The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-11-01
MOUNTAIN LIONS.
A Montana Mans Terrible Experience With
the American Puma.

mountain lions OF the Northwest Sdlu
Maj. jackson, of Spokane, recently.
They combine the cunning and agility
If the cat tribe with the strength OF
the lion and the ferocity of the tiger.
| have never been much of a 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 menageric on my ranch.
One day | was out in the hills looking
a, some timber, and near the mouth OF
small cave in the rocks found a young
lion crawling about on the ground and
whining like kitten. 1t was only a
few weeks old and ! decided to take ii
home and add it to my menagerie.
judged that there was a 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 it up in my arms
it set mp dreadful screeching cry, a
sort of cross between the wall of a
frightened baby and the bark of a small
dog. Fearing that the cries would
bring the old lions home in hurry,
lost no time in getting away FROM to
spot where found my captive. took
OFF my coat, and, wrapping up the
cub tried to stop its cries. but it was
no use; it only made more noise.
Before had gone one hundred yards
| heard the blood-curdling shrek of a
full-grOwn lion close behind me, and |
knew that the mother of the cub was
on my trail. Her cry must have been
call for help. In ten seconds it was
answered as many times and the cries
came from all directions
| was surrounded by mountain lions,
and 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 a 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 a swaying OF the branches
of two trees in front of me and chorus
of fierce shriells 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 Tor business.
Some ten yards ahead of where
stood | saw big rock that rose out of
the ground fifteen feet or more.
made a dash for that rock. and reached
it just in time. Backing up against it
faced half score Of full-grown
lions and they We're as vicious a look
ing lot as ever saw. had hoped that
they would stop when they found that
the cub was safe, but they didn't.
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 spr!nging 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 Il 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 We're near enough.
The apparent hOpelessness OF my
situation seemed to steady my nerves,
and taking careful aim at the nearest
lion | fired With a new kind of screech
the brute leaped five feet into the air
and fell back dead. But there was an
other one on the ground almost as near
as the first, and still advancing.
A second shot finished that one. and
then glanced at those in the trees
saw two glazing down at me with their
eyes cleaning like balls Of fire. Both
We're crouching for spring. shot
the nearest one, and again my bullet
reached vital spot.
Before | could throw out the empty
shell | heard terrific shrek, diving
away to a hoarse 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. saw 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 70 nv
surprise the animals did not follow up
the attack and | struggled 10 my feet.
Hoarse growing and the sounds of
terrific struggle told me that they We're
fighting each other.
They had got the smell of blood and,
missing their victim at the first spring,
the fierce brutes flew at each others
throatS. | 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
yyo,a mana tha +,,-,