Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-04-29
HtisGellaneolls.
An Exciting Panther Hunt.

1t may not be generally known that that part
OF the State of Virginia, where the counties OF
Shenandoah, Hardy, and PendletoD ioin. ia az
wild as any other part of the United States.
and obounding in most kinds of game. The
waters OF Cedar Creek, a wild and romantic
stream, wash the base OF the tall ridges which
rear their frowning SUBMITS Of rock far over
head altogether presenting as primitive an ap
pearance as can we'll be imagined.
A short time since, the inmates of a dwelling
not far from Cedar Creek, at night. were start.
led by the attempts of large animal to get into
the house. A sick lady, infant and nurse, oc-
cupled room on the FIRST floor. A brother
and sister occupied apartrn 9nts above, and the
husband was absent From the lateness Of the
hour, the entire household was asleep. The
lady was awakened by hearing something at
The window, and turning towards it, in the full
light of the moon she saw the head of an ami
NAL at pane of the glass, which was almost in.
stantly broken, and a large round head thrust
into the opening-the sash bent and seemed as
if it would give way Her screams aroused
the house, and brought her brother into the
room, when the animal with difficulty withdrew
his head An effort was made to pursue it, but
the only dog on the premises refused to leave
the house-hs instinct, probably, telling him
there was danger
On the following morning, some two hours
before day, accompanied by their trusty dogs,
they traced his steps, and after long and la
borious walk, arrived at the den, only to find,
to their great satisfaction, that the animal had
left his retreat and gone further. They, how
ever, again followed the track, keeping the
dogs back so as not to destroy the loot prints by
running over them. In short time they came
across the carcass of deer, which had been
recently killed and nearly devoured. From this
they judged they were close upon him. The
route now was upon the very summit of Paddy
Mountain, along which they plodded through
The deep snow; until near the setting of the
sun, when they had the satisfaction to find that
the game had again taken to den One Of the
DOGS ran on The flat rock which crowned the
den, and placing his nose to small rent, gave
unmistakable Evidence, by erect tail and low
orow, that the animal was within. He instant
" darted round and entered the hole, followed
by the others, before it could be prevented.
ln a moment terrible growl was heard,
followed by blow OF the animals paw on the
; rock, as he struck at the dogs. Soon the ming
led growls OF the animal, and furious barking of
the dogs, with cries of pain and rage from the
latter, came from the den. The question was
now, what was to be do e? The dogs must be
got out, or all would be killed. The old hunter
then told the youngest of his nephews that he
must try and get into the hole and pull the dogs
out, while bis brother must prevent them from
re entering, and he would stand ready to pull
him out at the first notice Of danger All was
safely and successfully accomplished. The
dogs were but little hurt, excep. the noble iel.
low which first entered he had received NOR.
tai hurt.
Rudolph again told the young man that he
mnst 90 into the hoIe while he and his brother
, would stand to pull him out, and see what the
, animal was. This WAS cheerfuy agreed TO-
and he entered After a careful survey, he
said he could not see ANYTHING. "Look well
to the right" said Adam, and under the rock
. where the dog first winded.' In few mo.
ments &c answered." see a par Of eyes os
). big as dollar, and as bright as a coal OF fire. ;
sit is not bears, thvn, said Adam, for q
b, hears head is shaped like pig's, his eyes arc
-, small and close together" The nephew was
drawn out, and they all stood with rifles ready.
>, Rudolph then went to the rent in tho rocS
and cleared away all the leaves and lntel
- which obstructed the passage Of light into tn,
den. At his own instance he was then lowera
into the den In a little time after he wa
H. pulled out, and stated that there were two ami
III mails in the cave, one Of which he had see
e. leap upon rock far back in the chamber, Will
or the one the ephew had seen lay still at tn
came place, and that it was of dun color Il
bt concluded to go into the hole first, and hold th
lis muzzle Of the rife one Of the nephews was
pit follow and pull the trigger, while the other re
in mained outside to keep the dogs off. He ha
4 discovered that the hole went down about 81
,e feet and then stopped at rock .Out three fet
high, between which and the roof Of the cav
,g was The entrance TO the chamber where the uu