The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-07-28
GIRL LASSOES LION.
A Texas Diana Has an Exciting and
Dangerous Experience.

Marble Falls Tex0 Dispatch 10 Mime
apohs Tribune.
The talk of this neighborhood is the
daring exploit of Miss Norma Diorn in
assoing a full-grown lion and dragging
home the body of her prey at the heels of
her mustang. The Southern Texas Cattle
Association has presented Miss Diorn with
a gold-mounted revolver, and has sent 10
the City of Mexico for the finest side-sad-
die "for the grttest girl on a Texas
ranch"
Old John Diorn owns ranch and sew
eral thousand head of cattle. The ranch
is located on the western plains of Texas
about the headwaters of the tributaries
of the Guadalupe. He has three daugh-
tiers, who have been looking after his
herd for several years. 1t 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 a
lariat with a precision that many COW
boy envies. Since the death of their only
brother Julius Diorn. who was killed by
cattle thieves a few years ago, these
young women have ridden after cattle
repaired windmils, killed wolves and fire.
quently branded calves. The story of
Miss Norma's lion killing Is told as fol-
lows:
One Sunday morning, not long ago
Norma, who IS 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 a wire fence"
is making a 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. Start
ing her pony at full speed and yelling at
the hon 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 just as the
lion sprang upon the neck of a calf
crushing it 10 the earth.
The old cows instantly charged the lion
and the mother of the calf gave him such
an ugly thrust with ner 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 al the lion. The girl screamed at the
lion and urged her pony to pursue him
The beast frequently looked back and
snarled threateningly. but he failed to
find courage enough to offer battle Sud-
denly il occurred 10 the girl that there
was no reason why she could not choke
the hon 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 brac-
ed himself on his launches digging his
fore feet in the ground. and the lion turn
ed a somersaut, 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 in
crease his rage and courage.
Crouching and emitting a roar he sprang
into the air with all his strength, expect
ing 10 land on the pony's neck and tear
his pursuers TO fragments. The agile little
horse turned just in time to feel the claws
of the lion grazing his launches.
All Western horses entertain a horror of
these 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 drink
Ing. From these hiding places they fall
upon young colts and devour them. The
Texas pony knows the Mexican lion, and
he fears him more than all other enemies.
So, instantly the lion sprang forward
the pony began 70 run. The rope was
tense, and II she had wished to do il, the
girl could not have unfastened the larat
from the saddlehorn. Moreover she knew
the chances were that If the lion was
released in his state of rage, he would
tear the pony and herself to bits. She
leaned forward and urged her frightened
mustang TO do his best
She reached the ranch gates at her home
lust as her sisters, accompanied by two
young men Of the neighborhood. were
about 10 pass through it on their way TO
church.
There now" she shouted u have rop-
"a and dragged a lion to death" Her
speech OF triumph was cut short by a
warming scream from one Of her sisters.
who noticed that the lion was about 10
regain his feet and renew the battle.
one OF the Texans sent a bullet through
he monsters brain and ended his career.