The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1849-12-15
NJ Is@NhA a N ECU $
Chased by a Catamount,
AscESr IN THE LIFE OF riosErR


was once told of thrilling adyentur,
of the first settler in Paris, Maine, with
catamount Although cannot relate i
with that lively effect with which il wal
told me, still have embodied the facts il
this sketch.
lAad been on hunting excursion, anC
as was returning | fell in with that off.
described parsonage, the Oldest inhsbitan,.
He kindly accosted me, and gladly enter
ed into conversation with him.
Young man, said he, 'when | first visi.
ted this town, there were only three fsmil.
les 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 continued
'and ! will show you the exac, 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 Par,
is Hill.
There, said he, ION this spot was cree
ted the hut. shall never forge. the first
time visited it. and the story tina, ! was
told.'
What was it, | asked.
| will tell it to you. When the first
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
provisions. He arose early one morning,
and started for his nearest neighbor.--
People Of the present day would think it
hard to make journey of twenty miles
for bag of potatoes, and on foot, too; but
such was the errend of the first settler -
He arrived before noon, was successful in
getting his potatoes,got some refreshments,
and started for home. But il was rot very
easy to travel with load of potatoes and
finally, at sundown he threw off his load,
and resolved to make shelter and spend
he night. have been with him 10 the
sxact locality of it; it was situated just the
,ther side OF the stream on which are mills,
n the village now known as Pinhook in
Woodstock. He built a shelter, struck
ire, and took out of his pack a piece of
neat to roast. All young man, contin-
led the narrator, you little know with
yha. relish man eats his food in the
woods but as | was saying, he had com.
nenced roasting his meat, when he was
startled by cry so shrlll, that he knew at
,nce it could come from nothing but cata-
mount. l will now relate it to you a. near
ls can in the language of the old settler
himself:
81 listened moment, said he, and it
was repeated even louder, and it seemed
nearer than before. My frs, thought was
or my own aafcty. But what was to do
1 was at least ten miles TO my home, and
here was not single human being nearer
han that to me. first though, of self-de-
ence; but had nothing to defend myself
With. In a moment | concluded to start
or home, for knew the nature Of the cat
lmount too well to think should stand
he least chance Of escape, if | remained in
he camp. knew, too, tina. he would ran
,ack my camp, and ] hoped that the meat
which left behind might satisfy his ap-
petite. go that he would not follow me after
Eating it.
al had not proceeded more than half
nile before ] knew by the shrieks of the
animal that he was within sight of the
amp. / doubled my speed, content that
he beast should have my supper; al
hough ! declare that ! would not have run
t ! had had my ,rusty rife with me. But
here could be no cowordce in running
rom an infuriated catamount, doublv fn-
-ious probably, by being hungry, and with
nothing tina, could be called a weapon, save
1 pocket knife.
al had proceeded, probably, about two
thirds of the distance home, and hearing
nothing more of my feared enemy,I began
10 slacken my pace. and thought had
nothing 10 fear. had left behind me-,
about two Pcunds of meat, beef and pork