Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-11-28
LIONS ooRNEaeo ~ oIRLs



Mountain .Monarchs.
Miss Julia Woodruff, Of Newark, N.
j., and Miss Margaret q. Liner, OF San
Francisco, who have been visiting at
the Mesa Grandc In this county, will
take home trophies of their skill and
prowess which certainly win cause
them to be looked upon as young ladies
of extraordinary courage. The trophies
would be valued by hunters In any part
Of the world, for they are no less than
the beautiful pelts Of big mountain
lions bagged the other day by a party
composed Of Miss Liner, Miss Wood
ruff, J. NJ. Stone and ID. Nj. Knowles
Mounted on good horses, and accom-
panied by Mr.. Stones two dogs, the
party started down Black canyon at g
O'Clock week ago last Sunday morn
ing on a hunt for lions. The big cats
had been frequently seen in that part
Of the country by the ranchers around
Mesa Grande, whose repeated losses in
the way Of calves and young colts were
enough to discourage them altogether.
The lions were safe so long as no or
ganized party of hunters raided Black
canyon, which is a dark and forbidding
stretch of underground and trees, with
just enough OF side hill to afford a good
retreat for mountain lions. Inaccessi-
BILE as the place naturally Is to them,
the muscular lions had often dragged
their prey to their dens with apparent
ease.
Miss Liner and Miss Woodruff each
had a six-shooter buckled to her waist
and presented very formidable APP
pearance. The two men rode In ad-
vance, and after covering about two
miles the haunts of the lions were an
nounced by the barking OF the dogs far
In advance. The party rushed forward
In time to see a lion spring into the
branches OF a tree on the hillside. Mr..
Stone rode under the tree, and, taking
a steady ann, sent ball from a Win
chester into the lions lungs. With
blood-curdling scream the wild animal
sprang from the tree to the ground, its
tawny neck and sides bristl.ng with
rage and fright. 1t bounded along
with mighty leaps, but the dogs were so
close that the lion Stopped to fight. Its
chest wound, however, was so weaken
ing that the dogs soon vanquished the
big brute.
Less than 100 yards from the spot
where the first lion was killed Mr..
Knowles saw another lion crouched
among the branches of a tree. A rife
ball closed its flaming eyes and tum-
bled its 1.-THE body end over end to the
ground Then tying their horses, the
party proceeded on foot after the dogs
through heavy brush and over rocks,
coming ut last in the bottom of the can
yon, where lion had been freed by the
dogs. The animal presented majestic
appearance as he stood upright on
limb Of the tree, his claws distended
and sunk deep into the bark. His long
tail waved back and forth, and as he
faced his enenSes his long teeth were
disclosed and a deep growl came from
his throat While the lion stood thus,
apparently ready and willing to begin
the fight, the two young ladies advanc-
ed and stood beneath the tree. Then
Mr.. Stone raised his rifle, took quick
aim and fired. The big lion fell to the
ground lifeless. He and his mates I'LL
measured over 6 feet in length and Gre
ated some excitement when the party
returned to Mesa Grande-San Diego
Union.