The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-03-21
SOUTH AMERICAN PUMA.
u 10 Mans Only Friend Among Beats
Of the Jungle.

uuu 10 a1ANaAAJ q lltNA W man
A traveller in South America who
has Investigated this strange subject,
gives several peculiar instances of the
puma's friendliness to man.
lie tells of a person who had spent
most OF his life on the pampas, and
who. on one occasion. when travelling.
lost his horse by death and was com.
PEELED to continue his journey on foot.
Al night he made his bed under the
shelter OF a rock. on the slope OF
stony sierra; a bright moon was shin
ing. and about nine o'clock in the
evening four pumas appeared. two
adults with their two halt grown
young.
Not feeling the least alarmed at
their presence. he did not stir. and
after awhile they began TO gambol TO-
gether close to him. concealing them.
selves from each other among the
rocks, just as kittens do, and frequent
ly. while pursuing one another. leap.
ing over him. lie continued watching
them until past midnight. then fell
asleep and did not wake until morn
ing. when they had left him.
asked him II he had ever killed
puma. and no replied that he had
killed only one. and had sworn never
TO kan another. lie said that while
out one day with another hcrder. look.
ing for cattle. puma VAS found.
II sat mp with It's back against a
stone. and did not move. even when
his companion threw the moose Of his
iasso over It's neck. My informant
then dismounted. and. drawing his
knife. advanced TO Mn II. stin the
puma made no attempt to free Itself
from the lasso. but u seemed 10 know.
he said. what was coming-for Il be
gan to tremblc. the tears ran from rs
eyes. and II whincd In the most pl,iful
manner.
He killed Il as II sat there unrcsist.
ing before him. but. after accomplish.
ing the deed felt that he had com.
mittcd a murder Il was the only
thing he had ever done In bis lie. he
added, which filled him with remorsc
when be remembered.
All mo have killed or witnessed the
killing OF a puma and ! have ques'
toned scores OF hunters on this point
agree that Il resigns Itself In this
unreslsting. pathetic manner to death
az the hands of man.
Claudio Gay. In his Natural History
% Chill" says; When attacked by
man. its energy and daring at once
forsake II. and II becomes a weak. in.
offensive animal. and. trembling and
uttering piteous means and shedding
abundant tears. II seems 20 implorc
compassion from a generous enemy"
The enemy Is not often generous. but
many herders have assured me. when
speaking on this subject. that although
they kill the puma readily 10 protect
their domestic animals, they consider
II an evil thing to take It's life Ia
desert places. where IL Is mans only
friend among the wild animals.
When the hunter Is accompanied by
dogs. then the puma. instead OF droop-
ing and shedding tears. is reused to a
sublime rage; its hair stands erect: lts
eyes shine like balls OF green flame. II
splits and snarls like a furious cat
The hunters presence seems at such
times to be ignored altogether. It's
whole attention being given to the
dogs and It's rage directed against
them
In Patagonia. heepfarming
Scotchman with whom ! spent some
days. showed me the skulls OF Ave
pumas which he had shot IN the vicin-
ity OF his ranch. One was OF an excep.
tlonally large animal, and here re.
late what he told me of his encounter
with this puma. as II shows just how
the creature almost invariably behaves
when attacked BY man and dogs
He was out on foot with his flock.
when the dog discovered the animal
concealed among the bushes He had
left his gun at home, and having no
weapon. and finding that the dogs
dared not attack IL where IL sat In
defiant attitude. with It's back against
thorny bush. he looked about and
found a large dry stick. and. going
boldly up to IL. tried to stun II with a
violent blow on the head. But though
II never looked at him, rs fiery eyes
gazing steadily at the dogs all the
time, he could not hit il. for. with a
quick side mos ement. II avoided every
blow.
The small heed the puma paid him.
and the apparent ease with which II
avoided his best aimed blows. only
served to rouse his spirit. and at
length. striking with increased force,
his stick came to the ground and was
broken to pieces. For some moments
ne now stood within two yards Of the
animal. perfectly defenseless and not
knowing what to do.
Suddenly It sprang past him. actual
iy brushing against his arm with its
side. ard began pursuing the dogs
around and around among the bushes.
In the end my informant's partner ap-
dog of uncertain breeding