A Yakima Boy's Death Struggle with a Cougar

Last week a party of Yakima Indians were encamped on the Tieton catching and drying fish for their winter supplies. One of them, a lad of 15 years, had wandered up the stream about a mile from the camp and was fairly engaged in fishing when he heard the snapping of a twig behind him. Startled, he looked around to have his blood turned into a frightful shaft, for there not ten feet away was a huge cougar crouched in the act of preparing the leap. With a presence of mind beyond his years the lad kept his eyes on those of the immense brute, trying to evolve in his mind some means of escape. He had no gun or weapon of any kind so he decided the only thing he could do was to take his chances with a rock. But the minute he took his eyes from those of the cougar to pick up the rock the cat made a spring and was upon him, and then commenced a fearful encounter. Twice did the boy break from the clutches of the beast and jump into the stream only to be dragged out and forced to go through the struggle again. Worn out and terribly lacerated he spurred himself up to make one more attempt for his life. Again he broke away and dashed into the stream, this time making out into the deeper water. The cougar, thinning for the blood it had already tasted, boldly plunged in and grappled with the brave lad, but this time he was at a disadvantage. The boy caught him by the ears, pressed his head under the water and held it there until the cougar ceased to struggle. Then he made for the shore. The boy was in a sad plight, his breast being shockingly torn, and his hand and arm so badly injured as to be permanently disabled.