Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-08-15
LIONS FIGHT to A FINISH.
A Terrible Battle Witnessed Ay hunters "a
the Banks of the Rio Grands.

.iONS run ~ - rINsS"s
A Terrible Battle Witnessed ,y I,unters "a
the Banks of the Rio Grande.
Following the mountains AID rarely
descending into the valleys or low
lands, the felis cncE, or South Ameri.
can lion. Journeys in search Of food
up through Mexico, anG even into
Texas, whence the antelope, his
favorite prey, has fed from his IA.
pacity. While lacking the bushy
name and tufted tail of his African
brother, he is still magnificent
creature, with his powerful body,
majestic head and lordly roar. He is
not be confounded with the puma,
which is of slender build, whose cow
ardly nature has in it nothing of the
lions boldness and courage.
A party of NImrods from Presidio,
Tex, while recently camping on the
witness a battle between two splen-
did specimens OF the felis onca, and
which they declare to have been the
grandest sight in the way of gladia-
torial contests they ever saw. The
hunters were following the trail of a
band of antelopes. and had entered a
narrow gorge with extremely steer
sides, when they saw just ahead OF
them the antelopes huddled together
in most unusual way. While they
advanced on them they heard re-
sounding roar from the other end OF
the gorge, and In another instant be-
held large male lion come bounding
toward the frightened antelopes. He
paused deliberately, as if to select ms
prey, and then with unerring aim
sprang upon fine buck in the middle
of the flock, bearing the poor creature
to the earth. The rest of the herd
turned with one accord and swept
past the hunters, who were too much
taken by surprise TO stay them by 9
single shot.
The lion had evidently killed his
!ictim with almost his first stroke,
for, rising, he stood over it roaring as
If to call his mate to share the feast,
and in a few minutes an answer did
come from a butting crag which rose
on one side of the gorge. The MINI
rods looked up, saw outlined against
the sky second lion, a male. with a
smaller BODY than the first and more
black mixed in The tawny yellow Of
other he had evidently no fear of the
larger animal, and roaring his de-
fiance turned from his lofty post of
observation, and with tremendous
leaps made his way down the rocky
sides of the canyon.
The first conner, seeing that instead
Of his mate an unlimited guest had
come to wrest his prey from him.
awaited his appearance with answer
ing cries of defiance aud challenge,
walking round and round the dead
antelope with tread of majesty and
I'M patience. The second lion paused
on a rock rising some twenty feet
from the bottom Of the gorge and,
gathering himself up sprang down
almost upon the other, which recOiled
for one second, and then flung him
self upon his foe. Over and over they
rolled. filling the ravine with the
thunder of their roars and fighting
ike demons with gaping mouths and
battling paws. Then, as with one
accord, they would draw apart; pant
ing and exhausted, but alert for til
slightest movement on the other,
part, and then rush back to the fray,
screaming with renewed fury.
The scene presently had another
spectator, which. spice by one of the
hunters, was pointed out to the
others. This was 4 lloness, which
appeared on the top of one of the
crags lining the side of the canyon,
and walking up and down, encour-
aged the combatantS with furious
cries, but made no attempt to de-
scend and take part in the battle.
The hunters fascinated by the splcn-
did sight of two fearless, kingly
beasts engaged in mortal combat,
were also indisposed to interfere, and
watched it first from behind rocks
and bushes, but, finding themselves
unnotice1. gradually drew nearer, al.
though still content to reDSlin at
some distance from the rolling, plung
ing creatures.
The second lion was evidently get
ting the best of the larger, which con-
tinued, however, to fight with undi-
| minished fury, though his shoulder,
torn to shreds, was bleeding so that
the ground for yards about was Grim
son with the life fluid. He succeeded,
in spite of his growing weakness, in
laying hold of his antagonists throat,
and could he have fought off death a
little longer would undoubtedly have
! avenged himself, but the other, with
a sudden cxertion, flung the dying
lion off, and with one last feeble ef
fort to stagger to his feet the big lior
ell back dead.
! His conqueror placed both fore feet
| on the head of his foe and roaret
aloud his triumph. The lioness al
this came leaping down into the gorge
and. though the lion turned upon he,
as if she was stranger, her fawnint
attitude soon convinced him that she
came with no hostile intent, and tn,
two then proceeded to inspect the
dead gladiator, after which they be
gan to devour the antelope. Th'
hunters at this point concluded tina
this was their opportunity for bag
ging their lordIy game, and, firing to
gether, advanced on the pair. Th,
lioness unhurt sprang up the side 0
the gorge, and Ieaping with tremen
dous bounds from one rock to anothe
ioon disappeared.
The lion, however, was wounded il
the forequarter, though but slightly
and at first showed fight; but as h
saw the number Of his asSailant
sprang toward Maj. Dunbar, who hap
pened to be nearest him, and upset
ting that gentleman by the sudden
ness and force of the blow, leape(
from his prostrate body to the top o
a boulder near by. A second vollel