The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-03-26
MOUNTAIN LION LASSOED.
Daring Feat of Two Boys in the Hills Ne
San Diego. Cal.

Daring Feat of Two Boys in the Hills Near
San Diego. Cal.
Charles Hobbs knows much more about
mountain lions than he did three days
ago. So does Charles Griffin. a young
man of the same age, says a San Diego
dispatch to the San Francisco Call. The
two boys, accompanied by Mrs. Hobbs
horseback to the Griffin ranch in Green
valley, forty miles east Of this city, on
Friday. They had reached a lonely
part of the road in little canyon
branching in two ways, leaving the road
ahead of them concealed by a sharp turn
in the canyon, when the two leading
horses. ridden by Hobbs and Griffin
young men are expert horsemen and they
kept their seats and forced the horses
ahead: Keeping a sharp lookout under
the shadowy brush, young Hobbs rode
ahead. meantime drawing his revolver.
Suddenly, without warning, big
mountain lion leaped out toward him, not
uttering roar until it was in the air
used it's claw instantly to rip and tear
at Hobbs long leather boot. Fortunate
ly the leather was thick and resisted the
claws until the rearing of the horse dis
lodged the lion Hobbs fred at about
the same time, but his shot missed.
There was a great commotion among
the horses and their riders. Mrs. Hobbs
though brave woman, shrieked when
she saw her sons danger and was unable
to control her horse, which reared and
turned, trying to run away. Young
Griffin ran to assist her, knowing Hobbs
could handle the big cat with his gun.
But the evening shadows were so deep
that Hobbs could not see plainly enough
to get fatal shot, especially as his horse
Leaving Mrs Hobbs safely in the road,
Griffin hurried forward to assist his com
panion. Together they started into the
clump of bushes where the great yellow
cat was skulking. They. saw it's form in
distinctly, and could have killed it, but
Griffin proposed that they capture it
alive
How" asked Hobbs
''Well," replied Griffin. II will go back
a yard or two. and you ride up and draw
the big cuss out at you. When he jumps
him with my lariat.'
The programme was instantly carried
out. before the brute had chance to re-
treat. Griffin dropped back, getting his
lariat in readiness while Hobbs, getting
the word, dashed toward the lion like an
Apache. His tactics had the desired eff
feet. The lion. with scream Of rage,
le;peu out OF the lHlcket, ana Ill InOtnef
bound was at the horses nostrils. Grit
fin, with the experiences of a trained
horseman, darted forward on his horse
and let the lariat fly. 1t circled around
the body of the lion and drew ,aut,
while, with the characteristic cowboy
yell. Griffin sent the spurs home and
dashed past Hobbs, dragging the lion
over and over in the dust, while it spit,
clawed and screeched.
Hobbs rode back and got his mother,
and together they followed Griffin, who
went at rapid gait so as to keep the
lariat taut Whenever the lion showed
signs of attacking Griffin or his horse
Hobbs would run up and tease it, dis
tracing it's attention from the man in
front. In this fashion the big lion was
taken to the Griffin house. The boys
called to one of the men inside to get Il
lariat, which was done, and five minutes
later the tawny captive was growing
and grumblng inside heavy box. He
has not been measured, as no one cares
to get his hands too close to the razor
like claws. but the mountain people say
he is the biggest one seen in these parts
for years and they account for his fe-
rocity on the theory that his mate had
hrnn killed