at some sudden turn the trail
lad taken. for they ran here and there
l,r some minutes, finally breaking
lway up the river But after run of
hundred feet or SO the old Chihuahua
ound Miguel made stand, and then,
with warning cry to his mates,
urned and sped back to where the
hunters waited. The pack followed
him, though with some hesitation. un-
til, pressing him close as he went
lcaping froEsone to the other of the
stepping stones that crossed The
htream, they seemed all at once to un-
herstand his maneuvers and leaped for
sward up the shelving bank with a joy
full .ciy of certainty. Old Miguers
master, an aged Mexican, by name
Leandel explained that the dogs had
here strick the trail of some other
animal that had come down the river
20 drink at that spot. He had, he
thought Joined the one they sought,
and the .wo had struck out together
for the mountains. With renewed in
tercst 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
T Sierra
The dogs were observed after awhile
70 gather about clump OF cactus
nlants that marked the first rise OF the
mountains proper then TO go on and
finally disappear behind a mass OF
fallen powders. At this the party
urged on their ponies, as 1t was
evident that the game was near az
hand. Old Leander at the clump Of
catcus dismounted. and after brlei
examination of the disturbed sand de-
! clared at this place the wounded AMI