Birmingham age-herald., 1895-01-17


 "Thcrc arc no more vicious fighters in the whole animal kingdom than the mountain lions of the northwest said Major Jackson of Spokane. They com bine the cunning and agility of the cat tribe with the strength of tho lion and the ferocity of tho tiger.
 II have never been much of a hunter, but few years ago 1 had an adventure with mountain lions out in Washington that gave mo enough of hunting big game for all time. l had captured some young deer, elk and foxes and started a small menagcric on my ranch
 ''Onc day 1 was out in the hills looking at some timber, and near a mouth of small cave in the rocks found a young lion crawling about on the ground and whining like kitten. It was only few weeks old, and 1 decided to take it homo and add it to my mcnagcrie. l judged that there was nest of the young ani- mals somewhere among the rocks and that this one had vcntured out and got lost while the old ones were away
 "I had no trouble in catching it, and he was too young to show fight. But as soon as took it up in my arms it set up a dreadful screeching cry, a sort of cross between tho vail of n frightened baby
 
 the crics; would bring the old lions homo in a hurry lost no time in getting away from the spot where found my captive. I took of my coat and wrapping up the cub tried to stop its cries, but it was no use. It only made more noise.
 Before 1 had gone 100 yards l heard the bloodcurdling shrick of a full grown lion close behind me- and knew that the mother of tho cub was on my trail Her cry must have been call for help. In 10 seconds it was answered as many times. and tho cries came from all directions.
 II was surrounded by mountain lions, and knew that the cry of the cub would rouse them to fury. I hated to lose the expected addition to my menagcric, but dropped that lion cub us if it had been n hot brick Instead of running away, as l thought it would the cub lay down right under my feet and made more noise than ever
 ''Then 1 started to run to get away from it, but a swaying of the branches of two trees in front of mo and q chorus of fierce shrieks close behind warned me that was too late At least a dozen full grown mountain lions, l judged, were closing in around me, and they were there for busi, ness
 "Some 10 yards ahead of where I stood l saw big rock that rose out of the ground l5 feet or more. l made a dash for that rock and reached it just in time. Backing up against it faced half score of full grown lions, and they were as vii cious looking lot as ever saw had hoped that they would stop when they found that the cub was safe, but they didn't. I had my winchester with me, and the chamber was full of cartridges.
 ''When faced my pursuers,. some of them were on the ground, leaping along like cats at play, while others were in the trees springipg from branch to branch with prodigi6us jumps. They were still giving vent to their cries, which wero enough to II fse 0 mans hair when heard at dista4po All the timo they were coming cloaer, and two of those on the ground we're creeping along ready to spring at D ' throat as soon as they were
 ''The al krent hopelessness of my situa- tion seemed to steady my nerves, and, talk ing careful aim at the nearest lion, l fired. With Q new kind of screech the brute leapcd five feet into the air and fell back dead. But thero was another one on tho ground almost as near as the first and still advancing.
 "A second shot finished that one, and then glanced at thoso in the trees saw two glaring down at me, with their eyes gleaming like balls of fire. Both were crouching for @ spring. shot the nearest ono, and again my bullet reached vital spot.
 Before could throw out the empty shell heard terrific shriek, dying away to hoarse growl, right over my head, and then knew that ono of tho animals was on the rock above me
 ''For an instant forgot the one in tho tree and jumped away from tho rock. At the same instant both lions jumped for me, ono from the tree and ono from the rock above me. saw them coming and tried to dodge to one side. Iwhceied about and escaped the full force of their spring. Both of them struck me on the shoulders with their fore feet as they came down, and their lcng sharp claws tore great furrows in my flesh and left my coat and shirt hanging in shreds.
 "The blood spurted from my wounds, nnd was knocked down by the force of the blows. I closed my eyes as fell, face downward, and expected to be torn to lhrcds in an instant, but to my surprise the animal did not follow up tho attack, md as l struggled to my feet their hoarse Srowling and the sounds of terrific liruggle told mo that they were fighting each other.
 They had got the smell of blood, and, missing their victim at the first spring, the fierce brutes flew at each others throats. l turned in time to sec the most ferocious combat had ever witnessed, and in the excitement of the moment I forgot my wounds.
 .sThe other lions had seen in the trees wero probably frightened away by the shots had fired. Anyway they were gone, and the two that had tried to make ameal of me were left to fight their battle to the death without interruption.
 II picked up my rifle and again took position against the rock, but the fighting lions were no longer aware of my presence. They rolled over and over so fast that they looked like two great yellow balls, chang ing to rcd as the blood began to flow in streoms from the gaping wounds they were. tearing in each others bodies with teeth and claws.
 "The fight must have lasted all of three minutes and then the larger of the two animals got his teeth securely fastened in tho throat of the other. In a few moments he was drinking the lifeblood of his van quishcd antagonist, and then as he crouch