Lion On The Locomotive

Last winter when the snowstorms wero so fearful throug-hout the mountains in Utah and the earth was covered witli snow to the depth of five to ten feet. and remained hidden so long the animáis were forced to desperation. The wolves were starved and weak, and what is known as the mountain lion almost perished from starvation, sa3's the Chicago Record. Ite great strength failed it, and a man with a knife could soon take the life of an animal that a short time before could hold a powerful ox or horse and make a meal of his flesh. The hungry animáis after a while discoverad that food was to be had along the railroad track, where passengers threw bones and scraps of victuals from passing trains. Often two starving coyotes would engage in deadly combat over a chicken bone that had a short time before been ridden of its last vestige of nourishment by some economical person who did not care to pay 75 cents for a meal. This was the condition of things. Engineer Gast had charge of engine No. 151 , which was known as "the helper," from the fact that it helped trains up the mountain and when at the summit cut off and dropped back down to the bottom ready to help another. One night when business on the road was slaen: Gast noticed something wrong with the pêarfng under the tender, and remarked to tho fireman that they would get ofï and repair it. When half way down the mountain sido he brought the engino to u standstill and the two men went to work on what provod to be a twenty minutes' job packing a hot box on tb o tender. The tallow pot was loft at the boiler's head. After ooi the repairs the men were mount.ing the engine again only to soö a huge mountain iion devouring the tallow and holding full possession of the engine cab. It was a cold night and the snow drifting. The men had already remained outside until they were very cold and the chances of dispossessing Mr. Lion were very moager, as he snapped his teeth and Hashed his eyes and f ast stored the tallow out of sight. The only consolation the men had was that the taliow would not last long at that rate, and even this thought was not entirely satisfying, as they had no way of.determining that one of them would not go the same way at the end of the tallow feast. Finally, after fifteen minutes further delay the tallow pot was empty, and giving a growl, as much as to say, "I am very thankful gentlemen, and you ought to be," the animal leaped from the cab and disappeared in the hills.