The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-30
ON A HUNT FOR LIONS,
Los Catos SportSmen Are After
the ScalpS of war
mintS."
Wild Animals That Routed a Camp
of Pleasure Seekers in
Moody'S GulCh.

California lions, so called, are by no
means dangerous unless tainted by hunger
or cornered by IN enemy, and then they
will fight, and desperately, too.
Occasionally report of the killing of
desperate and ferocious California lion in
some part of the country is spread broad
cost and as a result people who are not
conyersant with field sports and the game
of the country have great dread OF meet
ing any OF those animals when rusticating
in the mountains.
Last Sunday party of sportsmen under
the command of Henry J. Cattermole of
Wrights, Santa Clara County, left Wrights
in search of a lion that had been seen
quite frequently in the previous few weeks
in the vicinity of Los Gatos Creek. Seven
well-trained hounds followed the hunters,
! who were mounted on horses accustomed
| to mountain climbing.
! A start was made at day brea k, and when
! the sportsmen arrived in thelocality where
| the lion was last seen two of the hounds,
which were the leaders of the pack and
! trained to chase "varmint," were cast off
on a rolling piece of ground near the sum-
nit of hill where the lion was known to
pass in his nocturnal visits from place to
place. The old dog--a canine that could
| not be purchased for any sum of money
!
top, stopping occasionally to investigate, as
| it were, an old track on the soft ground,
| which was shaded from the sun by red
wood trees.
At least half an hours time was wasted
in the hunt for fresh trail and just as
| the sportsmen had concluded to retire to
some other locality one of the young dogs
| partially trained to wildcat and lion hunt
ing gave tongue and instantly the re-
mainder of the pack joined in the chorus
and ran to the spot where the first sign of
game had been discovered.
The hunters quickly removed their Win
chesters from where they rested on the
pummel of the saddles and waited for re-
suits. The old dog showed some signs of
anxiety when he ran his nose along the
trail, but his tongue was silent.
The spoftsmen knew what that meant.
/ 1t is what is termed by old hunters of big
game, dead sign, the game having
| passed possibly over that spot on the even
ing of the previous day. The search was
continued along the mountain sides and
through the deep canyons until the sun
had assembled well above the horizon, but
no fresh tracks were discovered. Occa-
| sionally fresh deer track was taken up
| by the young dogs, but they were driven
back from the chase as the close season for
| deer shooting is still in effect.
The hunters returned to Wrights before
the heat of the day had set in, so as TO rest
their dogs and resume the chase on the
| following morning.
1t now appears from dispatch which
was received by the CALL on Friday even
ing, and which appeared In yesterdays
paper, that the lions had moved from that
part or the country III which they were
seen week ago and are now located-if
not killed by this tlme-in a place known
as Moody's Gulch. The dispatch states
that w. H. Edwards ana party of Los
Gatos, while camping in Moodys Gulch,
were surprised on Tuesday night last by
the unexpected and unweicome appear
ance of two lions, whose cries drove terror
to their hearts The lion, as previously
stated, when not suffering from hunger, is
perfectly harmless. but it's cries at any
time, and especially at night, are fearful to
| hear.
Edwards, according to the report, seized
his rife, and moving to within safe shoot
ing distance OF one of the animals, aimed
and fired the ball, striking the lion in the
head. The enraged lion dashed at his
enemy and Edwards to save himself from
a clawing, sought safety by grasping
limb and swinging his body into tree.
lions remained at the foot of the tree all
night and left for their lairs at daybreak.
1t is safe to remark, however, that if the
bullet fired from Mr.. Edwards rife had
pierced the head of the lion there would
not have been any necessity for the shooter
to climb into tree for safe keeping,
On the following day the beasts were
traced by the blood of the wounded ami
NAL to their camp in the woods, where
nine cubs were found. A party consisting
OF Edwards, Cattermole and his dogs left
yesterday morning for the home OF the var
mint, and it is presumed that lion scalps,
tails and paws will attract widespread at
tentlon in Los Gatos to-day II all goes
right.