The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-27

Mexican Horse Thief Takes Refuge
I'm Mountain Canyon.


large mountain eight miles from Molina
Is called, there lived until recently an
tone Cayagus, half-breed, who had
an experience which few men survive.
His late mountain home is surrounded by
an almost perpendicular wall If rock 200
feet high. To gain it's summit the trav-
eler must take a narrow trail, and the
cent can only be made on hands and knees
the greater part of the way.
About two years ago a band OF horses
was stoleI. in Carbon county, Wyoming,
and driven across the Colorado line. I'M
mediately posse of armed cowboys start
ed in pursuit, and succeeded in capturing
a man by the name of White, one OF the
thieves, TIE other, half-breed Mexican,
was rot to be found anywhere. When
White was questioned as to his partner
in crime, he replied that he was the only
one that stole the horses, but his partner
had Joined him a few hours afterwarl,
not knowing the horses were stolen. The
hatl-breed's name was Antoine Cdyagus,
better known as ''Two-Fingered Tony"
White was given preliminary hearing,
and turned loose, after promising to leave
the country.
The NIcNIoan was badly frightened, and,
fearing the ircn hand of the law, came to
this country on foot. He made his way to
the top Of the Devils Home and erect
ed a cabin, and has been living there ever
since. No one knew the mountain was in
habited until last week, when a band of
cowboys, riding at the foot of the noun
tain found him lying senseless be tween
two large rocks. He was carried to the
nearest ranch house and properly cared
for. In a few days he was able to tell
MS story, and a most horrible one 1t was.
AS the wild animals were numerous, and
he did not possess rifle, he decided to
build house among the rocks, making a
sort of cave with a large boulder at the
opening to serve as a door, so that no
animals could get in. This he did, making
lever with strong pole, and prying the
rock to one side when he wished to pass
through the opening, always being careful
to close it after him.
Lived on Ground Hogs.
Antoine had only bowie knife and ak
as weapons of defense. These he kept near
him at all times. During the day he hunt
ed ground hogs and comics, his only food,
and once he succeeded in killing Il deer.
Last week, after having walked all day
in pursuit of game and having met with
no success, he returned to his cave to find
1t already occupied. AS he neared the en-
trance he discovered that he had for
gotten to pry the rock back to its place af-
ter coming out in the morning. A low
growl from the cave reached his ear,
just as the shaggy head of a large grizzly
bear made his appearance through the
opening. After smiling around for few
minutes the bear trotted off without look
ing back.
Antoine, thinking his way was now clear.
entered the cave, but after advancing
about eight feet he discovered that a fight
seemed to be going on in the rear end of
his house.
Hastily turning back he at once pried
the door open, but stood face to face with
his previous visitor.
The bear Immediately rose up prepared
to vanquish its foe in short order, but the
half-breed was ready and struck the bear
in the throat with his bowie knife and
leaped past it. His leap was not neces-
sary, for the knife had done its work well
and the bear rolled over and died without
a sound
BY this time it was getting dark and
growls and yelps of other animals in the
woods were numerous.
The cold was becoming unbearable and
the half-breed knew if something was not
soon done to relieve him he would be
frozen to death, and if not frozen, torn to
pieces by wild beasts. So summoning up
all the courage he could command he
again entered the cave. All was still in
side, and thinking that the animals had
departed he was just congratulating him
by a large body coming in contact with
him. He started to retreat, it being so
dark that nothing was discernible, when
he was knocked aside again, this time by
the foot of some animal, the claws tearing
the flesh from his left arm.
Attacked by Mountain Lion.
Bleding and almost frantic he made
lunge at his assailant with his knife,
striking a bone and breaking the blade
~, h. Ife nod
and fed through the opening and Antoine
sank to the floor in a faint from fatigue
and the loss of blood. How long he lay
there he does not remember, but when
he recovered his senses the sun was shin
ing through the door of his cave. Turn
ing his head he saw in the center of the
cave lay large female mountain lion
sucking her young. After several efforts
the half breed succeeded in raising him
self to a sitting posture, the lion taking
no notice of him whatever Still weak
and without weapons of any kind, Antoine
tried to get out of the cave AS he adj
vanced toward the lions the old one inter-
cepted him by gently pushing him back
with her paw without showing any anger.
Cayagus, not looking for this unexpected
turn of affairs, endeavoring to pass, but
still the lion persisted in his remaining in
the rear At this juncture a growl was
heard at the entrance and the old lion
turned and made terrific lunge at some
object at the entrance of the cave. A
battle ensued, the young lions meanwhile
whining in terror. At last the sounds
ceased and Antoine, stepping to the front
of the cave, saw the old lion in the last
agonies of death and huge grizzly SLOW
ly clawing between a large crevice in the
rocks.
Antoine started down from the noun
tain. Slowly making his way through the
snow, he succeeded in reaching the bot
tom, but was utterly exhausted. Crawling
between some rocks he was ready to die
when he was picked up by some cowboys.
Cayagus is now under a doctors care
and will soon be able to be around again,
but he says he will never again venture on
that mountain alone and without wea-
pons.