Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-11-15
MOUNTAIN LIONS.
A Montana Mans Terrible Experience With
the American fumn.


OF the cat tribe with the strength OF
the lion and the ferocity Of the tiger.
have never been much Of hunter,
but few years ago ! had an adventure
with mountain lions out In Washington
that gave me enough Of hunting big
game for all time. | had captured
some young deer, elk and foxes, and
started small menagerie On my ranch.
One day was out in the hills looking
at some timber and near the mouth OF
small cave in the rocks lfounda young
lion crawling about on the ground and
whining like kitten. 1t was only q
few weeks old and decided to take it
home and add 1t to my menagerie. |
judged that there was nest OF the
young animals somewhere among the
rocks and that this one had ventured
out and got lost while the old ones
were away.
had no trouble in catching it, and
he was too young to show fight.
But as soon as | took 1t up in my arms
1t set up dreadful screeching cry, a
sort OF cross between the wall OF .
frightened baby and the bark ofa small
dog. Fearing that the cries would
bring the old lions home in hurry,
lost no time in getting away from the
spot where found my captive ltook
off my coat, and, wrapping up the
cub tried to stop its cries, but 1t was
no use; it only made more noise.
Before l had gone one hundred yards
heard the blood-curdling shrek OF q
full-grown lion close behind me, and |
knew that the mother OF the cub was
on my trail. Her cry must have been
acall for help. In ten seconds 1t was
answered as many times, and the cries
came from all directions,
was surrounded by mountain lions,
and l knew that the cry Of the cub
would rouse them to fury. ] hated to
lose the expected addition to my men
agerie, but dropped that lion cub as
If it had been hot brick. Instead Of
running away as thought it would,
the cub lay down right under my feet
and made more noise than ever,
Then started to run to get away
from it, but swaying Of the branches
OF two trees in front Of me and a chorus
Of fierce shrieks close behind warned
me that was too late. At least dozen
full-grown mountain lions, | judged,
were closing in around me, and they
were there for business
Some ten yards ahead OF where l
stood saw . big rock that rose out OF
the ground fifteen feet or more. |
made dash for that rock, and reached
, 1t just in time. Backing up against 1t
faced half score Of full-grown
lions and they were as vicious look
! ing lot as ever saw. had hoped that
they would stop when they found that
the cub was safe, but they didn't I
had my Winchester with me, and
the chamber was full Of cartridges.
When | faced my pursuers some Of
them were on the ground leaping along
like cats at play, while others were in
the trees springing from branch to
branch with prodigious jumps They
were still giving vent to their cries,
which are enough to raise mans hair
when heard at distance. All the time
they were coming closer, and two OF
those on the ground were creeping
along ready to spring at my throat as
soon as they were near enough.
The apparent hopelessness of my
situation seemed to steady my nerves,
and taking careful aim at the nearest
ion fired. Witha new kind of scrcech
the brute leaped five feet into the air
and fell back dead. But there was an
other one on the ground almost as near
Is the first, and still Advancing
A second shot finished that one, and
then glanced at those in the trees, |
saw two glarins downat me With their
eyes cleaning like balls Of fire. Both
were crouching for spring. | sho!
the nearest one, and again my bulles
reached a vital spot.
Before coald throw out the empty
she'll heard terrific Shrek, lying
away to lioArsc growl right over my
head, and then knew that one of the
animals was on the rock above me.
For an instant forgot the one in the
tree and jumped away from the rock.
At the same instant both lions jumped
for me, one from the tree and one from
the rock above me. lsaw them coming
and tried to dodge to one side.
wheeled about and escaped the full
force OF their spring. Both Of them
struck me on the shoulders with their
forefeet as they came down, and their
long, sharp claws tore great burrows in
my flesh and left my coat and shirt
hanging in shreds.
The blood spurted from my wounds
and was knocked down by the force
OF the blows. closed my eyes as | fell,
face downward, and expected to be
torn TO shreds In an instant. But to my
surprise the animals did not follow up
the attack and struggled to my feet.
lloarse growing and the sounds of a
terrific struggle told me that they were
fighting each other
They had got the smell Of blood, and,
missing their victim at the first spring,
the fierce brutes flew at each other
threats. turned in time to see the
most ferocious combat | had ever wit.
messed and in the excitement Of the
moment forgot my wounds.
The other lions had seen in the
trees were probably frightened away
by the shots had fired. Anyway, they
were gone, and the two that had tried
to make meal Of me we're left to fight
their battle to the death without inter.
ruption.
| picked up my rifle and again took a
position against the rock, but the fight
ing lions were no longer aware Of my