Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-12-06
Chased by a Catamount.

was once io'd ihrilling adventure oil The
frs, seuer in Paris. Maine, with calamount.
Although cannot relate it with that lively ef-
feet with which i. was tod me, still have en-
bodied The facts in This sketch
had been on hunting excursion, and as l
was returning, fell in with that oft-described
parsonage, the Oldest inhablrani" He kind
ly accosed me, and gladly entered into con-
versalon with him.
Young man. said he, when frs, visited
this town, there were only three families living
IN It, You, who now hive in ease, can never
know the hardshps and perilous scenes through
which the earlier settlers passed. Come will,
me, he continued and will show you the
exact spot on which the first hut ever erected
In this town was located
followed silently, until the old man reached
the bottom of the west side of Paris Hill.
There said he, on this spot was erected
the hut. | shall never forget the frs, time
visited it, and the story was told
Wha. was il !! asked.
i will tell you. When the frs, settler
moved here, his neares, neighbor liz ed twenty
miles distant, in the present town of Rumford,
and the only road between the TWO neighbors
was path that he had GU, through the woods
himself, SO that in case Of want or sickness, he
might ge, assistance One spring, think il
vas the third season after he had settled here,
he was obliged TO 60 10 Rumford after provi-
slons. He early one morning, and srart-
ed for hls nearest neighbor. People of the
present day would think it hard 10 make Jour
ney of twenty miles for bag of potatoes. and
on foot 100; but such was the errand of The
frs. settler. He arrived before noon, was sue.
cessiul in getting his potatoes, got some re-
lreshmenls, and started for home. But il was
not very easy TO travel with load of potatoes
and, finally, al shutdown he threw of his load,
and resolved TO make shelter, and spend the
night. ! have been with him to the exact To-
cahty of it ii situated just the Other side
OF the stream on which are mills, in The village
now known as Pinhook in Woodstock He
built a shelter, struck fire, and took out of his
pack piece of meat 10 roast. All; young
man. continued the narrator, you lule know
with what relish man eats his food in the
woods hu, as was saying he commenced
roasting his meat. when he was startled by a
cry shull that he knew a, once /, could
come from nothing but caamount | will
now rela'e il 10 you as near as can in the
language of he old seuler himself:
/ listened momenr,' said he, and it was
repeated even louder, and II seemed nearer than
before. My first though, was for my own safe
,y. But what was | 10 do! Ii was at least
ten miles 10 my home, and there was not sin
gle human being nearer than that TO me. |
! first thought of sef-defence; but | had moi hing
TO defend myself with. In moment | con-
cluded TO starr for home, for knew the nature
of The ca,amounl 100 we'll to think | should stand
the least chance OF escape, If remained In
| the camp. | knew too that he would ransack
my camp, and hoped that the meat which |
Ief behind mig h, satisfy his appetite, SO that
| he would not follow me after eating il.
l had not proceeded more than half mile
before knew by the shrieks CT the animal thai
he was in sigh, of The camp, l doubled my
speed, con,en, that the beast should have my
supper; although | declare that | would not
have run if had had my ,rus'y rifle with me.
/ But there could be no cowardIce in my runnin g
! from an infurlaled caamount, doubly furious
probably, by being hungry, and with nolhing
that could be called weapon, save pocket
knife.
: | had proceeded, probably, about liz o-lhirds
of the distance home, and hearing nothing
more of my fearful enemy, began 10 slacken
my pace, and thought had nothing 10 fear.
had left behind two pounds Of mee, beef aud
pork which | hoped had satisfied the ferocous
monster. Just as | had come TO the conclusion
that would run no more, and was looking
! back, asIonished almost at The distance | had
travelled in so saor. space of time, | was cleo
Iirfed with horror 10 hear The animal shrek
again.
81 then knew my wors, fears were realized.
| The beast had undoubtedly entered The camp,
and ale wha, he could find, and then had scent.
| ed nv track and followed after me. 1t was
about 'hree miles TO my log cabin, and il had
already become dark. | doubled my speed; but
| felt that must die. And such death! The
recollection of that feeling comes % my mind as
vividIy as though knew the animal was now
pursueing me. But am DO coward though 10
be torn in pieces, and almost eaten alive by a
wild beast, was horrible
| calmly unbuloned my frock, with the de-
termination to throw it off before the beast
should approach me, hoping thereby to gain adj
vantage of him by The time he would loose IN
tearing il TO pieces.
Another shrek, and tossed the garment
behind me in the path. Not more than five
minutes elapsed before heard shrlll cry as
he came 10 il, How ,ha, shrek electrified
me- | bounded like a deer. Bat IN a mo-
men, The animal made another cry, which told
me plainly thai The garment had Only exasPef-
sed him TO 6ercer chase.