The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1894-01-27


Slaughtered Before the Rest Give Up
tho Fight.
In the fall OF 1887 party OF sur
vcyors left Fort Yuma. Cal, on luty
in connection with the mile posts and
other landmarks distributed along
the international boundary line be-
tween Upper and Lower California
The first two days out were pleasant
enough. but the third day proved
anything but agreeable, for drizzly,
wet rain set in which kept every ono
closely confined to the camp While
the moisture was falling thick and
fast Mexican officer, accompanied
by an escort, rode up and claimed
shelter, which the surveyors were
glad enough to grant for the sake OF
their company.
The officer related startling story
OF having encountered four large
Mexican lions not two hours previ-
Gus, which animals seemed quite
ferocious and hungry, and actually
had disputed their passage through
had fired and wounded two Of the
brutes, but the quartet OF monsters
finally carried themselves sullenly
off and disappeared in the timber
He also said the country was full OF
black-tail deer that were racing
through the timber and galloping
over the hills, and as for smaller
game, such as long-eared rabbits
sage hens and chaparral cocks, they
were SO numerous and tame that
they could almost be knocked over
with clubs.
Rain or no ram, this was an OPP
portunity not to be lost, and three
OF the surveying party accompanied
by one OF the Mcxicans, at once set
out for the hills where the game
was said to be. They rode on through
rocky, half-mountainous country,
covered with stunted oaks and sharp
pointed chaparral. and then, far
away in the distance, on tho summit
Of bunch OF crags. they deserted a
dozen objects outlined against the
SKY which appeared to be mountain
sheep Of the Sierra Madre species.
1t was decided to stalk Them so
the party, after picketing their
horses. divided, two going up q
draw In the mountains to the left
and the other two swinging around
to the right, with mutual agree
ment to keep on ard finally meet at
the base of the crags to compare
notes, where the sheep had first
been seen.
IL was with the Mexican SER
geant." said Mr.. Gaillard, one of tho
surveyors, land we climbed to
ridge whore, peeping over, scanned
the country for half a mile, but
could see no living creature, Then,
from the right where | was not look
ing, like dream came five beauti-
full black tails, dashlng swiftly down
the mountain valley, and not POO
yards behind them were full pack
of timber wolves in hot pursuit We
both fired at once at the leader.
Down dropped the buck. tumbling
head over heels in the rocks and the
others scrambled away at the top OF
their speed and soon disappeared
around bend in the canyon, not
withstanding the shower of lead we
sent after them, the wolves at the
first discharge, themselves took to
their heels in an opposite direction,
and we never saw them afterward.,
AFTER dressing and quartering
the game each OF us shouldered u
moiety and started Of down the
canyon to the left to ind our com
rades. Never shall forget the
scene that met our eyes after we had
advanced about 100 yards into tho
timber. Even while skinning and
continuous firing could be heard far
off to the left, but now upon APP
preaching nearer loud shouting and
hallooing came to our ears. which
told us that something unusual had
happened or was going on. We
dropped our meat and went forward
rapidly, only to find our. two friends
snugly up trcc with only one gun
between them, and surrounded by at
least half hundred Mexican jabalis,
who held them close prisoners.
'As soon as this drove Of jabalis
spicd us they abandoned their pris-
oners at once. and with loud snorts
charged directly down upon us at
railroad speed. We took TO our heels
and ran for our lives; but the SER
geant, who was evidently used to
their tactics, grasped my hand firm
~ and darting out into tho canyon
over the ragged rocks we ran at
hcadlong pace until we reached a
sort of butte or mound, up which we
scrambled in n manner and style that
| never thought possible.
'.llere we in turn became prison
ers, and amused ourselves by pick
ing off our assailants. who had
formed a circle around our mound.
snorting and grunting viciously; but
apparently without the sense or in
genuity OF climbing up after us. Our
broadsides had laid nineteen OF them
low, but somehow this did not seem
in the least to discourage them, for
they still grunted and snorted and
clrcled around the mound, intent
upon holding us securely until the
last ono of thoir num bar ehoul1 bn