The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-10-23
st. JOhnsbury, VT October %, lS45,

on the destruction o: the bear II must indeed be an
extraordinary case which will make panther plunge
INTO water, rs IL is great characteristic OF the feline
species always avoid water, unless driven 10 it, Oh
iher by necessity desperation; hut hure nature
set aside, and some powerful motive predominaed in
the passions Of this animal which put all laws oc in
s!inct at defiance, and unlike the clumsy hustling of
the bear through the water, the panther went with
Duunds of ten feet at time, and the former reach
the opposite Shore the latter was midway of the
stream. This was a moment of III rlling interest and
that feeling common TO the human breast, when
the strong is combating with the weak, now took
possession Of mine, and esPousing the of the
weaker party, ubslracledy from every consde ratio
of which was in the wrong, could not help wishing
safety to the bear, and death to the panther and un
der the impulse of these reengsI once more brought
my rife to my shoulder, with the intention of shoot
ing the panther through the heart bot in spite of my
self, shrunk from the effort, it was we'll
reversed my fire, for had only wounded the anmaI'
l might have been victim to its ferOcity.
So as the bear finding there was no possibili.
ty of escape from an issue with dreadful an enemy,
than reaching the opposite banl, of tho stream,
shook the water from its hair like dog aud ran about
fifteen fee; on the bank and laid directly on its back
the panther reached the waters edge, and them with
yell Of yeng eance, it made one bound, and sprang
with ouIstretched claws aud splitting like n cat, i'm
medatey on the bear, which lay in terror on the
ground, ready to receive its antagonist but tho
test was soon at end Not more easily docs the ca
gle reud in sunder lis teuor-sthcken prey than did
the enragcd panther tear in shattered fragments the
helpless bear; appeared but the W ork ola moment
and that moment was one Of unreentng vengeance;
for did the panther Glght its victim, than
with the most lerocious yells it planted its hinder
claws deep in the en'ras of the bear, and by few
rips, tore lis antagonist to pieces. Although the bear
full grown must have been young and in want
of energy, for it overcome with dread
10 be able 10 make the least resistance.
Satisfied in Cutting IFS vengeance, the panther turn
ed from the hear, and directly 10 the waters
edge to drink, and aay the pnrchng thirst created by
great excitement, after which it looked first down
ard then up the stream, as though it sought a place
recross, that it might avoid the water aud then.
If satated with revenge and enjoying It's victory stood
twisting and curling ts tail like cat, aud then
menced licking its ELF dry, The animal now with
ia thirty6ve yards Of me- and seeing prospect OF
its recrossing tho stream, took for my rife
n projecting limb ofIhe tree on which still sat, and
fired directly at the panther's heart. The moment
discharged my rife, the monster made spring about
feet perpendicularly, with tremendous growl which
reverberaed among the rocks, aud fell in the same
spot whence it spraNg, with its legs extended and
lay in this situation, half crouched rocking from side
to side, If in the dizziness Of approaching
death. saw plainly that my fire was fainl; but had
too much experience to approach this enemy until
could no longer discover signs Of life. L therefore
reloaded my rifle, and wrh a second sho; | pierced
Immediately behind the ear;its head then dropped be-
tween its paws, and oil was quiet,
On examining the panther, no marks Of violence
appeared, except where my rife balls had passed
completely through, within foot of each Other; but
turning tho animal on its back, discovered it 10
be female, and mother. and by the enlargement of
her tents, had evidently been sucking her young,
From this circumstance, ! supposed tho bear had
made nroads upon her lair, and more than probable
destroyed her kittens. was the more convinced Of
this, from the fact, that ! never knew from my
experience. could gather from the oldest hunt
ers among my acquaintance, an instance wherein
panther and bear came in collision with each other,
- entered into deadly strife; and again, no circum-
stance but the above would be sufficient to awaken
that vindctive perseverance in the passions of pan
Their which would lead to the humiliation Of for
mda5e animal a bear.
PArRIcK's COLT. gentleman who favors us