The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-21
TERROR MAKES THEM TAME.
Strange Sights Among Animals During
Forest Fire.

messed by man in California was
seen few days ago by T. NJ. Edwards,
Of Descanso, San Diego county. Noun
tain lions, wolves. wildcats, rabbits,
deer, and cattle even lying down side
by side, just as it is said wild beasts
did in the garden of Eden before Adam
and Eve ate the apple. But in the
latter instance they had become friends
in the fact of common danger.
When Mr.. Edwards came upon the
strange group he was the most sur
prised and frightened of the whole
| company.
ut was during the last forest fire."
explained Mr.. Edwards, when mar
| rating his experiences, .'or might say
toward the end of the fire, for we had
1t we'll under control and were sure
that 1t would soon die out.
Naturally, at this stage my first
thought was for my cattle Several
had failed to come to the barn when
the fire broke out, and / was afraid
they had been suffofated by the smoke
and fire. A bunch of my best Jerseys
4 were missing.
when I started on my search for
them the fire was still burning around
| the sides of number of thickets, and
| knew that if I found my cattle alive
they would be inside one of these
| thickets. Accordingly I made my way
through the circles of smoldering
brush, almost blinded by smoke, and
commenced a search through the green
| timber.
"At last I came to thicket that
was in a gulch. The fire was still
burning fiercely around the outside,
| but / could see the green leaves
through the smoke and knew there
was room for a whole herd of cattle
on the inside. After considerable I
found place to get through the
oIyr az = ral1,
cool and shady. A little smoke drift
ed in, but not enough to make it in
convenient or unpleasant
Il at once felt sure that I would
| find my cattle here, but I was not at
! all prepared to discover the sight that
met me.
1T was while I was dabbling in the
stream that I heard the 'quack' of a
duck. OF course I had no gun, and /
began blaming myself for not bringing
one Then got glimpse of the duck
floating on the water and not at all
frightened at my appearance.
1t must be tame one I thought,
and went up close to it. Strange to
say 1t made no effort to get out of my
way, but allowed me to pick it up. 1
saw it was wild duck as soon as
I examined it's wings. Then saw sew
eral others and they all behaved the
same way. A wild goose waddled out
in front of me and a flock of wild
pigeons flew around and roasted on the
branches of trees, where could touch
them.
Il felt bewildered and thought I must
have gotten into an enchanted forest.
1t was most novel sensation and I
spent some time amusing myself with
the different birds.
However, that was not finding my
cattle. so l continued my way up the
strea mfor few hundred feet. Then
| met sight that simply astounded me. 4
l stopped and rubbed my eyes, to make
sure that I was not asleep. Then I
got frightened and was half tempted
to run back But the memory of the
strange actions Of the wild ducks and
geese only few minutes previously
nerved me somewhat. If it had not
been that I had had seen them first I
most surely would have run away and
ever afterward would have made my
self believe that had been a victim of
an hallucinat ton.
"As it was. I made my way into the
opening in the forest and looked about
me in wonderment. A big 1ackrabbit
Hoped up to me and rubbed his nose
against my knees.
1.-THE opening in the forest was full of
wild animals, and three of my jerseys
were peacefully chewing their cuds. 1t
was sight that reminded me of the
Bible story of the garden of Eden.
lat the foot of a pine tree was a
large gray wolf, and beside him three
sheep, all apparently contented. A big
eyed deer wandered up to me, with a
was also a big wildcat lying beside a
rabbit. A coyote with a broken leg
looked at me piteously, and when I
stopped down to look at the fracture it
licked my hand.
Not one of the animals was any
more afraid Of me than my Jerseys
cows were. The jackrabbits allowed
me to pick them up and put them on
the cows back, and I believe could
have played with the mountain lion.
but 1 did not care to run too great
risks
1.-The wildcat was purring when
went by her. I could see that she had
the claws turned in so as not to scratch.
While I was still standing in wonder
ment some of the ducks and geese wan
dered into the opening, but even the
ferocious wildcat showed no disire to
harm them.
II knew that the way I had come
into the thicket was also a good way
to get out. Accordingly, I placed my
hand on the neck Of one of the cows
and led her In that direction.
What was my surprise to see all the
other animals in the thicket get up
and follow us. That is, all except the
poor coyote Win the broken leg. 1t
walled little as we went past it, but
nothing could be done; it had to be
left behind
THE big eyed deer walked on one
side of me and the cows on the other.
Rabbits, wolves, sheep, ducks and
geese and the wildcat, and all the bal
ance Of them walked close behind US,
and musA have made a strange process
sion, indeed.
Once outside the burning thicket,
however and into the open country
free from fire, and what wonderful
change came over the beast! The
deer instantly bounded away to the
hills; the birds flew into the air; there
was screaming and commotion, and the
wildcat made a leap for a rabbit, but
the little fellow was too quick for him
and bounded over the field. My cows
at once became frightened, and gallop-
ed for the ranch as fast as their legs
could carry them.''-San Francisco
Call.