Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-06-06
A Heathen Hero.

Wnlcn, as ltS name indicates, is
found in the mountains, being the
largest and most ferocious.
A great many people, by reading
stores of adventure, where the hero
is shown as wringing the necks of
full-grown panthers as easily as
you or l would that of a cat, get an
idea that these animals are not very
dangerous and that they would
even make nice pets, but they were
never more mistaken. Not even
old experienced hunters care to en-
counter the mountain lion if they
can get around doing so, and when
they do engage one in mortal COM
bat it is under protest, as it were,
and at as long range as possible.
When the Union Pacific railroad
was building, there were, in the
Rocky mountains, at different
places, what were known as ste
camps" One of these camps,
known as Rawlins', that being the
name of the boss, was on the west
slope of the Medicine Bow noun
tains, in the south part of Wyom-
ing.
There were about fifty men en-
ployed in the camp, and their bust
ness was cutting ties for the rail,
road. There were about fifty men
of every nationality, though Amer.
leans predominated. Among them
was one Chinaman-a boy of about
seventeen.
This boy was remarkably stout.
built fellow, and as he was an ex-
pert chopper, and could make as
many ties in day as the best Of
them, he had no difficulty in keep,
ing his place.
He was perpetual butt for the
jokes of the rest of the men, how.
ever, and they made life burden
to the poor fellow.
Yong Kee took everything in
good part, though, and would grin
good-naturedly, even when bother
ed the worst.
One evening, as the men were
sitting around waiting for supper
Sam Spark, the cooks "help," a
boy of fourteen years, came running
into the cabin, almost frightened to
death. He had been sent to the
spring for some water and had
dropped his buckets and fled to the
house.
He said that he had seen noun.
tain lion.
The cook, who was in a hurry
for the water, uttered an angry ex-
clamation and went for the water
himself.
In less than a minute he was
back without the water, and looking
very white.
1T is one sure enough" he sait
huskily. "You fellows won't gel
no coffee this night.'
"Oh, yessee, we willes," said Yong
Kee quietly, me 60 gettee water
alice light; havee coffee alice samet
las nightw
The Chinese youth left the hous,
as he spoke.
Hes gone Chinaman!' gaspet
the cook; I'VE won't see that boy
again"
But they did. Yong Kee entered
carrying the buckets filled will
water a minute later.
mo see mountain lion," he salt
cody; "allee samee hearre heal
biggee howlee!"
The men had their coffee, an,
Yong Kee had an extra portion.
Next evening, just at quitting
time, the men were started by sew
eral unearthly screeches whicl
seemed to be within few rods o
where they were at work. The,
were given utterance to by tn
mountain lion, and, very mucl
frightened, the men hastened to tn
cabin.
That is, they all hastened wit
the exception of Yong Kee. II
came sauntering into camp aftel
a while, cool as could be. H
had not seemed to be frightened b
the screeches of the animal at all.
This settled the men. They di
not like to see a Chinaman, and
boy at that, show more courag
than they, and they began badger
ing the youth.
"Weren't you afraidp" they ask
ed.
"No; me no haid," answere
Yong Kee.
Among so many rough men ther
were some, as a matter of course
who were naturally cruel-hearted
Such a one was Jed Hawkins, a big
bullying fellow, who was usual