The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1908-06-19
GIRLS CHASED BY A COUGAR
The Story of Two Young Ladies Deserted
BY A frightened Escort

The following story was handed in
for publication this week by a resident
Of the south side, whose name is with
held at this time for obvious reasons.
Last Friday night Mrs. Peltier and
Miss Lulu Ouren. started for town about
five o'clock, expecting to return be-
fore dark. Richard Daily accompanied
the ladies on the return trip, that is,
part Of the way. Just as they were
turning on to the second grade lead
ing of the Ralston land south Of town,
they were startled by an unearthly
scream. For an instant the trio stood
as though petrifed, then Miss Ouren
laughingly remarked, that it must be
her sisters who had come down to
meet them. Their fears allayed they
started on again, but rounding a curve
were confronted by what in their
fright looked like cougar. The vicious
animal with a snarl, sprang straight at
them and nothing but miracle saved
the surprised and terrified party.
Young DAILY gave one wild yell,
clutched madly at his hat, and tore
down the road, disappearing over the
ridge in the direction of the river.
The ladies deserted by their escort,
turned and ran wildly down the road.
In a surprisingly short space of time
the frightened girls reached town and
meeting Joe Massie told their pitiful
story. Mr.. Massie found Mrs. Peltier's
brother Frank Trerice, who got rig
and took the ladies home. One OF them
noticed that Mr.. Trerice's hat lacked
fully three inches of touching his head
and the writer knows that all nine of
the gates along the route were wide
open the next morning. In telling
their story both ladies declare that
the next time Richard plays the gal
liant they hope he will not lose his
nerve. The cougar they say, was at
least ten feet long and stood over two
feet high.
The same evening that the above
incident occurred, a friend of Mrs.
Peltier and Miss Ouren had gone down
the road for a stroll. The friend owns
a small ''yaller' dog who insisted upon
going with his mistress. This friend
knowing it was time for Mrs. Peltier to
return, sat down a short distance from
where the cougar was seen, to wait for
her friends. The pup ran up and
down the road, in and out of the
brush, and being deaf did not hear
those approaching. His mistress did,
however, and thinking what fun it
would be to initiate a coyote and scare
the girls, proceeded to do so. At the
same time the pup ran DOWN the road.
After emitting a couple Of long drawn
cries, the friend listened to hear the
outcome Of her experiment. Not a
sound broke the stiffness except the
patter of the pups feet as it came
racing toward her. She arose and
went down the road to see why her
friends did not materialize. They
were not in sight. All was quiet save
that far down the hill she heard what
she thought was the clatter Of horses
hoofs. After waiting and listening for
some time the friend concluded that
she had been mistaken in thinking
she had heard voices and SO started
back home.
The following day the three friends
compared stories, and now the un-
whiting cause of all the trouble is
thinking seriously Of asking for body
guard, as her life doesn't seem to be
worth much if two very indignant
people should get hold Of her.