, 1897-03-06

The genuine mountain wildcat Is
aroused, and not infrequently he will
assault u man without ~provocation. Not
long since two boys living near Lara
ME had an adventure which they relate
with considerable earnestness. and trem-
Die somewhat yet over the narrow es-
cape they had from a good clawing.
Mat Marble and BERTHE Wallis went
into the hills east of the Marble ranch
for c%ottontails. When a little way up
the canon, BERTHE called Mats attention
to what he thought was an animal in a
hole Il little way above them at the side
Of their pathway. Mat looked up but
did no see anything at first, but just as
he was about to laugh at the idea of the
gray object being an animal, it jumped
out OF the hole and started directly to-
ward them, prepared for a vicious as
sault. Mat quickly brought his gun in
to play and fired four times in rapid
succession at the animal, which was
coming toward the boys with great
speed. The last shot did the work and
The big cat keeled we almost at the
feet Of the boys. 1t was the largest
specimen Of the kind seen in these parts
for many years and the young men are
proud Of their adventure.
The relation of this event to a promi-
nent railroader. recalled to his mind an
occurrence Of a similar nature. although
more serious in its results, near the lit
tie station OF Moss Agate, on the Ore
gon Short Line. The section foreman
his pet Newfoundland dog and in a cut
near Bear river, all Of a sudden, a big
bob-cat jumped directly at them from
the embankment. The dog engaged the
smaller animal and the fight was terri
ic.. Over and over they went along the
track, the foreman trying all the time
to strike the cat with a big wrench, the
only weapon ne had. Finally the ami
mails became separated and the cat ran
out on the ice over the river. Presently
the dog, with some persuasion from its
master. tackled the cat again. but the
ice was so slippery that neither could
get a foothold and the big cat soon ran
away and onto the bridge over the river,
but stopped in the middle OF the struc-
ture. Now Mr.. Foreman thought he
would try his hand and give the dog a
rest. Quietly he slipped along with his
wrench aloft ready to strike. When he
was about to bring 1t down with a dull
sickening thud or the head OF the cat,
1t was not there, but sprang with full
force upon the man, taking him with
such sudden surprise that he was knock,
ed off his feet. And hen the clawing
and fighting began in dead earnest. The
man was bit in the cheek over the eye,
one ear was terribly lacerated. his
clothes were torn in shreds and there
was scarcely a whole piece of epider-
mis- upon either arm. Seeing thai it
was his turn to come to the rescue, the
Newfoundland soon came out on the
bridge and took a hand, probably rescu-
ing his master from death. The dog
rolled the vicious little brute over and
he CHANGED to fall between two cross
ties, his feet up in the air. In this po-
sition he was able to ward of the dog
with his flying claws, but the man with
the wrench took another turn and the
bOb-cat was soOn disDatched
The section foreman at Moss Agate
is not looking for any more adventures
Of that nature.
The blue-bird is hailed as a harbinger
Of spring. 1t is also a reminder that a
blood-purifer is needed to prepare the
system for the facilitating weather %
come. Listen and you will hear the
birds sin "Take Ayer's Sarcopp-