WHEN MEN WERE MEN

The Montrose Morning Sun, August 21, 1996, p 5, published in Montrose, Colorado, carried the following story written by Marilyn Cox.: "Where are the Hot&kiss boys when we need them?"

"After reading about a mountain lion being sighted so close to Montrose recently, I was reminded of the story about Uriah Hot&kiss and his son George capturing a huge mountain lion near Colona..

"It was February, 19 13. Uriah Hot&kiss, a rancher and sheepman, had heard the day before about a mammoth mountain lion being spot- ted about six miles east of Colona and was determined that he would capture 'the beast' which could be so destructive to stock at that time of year. He started out on horseback, accompanied by his son George and a friend Roy Humphrey with his pack of hunting dogs.

"It was not long before the dogs struck the trail of the lion in the snow and forced him up a tree about 30 feet high. Uriah considered him such a fine specimen that he wanted to capture him alive, so with rope in hand, he climbed the tree after the lion. When Hotchkiss got close to the lion, the animal started down the tree after him. Fortunately, Uriah could slide down the pinion faster than the huge animal. This went on several times, the two 'whipsawing' up and down the tree challenging each other. George Hotchkiss stood off a short distance, Winchester in hand, holding a bead on the lion in case he got the best of his father.

"Finally the lion decided not to waste his strength in trying to catch Uriah by following him down the tree, so he remained at the top. Uriah gradually worked up closer to him until he was within three feet. The lion sat there ready to spring, but Uriah must have charmed him. With just one toss of the rope, Uriah had it around the lion's neck!

"With the two boys on the ground at the other end of the rope, they tried to pull the lion down, but he was too strong for them. They did get him down far enough for Uriah to get around behind him where he managed to grab the lion's tail and twist it. This dislodged him from the tree and landed him on the ground, where he chased the boys around for some time before they were able to get another rope over his head and hogtie him.

"Believe it or not, Uriah threw the lion onto the saddle with his feet over the saddle horn and rode behind him back into Colona. The lion reaped some revenge when he was being untied, as he took a swipe at Uriah and left a nasty gash in his hand." The 200 pound lion was then put on display. No doubt the Hot&kiss boys would be subject to a heavy fine by the envirobureaucrats were they to repeat this exploit today. We would however, greatly enjoy watching the enviros trying to collect.