The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-10-16
killing u Panther.


the railroad ut Amsterdam, is beautiful bake
about six miles long aud from Two to three mlcs
wide. Ii is known as the PisecO Lake. It.i.
nearly surrounded by high hills and dense forests
Deer are abundant in that region, and bears and
panthers are occa sionally killed. Dr. Grant and
julius Catn, Esq, own house on the borders
of this lake, aud make one or two annual excur-
sions TO that place for The purpose of hunting and
fishing, enjoying themselves exceedingly upon
that beautiful sheet Of water and in the forests
taking fish and deer in abundance. Nathaniel
Morrill,, the hunter spoken of IN The following ar
,c!e, occupies the premises of Mcssrs. Grant and
Ca,lin, and is of course thei- principal guide du-
ring their visits to the lake. Letson is another
guide who resides in the vicinity. With this OK
planation, we will give the account Of the ! iIns
of large panther by Morrill,, as published in the
Amsterdam IntelIigcncer of the 10th inst.
On the 4th inst, in the town of ATetta, Ham
ilton county, panther, measuring over nine feet,
was shot by the famous hunter Of that vicinity,
Nathaniel Morrill, The circumstances relating
TO the capture Of this ferOciOns animal, are not a
little interesting. Mr.. Morrill, and friend Of his
were out on hunting excursion in the vicinity of
Spruce Lake, few miles north of that beautiful
sheet Of water, Piseco Lake. Mr. NJ. sent his
friend, Mr.. LetsOn. back into the woods with two
dogs for the purpose Of driving deer into the lake,
ia ing himself position with his boat, the most
favorable as he deemedi,, 10 await their approach.
While in this position, and just as his anxiety
was excited by the bark Of the distant hounds, a
cracking noise in the branches Of an old tree in
stanty caught his attention. lie looked bis prac-
Used eye detected the mark; he saw approaching
towards the limbs which were above his boat, a
large and savage panther, and not at this time
above % feet from his person.
TO move away in the boat would be impossi-
BILE, as one end was standing projecting point
on the edge of the lake; bis only safety ap-
parent, he must shoot, and that immediately; but
his gun unfortunately, was in the opposite end Of
the boat Obtaining il in moment, he looked
again and saw the panther within twelve feet Of
him just in the attitude Of making leap; quick
as thought, the gun was at his shoulder, and no
sooner in its place than discharged The huge
monster made a desperate leap Of some ten or
fifteen feet in an opposite direction, and fell dead
loaded with shot, which makes It still more
strange that he saved himself froln falling an un-
fortunate prey to the ra,ishng jaws Of this reent-
less animal.
had the pleasure, for such / deemed il, Of
measuring the huge gentleman Of the forest, soon
after he was shot. His length from the end Of
the nose TO the tip Of the tail, was a trife over
nine feet, and formidable looking fellow, as
sure you.
The account Of this triumph Of the renowned
hunter, will not, trust. be uninieres,ng to those
whose eyes it may fall upon, and am who
have personal acquaintance with him, and re-
member any sporting expedition in which he may
have been a companion Of their fortune and their
toll, will be specially gra,iied at this singular and
fortunate capture.
THE BURNING FORESTS IN MAINE.-The
Portland Argus learns from gentleman just from
I Nfuct fh,ts
continue to rage with unmiiigaed severity there
has been rain since the 4tb Of July, and the
drought and heat almost, If not quite, unex-
ampied in the memory Of the people there. The
universal prayer is for rain! The wind has been
lately in that direction, blowing the smoke upon
Eastport and other towns contiguous. and the at
nosphere has become like srocco, and almost
sufiocating Meantime, the fires iostered by the
drought, extending up and down the coast for
miles, and the aspect Of things is truly melan-
choy. As this is the period Of the equnoctial
storm, we can but hope, that before many days,
we shall have the gratifying intelligence that the
fire has been stayed, and the atmosphere purified
by powerful and refreshing rains.
! How TO GAIN VorE.-In a neighbering
State there is a county that has always been d.
vided between family parties, and elections are
nowhere more hotly contested. In former years
:
D, and old Squire John A, and
every returning election for members Of the Leg
isiature. witnessed conflict between them, in
which each found the other worthy of his steel.
Year after year the contest was kept up, and
neither gained any material advantage. The ma.
,orty for either never exceeded ten votes.
About the year IS, the excitement WIS at
the highest. and it was expected that the race
wonld be even closer than ever before. But as
the canvass progressed, the Major exhibited an
elation Of spirits, and old Johns corresponding
depression, which equally, though differently, ef.
%fected the friends of both.
One day, about a week before the election, the
Squire and ono Of his warnest friends, whom we
will call Jones, were at the house Of the former
examining the calculations he had made-accord
ing to which the Maj jor Won d be elected by one
vote. There was, however, one man counted
among the Majors friends who was considered
little doubtful. To secure his vote would be t.
change the election, and while they were endeav
oring TO devise some scheme by which this coulC
be eff cted, Squire John happened TO look out,
and saw the man himself, whom we will call
Long, not for off. approaching the house. A brigh
thought seemed suddenly to strike him.
''l've got it, Jones, but haven I time to explain
pick quarrel with Long, and don't take offehc
>. at anything do"
Jones believed implicitly in old John, and nod
ded, wondering what was TO be done.
BY this time Long came up, and was cordial
welcomed. Pretty soon old John had occasio
to leave for some purpose, and returning in abou
ten minutes, found his visters engaged in a ho
dispute about the election. Long made some al
tempt to change the subject, but Jones would nc
permit it, and began to use rough language. Her
John nterfercd, and expressed surprise, at ih
conduct of Jones. Jones had taken his cue
Again old John intcrposcd. and threatened I
drive Jones out Of doors if he persisted. Th
calm was this time Of stiii shorter duration, an
/ the dispute was again renewed. Old John ros
> from his seat. marched up to Jones and seize
him by the collar Jones made sham resistance
, bu, suffered himself to be led to the door an
, summarily elected. Hating when he reached tn
gate, he turned his wrath upon old John, swea,
/ Ing that he had always supported him, but sh'
: he had now been imposed on for man that ha
always been against him, aud she'd nerer git h
rOte again."
As soon as Jones left, John turned to Long, an
I seemed much effected.
$ "I've lost one Of my best friends, Mr.. Lon;
: but
$ Long eagerly interrupted him:
$ "No, Squire, if you've lost one you've game
d another. Tn going to cote for you.''
A .x,a., aC ,xo,J cIJ N,sh soou c,IiouoJ ,y