The National tribune., 1903-10-22

urgent business Immediately after by re-
turn.
This man was a Frenchman, native
of the neighhorhooG of Toulouse. He was
then about 40 years of age, cooper. a
good, easy-going man, but very illiterate.
The greater part of his life he had
spent in South and Central America, and
had accumulated there a small capital
His aunt, a very sharp and thrifty
business woman of advanced age, had
come to Tucson in the early Cos from
Acapulco: she brought some money with
her and established at once pawnbroker
shop. where she charged 20 per cent. per
week on moneys advanced upon portable
property. and from to 10 per cent. upon
money loaned on real estate. Thus she
prospered financially, and was soon the
owner of many lots and houses, which
steadily increased in value. When, about
1878, she concluded to retire from bust
ness, she sent for her two nephews, the
aforementioned Pierre, another named
Jean, youngster who had been in Bour-
baki's army in the ancoGerman war Of
1901, and who was then living with
his family near Toulouse, France.
The two nephews arrived at Tucson
at nearly the same time, and the old lady
proceeded forthwith to make over her real
estate to them, Pierre receiving by far the
larger and more valuable part Of it.
Pierre's wife, a fine Spanish woman,
whom he had brought with him from
Guatemala, died soon after their arrival,
and in the following year he married
French woman in Sonora. 1t was soon
after that he engaged me.
Mr.. Charouleau, with whom had been
acquainted ever since he reached the town
of Tucson, had fine place In the range
md after the business was disentanslei
he invited me to 60 there for q rest and
hunt.
About the beginning of June we had
finished. The proposed rest was taken
at the Catalina ranch, which was situated
about 81 miles from Tucson upon a pla-
teau whence Il beautiful view Of the sur
rounding mountains was obtainable. The
house contained four rooms and 4 kitchen,
all well furnished and appointed. because
Madame used them sometimes for weeks
during the extreme Summer heat, as a
Summer resort for herself and daughters.
knew that Mr.. Charouleau was n good
hunter. and that he was sure shot and
had killed several bears during the preced
ing seasons. He kept at this place q num-
Der of fine rifles and shotguns, as the
hnla lot
ed with game of every kind-the mesa
lands with deer and antelope, the course
Of the creek with valley quai!s, the high
er regions with bears aud mountain lions.
while turkeys. doves, hares, rabbits and
mountain quails were also quite numerous.
l have roamcd a good deal over the
mountains OF southern Arizona, but have
never seen there grizzly bear: nor have
] known one reliable man who has. The
cinnamon and the black bear, however. are
very common, nearly all the year round
and / believe that they hibernate, if at
all, for very short period only. They
live principally on berries during the Sum
mer, perhaps also on cactus fruit. Sma !
game they can catch in plenty. and when
hunger presses them very hard. they will
occasionally capture and devour a small
calf or a sheep from the numberless herds
grazing all over the hills and in the moun
tain gorges.
The most destructive quadruped. how
ever, was then and is now the American
or mountain lion, called in the Middle and
Eastern States panthers. These large cats
kill and deyour many calves and colts
notwithstanding that quite frequently the
mares, especially defend their colts with
great courage and fury. l have seen at
the ranch OF my Mexican brother-n- law
several mares that had been fearfully
scratched and torn by mountain lions while
defending their colts. and also several
COWS, although these latter do not fight
for their offspring with the energy dis
played by the mares.
Near this ranch a mountain lion broke
into the calf pen Of a neighboring ranch
and killed within few minutes five
calves by biting them through their jugu-
lar vein, and would probably have killed
more il the noise caused by the commotion
In the pen had not awakened the rancher
and brought him to the rescue.
A premium of S25 is paid by nearly
every County OF the Territory for the
scalp OF mountain lion, and several men
follow their destruction as q means of liv-
Ing. AS this big cat never devours an
animal completely al one meal. but returns
10 eat 1t after a while. their destruction
by poisoning has been attempted frequent
Iy, but almost invariably with poor sue
cess. as~the scent OF the lion is incredibly
acute and he will ut once run off from his
prey, the moment he scents the touch of
human hand upon it. Besides, if poisoned.
he does not die at once, but hides in Il
cave inaccessible to man. The female
mountain lior, as well as the will-cat.
will, before going on n hunting expedi-
ton, CAREFUL: hide her Young the lat
ter not nnfrequently carrying them into n
deep depression made by the forks of n
large tree.
SEEKING BEAR.
Upon n fine morning in June Mr.
Charouleau pronounced himself ready for
hunting, the majordomo having reported
fresh bear tracks found on the previous
evening. leading into canyon half way
MP the mountain. We mounted immediate.
ly, taking with us n herdcr experienced in
tracking and very strong though ill.
trained dog, supposed TO be n cross between
wolf-hound and bulldog The ma jor.
domo led the way, which soon entered til,
foothills and thence took US higher and
higher towards the base of the mounta ms
where we crossed several canyons rich i:
verdure. After we had assembled TO a hight
Of about $500 feet from the house 4GG
above sea-lcveD, the majordomo showed
us the tracks, and then having urgent
duties elsewhere left us. The dog did mo-
at first scent the tracks, which were. how
ever, so distinct that we easily followe,
them. They led into a deep canyon. wild
ening and leading towards the mountain
side. We followed the bear for about tw;
miles, until we arrived at a place wher,
the sides of the canyon were easily acces
sible; the tracks here led TO the right IN,
orIo 10, tay- Oh