Omaha daily bee., 1895-11-03
LIONS CoRNERED ny GIRLS.
California; Maidcns who Arc Not
Afrnid Of the Mountain MOnnrchs.

California; Maidcns who Arc Not
Afraid Of the Mountain MOnarchs.
Miss Julia Woodruff of Newark, N. j., and
Miss Margaret G. Liner OF San Francisco,
who have been visiting at the Mesa Grande in
this county, relates the San Diego Union,
will take home trophies Of their skill and
prowess, which certainly will cause them to
be looked upon as young ladies OF extraor-
binary courage. The trophies would be val
ued by hunters in any part OF the world, Tor
they are no less than the beautiful pelts
of big mountain lions bagged the other day
by a party composed CT Miss Liner, Miss
Woodruff, J. NJ. Stone and ID. M. Knowles.
Mounted on good horses and accompanied by
Mr.. Stones two dogs, the party started down
Black canyon at 6 o'clock a week ago
last Sunday morning 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 organized 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. In
accessible as the place naturally Is to them,
the muscular lions had often dragged their
prev to their dens with apparent ease.
! Miss Liner and Miss Woodruff each had a
| six-shooter buckled to her waist and pre-
| StIlth u Vel " ll'iuDiV appear ullICs nc
two men rode in advance, and after covering
about two miles the haunts Of the lions were
announced 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 aim,
sent a ball from a Winchester into the lions
lungs. with a blood-curdling scream the
wild animal sprang from the tree to the
ground, its tawny neck and sides bristling
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 weakening
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 tumbled its 1.-THE body end over end to
the ground. Then tying their horses the
| party proceeded on foot after the dogs
through the heavy brush and over rocks,
coming at last in the bottom OF the canyon,
where a lion had been freed by the dogs.
The animal presented a majestic appearance
as he stood upright on a limb of the tree,
his claws distended and sunk deep into the
bark. His long tail waved back and forth,
were disclosed and a deep growl came from
his throat, While the lion stood thus, APP
~parently ready and willing to begin the fight,
the two young ladies' advanced and stood be-
meath tho trie. Then Mr.. Stone raised his
rifle. took quick aim and fired. The big lion
fell to the ground lifeless. He and his mates
all measured over six feet in length and
created some excitement when the party re-
turned to Mesa Grande.