Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-08-04
THE pANrHER-

THE PANTHER.
The Peoria Register. paper which fre.
quently instructs and amuses US with an
ecdOtes connected with the settlement OF
the Western country, furnishes us with
the following sketch which it says was re-
lated by gentlemen of great respecta.
bility, living near the spot where the cir.
cumstances occurred
In the latter part OF the bloody tradge.
dy which spread dismay throughout this
part of the State, there were about nine
hundred Indians encamped on the Illi-
nois river, opposite to the present town
site De Sale, composed principally Of the
lroquOis. They had always maintained a
friendly intercourse with the whites in the
vicinity, and had manifested great par
tiality for one in particular. This was
Old Myers" perfect prototype of Coo.
per's trapper. This State was the fifth in
which he had erected his hut in advance
of his white population. He had of course
acquired more of the habits of the Indians
than of civilized men, and was farmiliarly
known among them as "Thc Panther :"
title which he had acquired among them
by daring exploit in killing an animal Of
that name, when leading them in one Of
their wild hunts. At the period referred
to, the Indians rallied under the Black
Hawk standard, and were committing
many depredations upon the settlers in
that vicinity. When repulSed, they did
not hesitate to murder their friends and
companions. About the cabin of the
Panther nearly n hundred settlers had
come in for the safety of their wives and
| children, placing them under his protec.
ton. But among the victims of savage
barbarlty, there happened to be broth.
er-in-law of the Panther, with his wife
and three children. Here they commit
ted an objectionable outrage upon the
family Of their ancient friend and demi-
savage. When the sad tidings OF their
cruel fate had reached the garrison, the
Panther was seen clothing himself in bat.
tie array. With his rife. his tomahawk
scalping knife, in open day. he silently
bent his way TO the Indian quarters,
about one mile distant. Fearlessly lie
marched into the midst Of the savage
band, lcveled his rifle at the head chief
present, and deliberately killed him on
the spot. He then severed the head from
the liEeless trunk, holding it up before the
awe stricken multitude, exclaimed, " You
have murdered my brother. his wife and
three little ones, and am even with you
but" he added. "every one Of you that
is found here tomorrow morning At sun
rise is dead Indian" All ttis was &C.
complished by the Panther without the
least mOlestation. They knew that he
would take vengenee for their deed Of
blOod-and silently acknowledged the
justice Of the daring act. He then bore
the head of in triumph to his cabin
The next morning not an Indian could be
found in all that region. They left their
homes and their dead, and that part Of
the State has not been molested BY them
since.
A few weeks since, this veteran ofeigh-
ty winters sold his claim, and compari
soned with the same hunting shirt and
Weapons which be wore when he killed
TIE chief, started for Missouri. After
travelling few rods. he returned asked
permission 10 give his "grand yell. -
| The gentleman to whom be had sold the
land, giving Ets ascent, he gave = long.
loud. and shTill Eheop, that made the
wslLin ring fE miles around. Now"
said be, 10y Messing is on the land and
| on you your BNOuna wa e1"SyS g'eIu an
abundance and you will always prosper"
Again he took up his march for new
home in the wilderness, where be could
enjoy the happiness Of solitude undiStuT.
bed by sOeislties.
BEWARE OF THE SULEs. "A curious case
is related by the Troy Budget, Of a girl
in that city losing her speech for whole
week. Being disobedient, and refusing
to answer her mother when spoken 70, she
found, after sitting dumpishly in the cor
ner for. about an hour. broOding over her
bad conduct. that she was unable 70 utteI
or artieuIate a word Her friends did
not take particular notice Of her for eou-
pie Of days. supposing she was Keeping
up herpet Finally she wrote down thai
she could not speak. when her friends BE-.
; came alarmed and consulted several ply