Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-12-06
STORIES OF ANIMALS.

STORIES or ANIMALS.
Last winter, when the Snowstorms
were SO fearful throughout the noun
tains in Utah and the earth was Gov
cred with snow to the depth of five to
ten feet aud remained hidden so long,
the wild animals We're forced to DIES
pcration, says the Detroit Free Press
The wolves were starved and weak, |
and what is known as the mountain
lion almost persisted from starvation. !
Its great strength failed it. and Il man
with Il knife could soon take the life
of an animal that Il short time before
could hold Il powerful OK OF horse and
make Il meal of his flesh. The hungry
animals after Il while discovered that
food was to be had along the railroad |
track whore passengers threw bones |
and scraps of victualS from passing |
trains. Often two starving coyotes |
would cngag" in deadly combat over
Il chicken bone that had Il short time
before been rid of its last vcstgcr of
nourishlnrnt by some economical per
son who did not care to pay - cents
for Il meal This was the condition
Of things. Engineer Cast had charge
of engine No. 15l, which WAS known
rs THE helper" from the fact that it |
helped trains up the mountain and
when at the summit cut of and
ready to help another. one night when
business on the road was slack Cast
noticed something wrong with the |
gearing under the tender and re
marked to the fireman that they would
get Oft and repair it. When half way
down the mountain side he brought |
the engine to Standstll. and the two
men went to work at what proved to
be Il twenty minutes job packing a
hot box ON the tender. The tallow pot
was left at the boilers head. After
completing the repairs the men were
mounting the engine again, only to
see huge mountain lion dcvouring the |
tallow and holding full possession of
the engine cab. 1t was Il cold night |
and the SHOW drifting. The men had |
already remained outside until they |
were very cold, and the chances of
diSpossessing Mr.. Lion were very |
mcager, as he snapped his teeth and |
hasht d his eyes and fast restored the
tallow out of sight. The only consola
ton the men had was that the tallow |
would not last long nj that rate, and |
even this thought was not entirely !
satisfying. as they hod no way of de-
tcrmning that one of them would not |
go the same way at the conclusion of
the tallow feast Finally. after fifteen |
minutes further delay the tallow pot |
was empty, and giving Il growl, as
much as to say, Il am very thank
full gentlemen, and you ought to be"
the animal leaprd from the cab and
disappeared in the hills.
The recent killing by two hunters of
4 mountain lion measuring . feet from
tip to tip, in the PccoS Valley in
southern New Mexico, affords an IL
hstration of the powerful wild beasts
that, inhahiting the forests and plains
and mountain districts, are rarely seen
10y human eye. Such animals, with Il
IL
so we'll out of the way that. except .
for their dcprcrationS. only the praC-
teal hunter would suspect their pres
encc about the ranches. The valley in ,
which this beast was killed is Il de-
precision with prccipitouS sides where .
the river cuts through the open plain.
There is rough ground with rocks
4 IT,, h,,t In 1r
that could afford shelter to so large .
m animal are thinly strung out cot {
tonwood groves along the river, and
scattered clumpS of scrub oak and
pine upon the valley slopes. Yet there .
the lion had made his lair for a long
time, the only indication of his exist .
cnce to the ranchman being his de
structon of sheep and young stock to
satisfy his sanguinary appetite. Many
men have hunted deer season after
season In the Rocky mountains, yet
scarcely once have seen bear at
large. and mover mountain lion. The
latter creature, with more than the
ShvueSs Of his smaller eastern rela-
tive tho panther. has less ticrcenesS
in the presence or man. \ terrier 10
deer. hair aud antelope, and dcstruct
i've rs II Is Of the ranchman'S colts
and calves and sheep, the mountain
Lor. when hunted down and cornered
rarely puts up even a show Of fight
against the hunter, but, after killing
his dogs, devoteS his whole energies to
escape. )
In the tenth century raz9rS cost ten