The Meeker herald., 1893-06-10
THE PANTHER KITTENS.
THERE WERE TWO OF THEM
WHEN THE HUNT BEGAN.
Prospcctor's story of an Interesting
Chase In tho wilds of Colorado
Tho Lions Rage When
Caught In the Trap.

While roaming in Colorado came
across spot that thought would be
OF value to me, so made up my mind
to take a timber claim"
selected nice spot, worked hard,
early and late, and in two weeks had
quite shanty up, says the Sports
mems Review. now spent a week
with compass and line and succeeded
in blazing the boundary of 100 acres.
There was timber enough to make
me nice sum of money, and | in
tended to get some men and tools
! and ''skid team" some provisions
and do the cooking myself had
planned to mako q stern wheeled flat
boat to be run by one or two men
''tread-mill" fashion. to have two
I Mexican boys run it ana carry sup
plies, mail and SO on; but, alas, 1.-THE
best laid plans of mice and men gang
aft aglcy." just as | was ready to
20 to town the valley was overrun
by fire,
The lake broke the fire and saved
my cabin, but all the timber burned
down. 1t was very dry and the pitch
and rosin in the wood caused tho
trees to burn all up.
After the fire | went to town and
got few supplies and returned. in
tending to prospect for few weeks.
While was away some wild beast
broke into small shed had made
and devuured side of bacon
could track it easily in the ashes.
and | prepared to trail it the next
morning.
had no difficulty with the trail
until it left the burn and crossed
over the mountain. The trail fol-
lowed up gully and kind of pass
in the mountain to the left of my
claim. there was quite a path
through the pass and | could see that
some animal had been along the path
quite frequently. When just through
the pass the path turned up the other
slope of the mountain | followed it
quite way and saw many signs that
the path had been made by man.
After coming to a huge boulder
cautiously peered around it, and
there, only about sevcnty-fve yards
away and a little down the mountain.
lay mountain lion and two small
kittens at the mouth of hole that
had been made by man in prospect
ing the outcropping shelf or rock
drew bead on her and was about
to shoot. when the thought struck
me that | would like to capture the
kittens. | lowered my gun and med
ltated awhile and decided to wait
1t was about noon, and, while eating
my lunch of crackers and smoked
herring, ! kept strict watch on the
lions, | was about to eat my last
herring when an incident of the
evening before came into my mind,
which was, that while toasting some
mornings for supper, one had caught
fire, and holding it up it burned like
n torch, so pocketed my herring
for future need.
About o'clock the lions went
into the cave. or hole, and after
waiting an hour was making up my
mind to go home, when the old lion
came out alone. and after stretching
and sharpening her claws on an old
stuntcd tree she started towards me,
but came only little way when she
turned down the mountain, and !
watched her till she crossed the brook
and went into the bush on the other
side. | went cautiously 20 the cave
and peercd in.
Taking good look around | went
in about twenty feet and stopped and
lighted my herring. 1t took two
matches to set it agoing, but when it
did it made light just like wax
candle. Holding my gun at ready,
and the light in the left hand over
the grasp of the barrels, | went eau
tiously in and found the two kittens
sound asleep. Iquickly put them in
my game pocket. and they snarled,
spit and emitted peculiar smell
from their breath, all of which caused
me to beat hasty retreat.
The kits kept up constant whin-
ing, which annoyed me and alarmed
me, so made quick work OF crossing
the mountain. 1t was about dusk
and was beginning to breathe easier
when heard the fearful cry OF the
enraged mother.
The way | ..lit out" was Il caution,
and / had nearly reached spot
where ! could see my cabin when an
other cry right behind me caused Inc
to drop one OF the kittens in short
order. While dropping it the kitten
made fearful squalling, and this
brought forth wall from the other
one and an answer from the mother.
which seemed to be over my head.
In time ! got through the woods
into the burn and got home all right.
put the kitten in the house, and /
heard the old one outside during the
night. but could not get shot at
her. kept close at home all ncxt
forenoon, and after dinner | tied the
kitten in tho shed and set Il trap near
it. heard nothing of the old lion
till about an hour after dark, when
there was the most awful uproar in
the shed it was ever my lot to hear.
While / was lighting my bulls eye
lantern the kitten gave Il death yell.
i set the lantern in the window,
where it shone on the shed door, and
/ went out and pushed the door open
with pole
The uproar now continued and /
fired all three barrels in quick sue
cession at dark object within the
door. heard no more racket and in
tho morning discovered that / had
killed the old she lion, which had her
foot in the trap, and that she had
killed the kitten in her anger.