The times., 1901-05-26
A SCOUTS NOTABLE HUNT
Tnt Gigantic Roundup Made by
an Arizona leowboy.
Gathering and Destroying in a
Casryon Lions, Bears, and other
wild Bcnsts-Story5 ofzn Remark
nbIe Hunt-The state Proud of Him

scout. cowboy, trapper, and philosopher,
is perhaps the most talked Of man in Ari
zona today. He has carried out one of
the most gigantic round-ups ever attempt
ed in Arizona, and added new laureis to
his reputation as a successful hunter of
Wild beasts. No hunter in Arizona makes
more money from bounties on bear, lion
scalps, and wolves than Montgomery, and
his services are eagerly sought by the
cattlemen, The big roundup recently oc-
CURED at Colin Cameroh's ranch in Santa
Cruz County, and several of the Indian
trailers employed by Montgomery were
killed by the wild animals when the final
closing-in occurred. The hunter says that
the fight was hot one, and he did not
expect to get out alive.
Many of the animals got away, but
Montgomery with his band of fearless
Indian traiers, shot twenty lions, several
black bear, half dozen grizzlies, a num-
Der of lynxes, and about 100 coyotes
The story of the roundup. the details
of the dangerous moments when the wild
animals were gathered in Soldier Canyon,
the perilous efforts of the yaqueros to
keep the mass of beasts within bounds, Is
one which thrills the blood as the mar
rator unfolds it.
Montgomery tells plain story of the re-
markable hunt, yet he gives it a greater
charm because of the simple manner in
which he narrates an achievement which
has never been equaled in the Southwest.
He does not claim all Of the credit The
Mexican vaqueros who were with him. the
work of Snake George" and the other
American cowboys who composed the
brave band, come in for words of praise.
Colin Cameron of the Lochiel ranch
picked out the best men he had to go with
Montgomery. All were crack shots,
trained hcrsemen-men who never waste
she'll Thay had hunted lions before while
working on the great range which the cat
tie of Cameron's ranch roam, but 1t is safe
to say that none of the men had ever
taken part in such a gigantic and danger
Gus roundup as Montgomery led them
into.
Lions, bears, wolves, and coyotes have
for years terrorized and killed the young
stock of the Cameron ranch, and the ef-
forts of hunting them had been carried on
in a desultory manner Whenever the bed
of lion was found the cowboys trailed
the animal. and usually found the beast.
but there was never concerted effort
made to rid the ranges of the bloodthirsty
beasts which carried of hundreds of calves
and colts every year.
Montgomery had been hunting In the
Huachuca mountains for some time. In
fact. he has done nothing but hunt for
years. He was a scout employed to aid
the Government troops in hunting Apache
warriors. and he says that Apache hunt
ing is about the same as lion hunting
Colin Cameron planned the great round
up and placed Montgomery at the head
of band of hunters, every man of which
was fit associate for Montgomery The
plan was studied out, the party was di-
vided into squads; each little band had
its work to do, and the final roundup
would bring the entire crowd Of hunters
together with the living result of their
work. Soldier Canyon was selected as the
point where the drive should end-for
there is an abrupt barrier there formed
by the great mountain range where the
animals could be trapped with the least
danger to the hunters
The party left ConIin cameron's ranch
armed with ammunition and PROVISIONS
for campaign which would last for sew
eral weeks. Each man carried two Colt
six-shooters, three belts, a holster upon
every saddle containing rifle, and knives
Of various sizes completing the arms of
warfare. Reaching the foothills Mont
gomery directed the movements of his
men.
Each squad was given particular por-
ton of the mountain and Soldier Canyon
was to be their final rendezvous. The
scope of the country covered was so vast
that il hardly seems credible that such an
undertaking would prove successful. The
hunting was done at long range; the ami
mails were herded as though by magic
Soldier Canyon had been well baited sew
eral days before the hunt began. Mexican
vaqueros had driven into the box canyon a
Of nl vI-T-,
weaned from their mothers and placed in
the canyon. The choicest young meat
of the range was gathered for the lions to
iced upon BarrcadeS of rocks were built
on the crest Of the canyon walls, where
sharpshOOters were stationed TO pick off
the animals as they came into the CANYON
TO slaughter the young stock. Desperadoes
never Planned more successful ambush
The hunters went into the toughest por-
ton of the mountain range; back into
the recesses where the lions, bears. and
have always dragged the stock for their
young to feed upon. The hunt was made
at time when the animals have to skir-
miSh hardest for food for in the late
talns and goes down into the foothills
Enticing lions and bears from the hiding
places, watching calves. searching for the
beds OF the lions, trailing them where
scarcely the print of their feet is left and
with only the broken bits of scared grass
or twlgS to guide the trailers in their
"DIk- ct lNS trained hunter works a
pldly and accurately upon such a trail
and 1t is seldom that he Is deceived
Several days after the men had parted
IN squads they were miles apart the out
posts having ridden into the very heart
of the mountain range Each squad set
about its work as though It were guided
Dy no great concerted plan, but was sim
ply hunting on its own account But
every forward movement was In the df-
rectiOn Of Soldier Canyon. Every fleeing
lion was herde' In that direction. and
once the animal came within scent Of live
stock in the canyon the work of the herd
ers and hunters became easier. The
mountains were scourged in this manner
by each squad. Sometimes a hunter found
IL possible to kill a lion or a bear and the
spot was marked but no time was lost in
packing the headway
Following upon the heels Of the hunters
and trailers were small bands Of Indian
runners. who were assisted by hounds in
into line the struggling beasts,
picking out the helpless young lions and
bears for immediate slaughter. The In
dians worked miles In the rear of the
hunters. and the frightened lions often
passed within range of the mountain
hunters and were shot down.
4 never saw so many beasts in the |
mountains before" said Montgomery.
The Indian runners sure filled the trees |
with lions, and there want dogs enough |
to herd EN-"
The Indians were armed with rifles and
knives. and whenever a Hon or bear got |
into tree it was brought down and left |
dead on the ground The. killing did not |
stop the progress of the chase. The can |
yons rung with the mingled war cries of |
the Indian runners, the cowboy Yells, the |
roar Of the lions, and ths msanS Of the |
black and grizzly bears. The brush |
cracked, the undergrowth of pine and oak |
snapped and the horsemen and the wild |
kaa Ia1 "a