The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-11-29
w 4 S @ Z L L q " e 0 U S
Chased bY q CatamOunt.
a sossF IN THE LIFE OF PIONEER.

n
was once told thrilling adventure of
the first settler in Paris, Maine, with a
caiamennt Although / cannot relate it
with that lively effect with which it was
told me. still have embodied the facts in
this sketch.
had been on hunting excursion, and
as ! was returning fell in with that oft
described parsonage, "the oldest inhabi-
Ez....ss ssz kindly accosted me, and
gladly entered into conversation with him.
Young man." said he, 'when | first
visited this town, there were only three
families living in it, You who now live
in ease, can never know the hardships and
perilous scenes through which the earlier
settlers passed. Come with me- he con-
tinued, ''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, con this spot was
erected the hut l shall never forget the
first time l visited it, and the story | was
told.''
"What was it!" | asked.
settler moved here his nearest neighbor
lived twenty miles distant in the present
town of Rumford, and the only road be-
tween the two neighbors was path that
he had cut through the woods himself, so
that in case OF want or sickness, he might
get assistance. One spring, think it was
the third season after he had settled there,
he was obliged to 60 to Rumford after
l.
and started for his nearest neighbor.-
People of the present day would think it
hard 10 make a journey of twenty miles
for bag of potatoes, and on foot, 100; but
such was the errand of the first settler
He arrived before noon, was successful in
getting his potatoes, got some refreshments,
IIautt started for home. But it was not very
Sdsy to travel with load of potatoes; and
finally, at sundown he threw off his load,
and resolved to make shelter and spend
the night. | have been with him to the
exact locality of it; it was situated Just the
other side of the stream on which are
mills, in the village now known as Pin
hook in Woodstock. He built a shelter,
struck fire, and took out of his pack a
piece Of meat to roast. All! young man."
continued the narrator, ''you little know
with what relish a man eats his food in
the woods; but as was saying, he had
commenced roasting his meat, when he
was startled by cry so shrill, that he
knew at once it could come from nothing
but catamount. / will now relate it TO
you as near as | can in the language of
the old settler himself:
"'I listened a moment said he, 'and it
was repeated even louder, and it seemed
nearer than before. My first thought
was for my own safety. But what was |
to do! 1t was at least ten miles to my
home, and there was not single human
being nearer than that to me. l first
thought of self-defence; but had nothing
TO defend myself with. In moment
concluded to start for home, for knew the
nature of the catamonnt too well 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 | left behind
might satisfy his appetite, so that he would
not follow me after eating it.
"I had not proceeded more than half
mile before knew by the shrieks Of the
animal that he was within sight of the
camp. l doubled my speed, content that
the beast should have my supper; although
L declare that l would not have run 1t l
had had my trusty rifle with me. But
there could be no cowardice in running
from an infuriated catamount, doubly fu-
rious probably, by being hungry, and |
with nothing that could be called wea-
pom, save pocket knife.
al had proceeded, probably, about two
thirds of the distance home, and hearing
nothing more of my feared enemy, be-
gan to slacken my pace, and though, |
had nothing 10 fear. had left behind
me, about two pounds of meat, beef and
pork, which l hoped had satisfied the
monster. Just as had come 10 the con-
clusion that | would run no further, and
was looking back astonished almost, at
the distance had travelled in so short
space of time, was electrified with hor-
ror to hear The animal shrek again.
"I then knew my worst fears were re-
alzed. The beast had undoubtedly enter.
ed the camp and ate what he could find.
and then had scented my track and follow
ed after me. 1t was about three miles TO
my log cabin, and it had already become
dark. | redoubled my speed: but felt
mat must die. And such death! The