The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-07

.4-- --~-s.
ance of porcupine The lion. however
bravely defended himself for 2. long time
cfunchlng several of the spear handles
eventually shot hit him in the eve and
tne peaN breathed his last. He was of
enormous size, and had only recently
taken a Hottentot from the 'kraal' Cen
campment of huts) and devoured the rn-
fortunate victim"
GIRL LASSOED THIS LION.
From the St Louis Republic comes this
story of Mexican lion lassoed by a
girl:
Old John Diorn owns a ranch and sew
eral Thousand head of cattle The ranch
is located on the western plains of Tex
as, about the headwaters of the tribu-
tarles or the Guadaloupe He has three
daughters, who have been looking after.
MS herd for several years. It is the boast
OF these girls that no mustang has ever
been able to shake one of them from his
back. They are fearless riders, and can
hurl lariat with q precision that manv
cowboy envies. Since the death of their
only brother. julius Diorn, who was
Killed by cattle thieves few years ago.
these young women have ridden after
cattle, repaired windmiFls, killed wolves,
and frequently branded calves.
On Sunday morning not long ago Nor
ma, the Oldest of the three. started out
on her pony to ride" the wire fence of
small pasture, a couple of miles from
the house. Riding wire fence" is
making tour of inspection to see that
the wires are all up and the posts solid.
AS the girl started out she swung the
belt of her Winchester over the gate
post, remarking that she was not going
far and wouldn't need a gun. She was
hardly out of sight before an immense
Mexican lion sprang out in the road in
front of the pony. The beast gave few
loud roars, and then disappeared in the
direction of a small bunch of cows and
calves.
Starting her pony at full speed and
yelling at the lion as if she possessed
the power in her voice to paralyze all
wild beasts, she rode straight toward the
terror stricken cattle, coming up with
them as the lion sprang upon the neck
of a calf, crushing it to the earth.
The old COWS instantly charged the
lion, and the mother OF the calf gave
him such an ugly thrust with her sharp
horns that he was forced to relinquish
his hold on his prey. The sight of the
trembling, frightened little calf aroused
the girls ire, and, swinging her rope over
her head, she rode at the lion.
The girl screamed at the lion and urged
her pony to pursue him. The beast fire.
quently looked back and snarled threat
eningly, but he failed to find courage
enough to offer battle. Suddenly it oc-
Cured to the girl that there was no rea-
son why she could not choke the lion
to death. She swung her lariat over her
head, and as the trained pony sprang
forward dropped the moose about the
lions neck. The pony instantly braced
himself on his launches. digging his
fore feet into the ground. and the Lon
turned a somersault, striking the earth
with his head toward his pursuers. The
girl hoped that she had broken the
beasts neck, but he was only badly
stunned, and the pain that he suffered
seemed to increase his rage and courage.
THE LION IN HER WAKE.
Crouching and emitting a roar, he
sprang into the air with all his strength,
expecting to land on the ponys neck
and tear his pursuers to fragments. TAie
agile little horse turned just in time to
feel the claws of the lion grazing his
launches.
All Western horses entertain a horror
Of those lions, for one of their tricks is
to lie in ambush on the limb of a tree
near where the horses are in the habit
of drinking. From their hiding places
they fall upon young colts and devour
them. The Texas pony knows the Mexi-
can lion, and he fears him more than all
other enemies.
So instantly as the lion sprang forward,
the pony began to run. The rope was
tense, and if she had wished to do It,
the girl could have unfastened the lariat
from the saddle-horn. Moreover, she
knew the chances were that If the lion
vEas released In his state of rage he
would tear the pony and herself to bits s
She leaned forward and urged her fright
aned mustang to do his best
She reached the ranch gates at her
home just as her sisters accompanied
by two young men of the neighborhood.
were about to pass through it on their
way to church. There, now" she
shouted. II have roped and dragged a
lion to death" Her speech of triumph
was cut short by warning scream from
one Of her sisters. who noticed that the
lion was about to regain his feet and re-
new the battle. One of the Texans sent
bullet through the monsters brain and
ended his career.