Madera’s surprise from the mountains

For The Madera Tribune

S.S. Anderson is shown here with the mountain lion he shot at the Vignolo Hotel in Berenda.

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The appearance of big game on the floor of the San Joaquin Valley was not an unusual sight during the 19th century. Bear, mountain lions, deer, and antelope were often found along the waterways that coursed across the plains.

By the turn of the century, however, only the ubiquitous jackrabbit was left. Civilization had eliminated the herds of antelope and had driven the deer, bear, and California lions back to their mountain habitats. Memories of the free running wildlife in and around Madera had faded, and by 1903, one could reasonably expect to be able to lie down under the eucalyptus outside of town and not be bothered by “panthers,” at least so thought one man.

C. Bradley was known to Maderans as a ‘’tramper.” He had trouble hanging on to long-term employment.The temperature was rising quickly on that day in early May, and Bradley, who had been without luck in finding a job, spotted the grove of trees that stood south of the depot. This seemed like the perfect refuge from the toil of searching for work, so the young man nestled up around the trunk of one of the trees and fell asleep.