The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-01-29
NOT BOUNTY, BUT
REAL HUNTERS
Salt Lakers Meet and Kill Two Jag
uarS.
ADVENTURE IN OLD MEXICO
J. C. DICK, A. c. AUSTIN AND w. j..
DoOLEY IN PARTY.

Few Salt Lakers have had the privi-
lese accorded TO Messrs. ]. c. Dick,
a. c. Austin and w. J. Dooley, of
this city-that of participating in a
genuine tiger hunt in Mexico, having
all the thrill and gore of the kind
that are usually pictured as occurring
only in India or elsewhere in the far
east To meet and kill a pair of beasts,
even if they are only American I'll
gers or jaguars, and even if the odds
are two to one, is an unusual expert
ence, and so the following account,
given by one of the local trio, VIII
prove of interest
The name of the hunter is withheld
at his request, but he vOucheS for
every detail. He explains his failure
to bring back the skins as trophies
by stating that reports of the anti
bounty feeling had become so eXag-
gerated in Mexico as TO lead him 10
believe that the importation Of the
hides would be regarded in the wrong
light.
How 1t Happened.
His version of the kill follows: "Our
adventure occurred Jan. /. 1905. in the
municipality of Huimanguillo, state of
TObasca. republic of Mexico. while we
were penetrating a stretch of eigh-
teen miles of tropic forest. Heavy
rains had made the trails almost in
accessible and it was with the great
est difficulty that our ponies held their
footing In the party besides we three
salt LakeTs We're Senior NJ. Leon, a
Wen educated Mexican, and two mo-
EOS Cpeon servants).
we had scarcely gone a mile
through the jungle when the ponies
suddenly became startled and fright
ened, and our interpreter and guide,
Senior Leon. informed US that some
wild beasts were near, and he, with
the two mozos. made an investigation
and soon discovered the fresh track
of a tiger A council was Immediately
held. Senior Dick prepared himself and
revolver for quick action, giving his
hunting knife to Senior DOoIey. The
march was resumed with one mOzO
in the lead. then the pack animal,
with the other mOZO behind and fol-
lowing in regular order were Messrs.
Dick, Dooley, Leon and Austin.
Tiger a Beautiful Sight.
Probably few hundred yards were
covered when the mOzO in the lead 10
Gated a tiger crOuched on a large limb
of a rugged tropical mahogany. 1t was
a beautiful sight to the three Amerl-
cans. but one of awe and fear to the
trembling ponies i frightened MeXi-
cans. 1t was as dangerous TO turn
back as to proceed. We decided to
move on, and had gone only a short
distance when we discovered a pair
of tigers. both crouched and ready 10
leap.
The trail at this point was fortu-
uately wide The mOZos drew their
machetes from their scabbards. and
the ponies. as though trained. stimuli
taneouSly dashed forward just as the
report of two shots from Senior Dick S
revolver rang out in quick succession.
Almost as quickly the two tigers
1eaped, one for the mOzo in the lead,
and the other for the pack animal. The
glitteTing machete OF the mOZO in the
lead was thrust wickedly at the at
lacking tiger just as horse and rider
went to the ground The other tiger
attacked the pack animal and forced
him 10 the ground.
Machete Used to Effect.
Bang Bang! Bang, echoed the re-
volVer. and the victory was ours. It
seemed all over in an instant, and
such an exciting moment cannot be
described. No time was lost. however.
TO make certain that the beasts were
lifelesS. and an examination showed
that one OF the first two shots hit the
tiger that sprang for the mozO. the
bah taking effect in the right shoulder.
with downward course. The aim of
the mozo was certain. his machete en-
tering the wide open Jaws and COM
pletely severing the windpipe- The
other tiger received two balls. one
penetrating the heart. The only in
jury TO our side was the loss of the
left eye of the horse ridden by the
mOzo attacked. This had been done by
the tigers claws. The noon hour was
about at hand. so we made camp.
skinned the beasts. took dinner and
continued on our journey. The remain
der of the journey was without any
particular event. other than the quaint
practices Of the mOzos, chief of which
was the striking of the large. beauti-
full palm leaves with their quirts. max
ing d report stronger than a rifle shot,
which was done to brighten away ali
other wild beasts Of the forest