The herald., 1893-06-09
THEY KILLED THE PUMA.
A FEARFUL STRUGGLE WITH A
WILD BEAST.
Tho Adventure which Befel1 Jose
Lopcz In Lower Caiifornia-Bis
Wife Saved His
Life.

J. A. Milne, wealthy young Scotch
man, who came up from Lower CaIiior-
mia few days ago ensroute to his native
heath, has been in the wild OF the pen
insuia for the past four years and passed
through many experiences worthy of
note. Like the average man of his race,
no danger was too great and no section
OF the country too isolated to deter him
from visiting many sections OF the PEN
insula seldom passed through except by
the rowing Mexicans and Indians native
to the country. Mr.. Mines extreme
modesty forbade him relating any OF his
experiences to reporter Tor publication,
but he did tell OF various episodes which
are interesting to great degree.
One of them relates to an experience
which happened in the wild country
near San Francisquito, to the south of
the great San Pedro Martir range of
mountains, some months ago. 1t is
section Astounding in mountain lions,
which for greater part OF the year are
ravenous and often make themselves
extremely troublesome to the ranch
eros.
A few months ago Jose Lopez, with
his wife and five children, sat before
their little thatched 'dobe house, one of
the ordinary Indian or Mexican domi-
Giles, picturesque among the hills with
its covering OF tules and little square
open windows. No glass is used in that
remote part OF the world. In little
room of the main house and with the
doors wide open to admit the warm rays
OF the sun, lay Joae's old father, SS years
nIA x.1 H. L. III - f..
within sight OF San Pedro's lofty ridge.
The old man bad been feeble for months
and lay on his rude bed OF corn husks
and blankets awaiting death with the
stoicism peculiar to his race. As Jose
and nis wife talked and the children
played about the spring near the door, q
stiHed cry was heard from the old mans
room and Jose at once ran in to aBcer-
tain the cause. The sight that met his
eyes az he stepped through the low door
riveted him to the spot for an instant.
! Crouched acroeB the body Of his aged
father and with eyebslls flaming with
| rage In resentment OF the intrusion by
the younger man, stretched full-grown
mountain lion, lean with hunger and
apparently ready to sacrifice Its own life
rather than be driven from the old mans
bed. After making the first labored cry
the old man had lapsed into unconscious
ness and lay beneath the beast, O bloody
arm in full eight OF his son. The latter
involuntarily started forward to aid his
father, but terrible growl from the lion
brought him to q realization of his dan.
ger, and with sinking heart he with
drew and ran into the other rooms foi
his rifle. Returning in a moment he
called to his family to keep safe dis
tance away, and coming to the door saw
the body of his father being dragged
from the low bed. The lion sgair
stopped as Jose appeared, and this time
in more rage than he had before exhib
tied. Crouching for spring, he received
a bullet in his lower jaw. Jose hastily
threw another cartridge into the barrel
but not an instant too soon, for tn
beaat, with blood squirting from tn
wound, threw his weight upon him ant
then began terrific battle. Sonora Lo
pez realized the terrible danger her hus
band was in and she left the children
paralyzed with fear, and dashed into tn
fight with an axe. The time SCENE
long to Jose, as he afterwards said, bu
could have been but few moments
when a well-directed blow from the ak
, laid the lion low. The woman was ur
injured, but Jose was badly lacerate
about the shoulders and breast, and
deep wound extended from one side {
his head to the other, but none OF b
= injuries were dangerous.
The old man was put back on his be
b. and the woman made preparations ft
dressing his wounded arm, but q clos
i examination by the son showed that til
4 old man was dying, and before night ha
" fallen he breathed his last. The grei
shock to his already enfeebled body hs
closed his career on earth.
Q The lion was an old one, measurir
over nine feet from tip to tip, and b
!. claws, by reason of his age, were dul
and this fact probably accounted Il
> Lopez escaping with injuries no mo
\. serious. For two or three nights aft
the occurrence beast supposed to
h the dead lion's mate, made the neighbo
!, hood hideous with terrible roars, beil
- attracted probably by the blood that hi
been shed, and the animal may ha
!, been witness of the fray, although Il
> known cowardice of the brutes doubtle
!. prevented him having hand in &
a. battle.
Wonderful Engine.
v CANNOT BE SURPAssED.-An engine exerti