Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-01-05
From the ffil,caukee Sentinel
PUTNAM OUTDONE.


A few days since, a large yellowish
Panther, was discovered near the house of
Mr. Umsiead, fifteen or sixteen miles west
of Prairie du Chen, in Clayton county,
Iowa Territory, by Messrs. Gould, Paul,
and Umstead. Viewing him as rather
dangerous neighbor, they deemed it the
most polite course to prevent depredations
by destroying him at once. Accordingly.
pursuit was made with one gun and two
dogs. The enemy was soon driven into
his den--a cave some fifteen feet deep. in
the side of a perpendicular rock. The
dogs were then sent in, IN hopes of ousting
him; but he handled them SO roughly that
one soon came back with his nose and
sides severely torn, the other in the battle
had got over the panther and was in his
rear in the cave. This was not pleasant
to its owner, as it was a valuable animal
and to induce the animal to como out the
men relreated to u distance, within rifle
shot, to await the event. The plan sue
ceeded the panther soon came out, and the
other dog shot by him and came to his
master. But the panthers quick eye dis
covered his enemies as soon as he emerged
from his den, and wheeled and returned,
passing the retiring dog at the instant All
IF which was done too quick for the marks
man to shoot AS the dog was out and the
panther in the den, the mouth of it was
walled up with stone to prevent his escape
as night was fast approaching. In this
condition he remained four days before
another attempt was made to get him out,
in hopes that in the meantime he would
starye or suffocate.
L. On opening the cave il was soon found
that the panther was alive and ready to
give fight if further oppressed. But UNI
stead, unwilling 10 give up the prey, took
candle and entered the cave, in which
were several short angles and narrow pass
es. barely allowing a man to creep. On
turning one of these angles, and at the
narrowest part Of the cave, Umstcad came
so near the animal that il spit in his face,
cat-lihe; at this he retreated q little and
kindled fire-the others passing him in
dry wood, and filled the space entirely with
combustiblo substance. He then built a
stone wall outside of the fire, and another
at the mouth of the den.
Having thus beseiged and secured their
enemy, The men awaited the result. They
soon found the work of death in rapid
state of progress. The panther growled
and made plunge into the ire, but the
wall prevent ing his escape, he was obliged
to retire, he then groaned and soon expired.
But to make the work sure, and give time
for the fire 10 be eXtnguished, so that they
could pass the place Of its action. two or
three days more expired before the den
was re-opened; when the panther was found
back of the place of the fire, stiff and cold.
When got out he measured upwards of six
feet from tho tip of the nose 20 the end of
the tail, and was so heavy that it required
two men to carry him a short distance TO
the house. Some half dozen of these ami
mails have been killed within two years
past, between Turkey river and this place,
on the west side of the Mississippi, but this
is the first and only one bearded and burnt
in his den.
November, 1910.