Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-01-14
TWO MOUNTAIN LIONS.
Their Magnificent Courage When
Brought to Bay.
They Fight to tho Death with n Pack Of
Bloodhounds Hacked by Armed
Hunters, aud t,raveiy Meet
Their loon.

There had been great excitemen.
among the ranchmen Of the valley OF
the Sierra Madre fof some weeks over
the dcpredations committed upon their
iocks OF sheep and herds OF cattle by
some beast Of prey What this robbcr
was no one could say with any OK.
actness' for, uniting an extraordinary
degree OF cunning with great speed OF
foot, the rogue invariably managed to
elude all pursuit Morning after
morning some herder would report a
COW. calf or sheep done TO death with a
cruel wound in its throat from which
the assassin had drained its warm
life's blood But thu dcnd carcass was
all that remained I, tell the story OF
the coming and going OF the spoilcr.
for no shadow left less trace OF It's
presence,
This enemy OF their herds was all
the more feared by the cattlcmcn, as
there was no guessing where the next
victim was TO be found, for with in
credible rapidity OF movement the ani-
NAL seemed 10 scour the country for
miles in every direction, seeking with
all the fastidiousncss Of true cpicuro
the tenderest lambs and choicest brand
OF cattle. The herds themselves
seemed TO know that some foe lurl,ed
near and at night would huddlc to-
gether us II for mutual protection
At last matters reached n climax
when the fine imported Durham COW,
with a long pedig,cc," Of one Of the
wealthy stock-ownurs OF the vicinity
strayed away from her comfortable
stall, and. with the curiosity Of her
sex. was investigating the country,
when she was set upon by the mystcri.
GUS beast OF prey She was found lit
orally torn To pieces. and il wns cvi.
dent that the COW. II young one. had en-.
deavorcd 10 make some 0ght for her
life. for her horns were stained with
blood. and trail Of blood leading 10 n
small thicket close ut hand Indicated
that the animal that had killed her had
not escaped without wound
IL had been believed from the first
that the dcprcdatoI had made its dc.
scent from the mountains. Ia which il
would return after each orgy, and on
bloodhounds being sent for and placed
on the trail the dogs led nj once to.
ward the rugged peaks that frown
down on this lair valley The blood.
stains ceased with the thiclsct, so IL
was concluded that che 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 n
dozen and was composed Of local MIN.
rods, who scented llnc sport on the oc.
casion, and stocSmcn. cnch Of whom
had the loss Of one or more fine blood.
cd sheep or cows TO avcnge
After some ten or twelve miles OF
steady travel, facing the chill noun.
tam that frosted the air and spurred
tho why little Mexican ponies into a
brisk trot the party reached the little
statlon OF Rio Nanlqulpa, where the
dogs paused Here they seemed
puzzled at some sudden turn the trail
had taken, for they ran here and there
Tor some minutes finally breaking
away up the river But after run of
u hundred feet or so the old chihuahua
hound Miguel made a stand. and then
with warning cry to his mates.
turned AMI sped back 10 where the
hunters waited The pack followed
hun though with some hesitation. un.
TIL pressing hun close as he went
leaping from one 10 the other Of the
stepping stones that crossed the
stream, they SO med all at once 10 un.
derstand his mancuvcrs and leaned for.
ward up the shelving bank with a Joy
lul cry Of certainty Old Migu.rs
master an aged Mexican hy name
Lcarder, explained that the dogs had
here struck the 'rail Of some other
animal that hal come down the river
to drink at that spot lie had. he
bought, joined the one they sought,
and the two had struck ont together
Tor the mountains With renewed In.
terest the hunters walked their horses
across the shallow stream and followed
the dogs. which were now only dark
specks on the golden sands that
the foot OF the grim and mighty
Sierra
The dogs were observed after awhile
. gather about a clump Of cactus
lants that marked III" first rise Of the
Mountains proper liz to go on and
inally disappear lchnd mass Of
allen bow ders Al this the party
Irged On their ponies. as II was
'ldent that the Pume was near at
and Old Lcandcr at the clump OF
ttcus dismountod. and after a brief
animation ~ the disturbed sand do
rcd al thi, rlncr 'ho '~ounpcd ami
nu had lain down 10 rest, while the
,thcr probably its mate, had stood
by As the hunters paused here the
oud barking Of the dogs was heard at
'omc Little distance, so clapping spurs ,
% the ponies the party went forward ,
II gallop
The hounds were found 20 havoc b,
gathered about a small heap Of earth :
~ stones, on which stood an enor. ,
nous mountain hon dcfying them
ynh laa NJ eye, and waving tufted /
al IL was . magnificent male, with !
awny sk n marked with vclyety blacli,a
'eariIg ~ full Of PRIZE " snS .mopszch |