The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-07-01
Ffom lhe s.. Lawfonce Repubucan.

Gen. Putnam riUalled. On the 18th OF
March, whilst travelling through the woods
on the S. Havan tract, town of Pitcairn.
st. Lawrence county, came across the
track of panther, fom the appearance of
which l Judged he had passed recently.
Immediately returned home, procured INV
dog and rifle and started pursuit Having
followed him in azigzag direction about six
miles, l unexpectedly came TO ledge, into
fssure of which he had entered. Beliey-
ing was about to have little sport, and
not preferring child's play, dropped Sec
ond ball into my rifle, preparatory to the
conflict. Scarcely had effected this last
act, when casting searching glance upon
the cavern, beheld two shining balls, APP
parently emitting sparks Of fire These
knew to be the eyes of the Panther, and i'm
mediately bringing my rifle to my face, 'let
drive and sent in my dog. Those who
have heard the low sullen growls of cat
when fighting, can form some idea of the
growls of the panther at this time (always
bearing in mind that tie puss win weigh
only 8 or 10 pounds, whereas the panther
weighs about 200.)
At the place where the panther entered;
the ascent was nearly equal to that Of the
roof of a house for twelve or fourteen feet,
then extending downward under the floor
Of the entrance nearly 10 the place where
| stood--at which place there was another
opening, but covered with snow two or
three feet deep. reloaded my rife, and
in the mean time, the dog and the panther;
apparently in 'close communion, +" had de.
cended to the lowest aperture. JudginG
from the shrieks Of the dog, that the contest
was an unequal one, threw aside nv rife.
dug away the snow, and Immediately pulled
him out. The Panther then ascended 10
the top Of the lower cavern. After making
the aperture sufficiently large, crawled in
six or seven feet, taking my dog and rifle
with me, when, upon looking up, at the
distance of seven or eight feet, beheld the
same CLASSY eyes dartlng their fierce lustre
upon me. Like the boy in quest of the
birds nest, with much ado / succeeded in
bringing my rifle 10 bear upon his head
again ''let silver" sent my dog forward
and Immediately backed out, reloaded nv
rifle and prepared for anUther onset, should
occasion dematd. This repeated three
times In succession, each time sending nv
dog forward as a feeler. The fourth time
sent in my dog, they soon came down to
the mouth of the cavern, the dog backing
out, the Panther having him by the nose
and his claws gfappled into his shoulders,
the dog of coifsc having the under law of
the panther in his mouth. The object of
the dog being evidently to get out of the
cavern, bringing the panther with him. AS
soon as the panther's head came in sight,
fired ball into his forehead-and here
my sport,
Upon examining the head of the panther.
found that every ball (six in nurnberl had
taken effect. One eye DESTROYED, The roots
Of his tongue cut of, teeth Knocked OIL,
&c. all Of which could not have been effael,
ed by the latter shot, Notwithstanding All
this ne fought like tiger, illustrating the
truth OF the axiom, that ''the ruling passion
Of life is strong even in death!'' / have
dressed the skin and handsomely stuffed IL
30 that any ono can see it by calling at nv
in Edwards. Length ten feet,
ELIJAH HAINES.
Edwards, March 10Th, 1897.