The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-10-19
WooDsFIELD MONROE COUNTY, OHIO OCTOBER 49, 1853.

stood, with his gun resting across limb
; in the direction OF the place where he had
been left by the panther. looking sharply
in the direction he expected the creatures
} return. But he had remained in this con.
diiion but short time, and had barely
thrus.ed the ramrod down the barrel Of his
piece, to be sure the charge was in her
and to examine her printing, and shu
down the pan slowly so that it should no
snap. and thus make noise, when his
keen Indian eye. for such he had, caugh
a glimpse of monstrous panther. lead
ing warily two young ones towards hel
intended supper.
Now matters were hastened to a climax
} rapidly, when Wheaton or the panther
must finish their hunting on the mountains
of the Susouelannah, Fer if old smooth
bore should fash in the pan. or miss ef
aim, the die would be cast, as second
load would be impossible ere her claws
would have sundered his heart strings in
the tree where he was. or if he should but
partially wound her the same must have
been his fate During these thoughts the
panther had hid her young under some
brush. and had come within some thirty
feet of the spot where she supposed her
victim was sail sleeping; and seeing all
as she had left ii. she dropped down 10 a
crouching position, precisely like Cat
when about to spring upon its prey. Now
was seen the soul OF the panther in its per-
fection; merging from the recesses OF ma
lture. hidden by the creator, along the
whole nervous system. but resting chiefly
in the BRAIN from whence it glared, in
bright horror, from its burning eyes, curl
ed in its strong and vibrating tail. pushed
out its sharp white and eliptical fangs,
from its broad and powerful paws, ready
for rending, gliitered on the points Of its
uncovered teeth, and smoked in rapid It's
sues of steam from its red and open jaws.
while every hair on its long dun back
stood erect in savage Joy, denoting that
the fatal moment OF its leap bad come.
Now the horrid nesting Of its hinden
claws drawn under its belly was heard !,
and the bent strings were seen but a
half instant by Wheaton, from where he
sat in his tree, when the tremendous leap
was made. il rose on long curve in the
air Of about ten feet in the highest place.
and from thence descending. it struck ex-
/
OF its prey had lain. with u scream too
horrible tor description. when it tore to
atoms the rotten wood. filling for several
teet above it. the air with the leaves and
light brush, the covering OF the deception
But instantly the panther found herself
cheated, and seemed to droop little with
| disappointment, when, however, 1t resum-
ed ali erect posture, and surveyed quite
around on every side on horizontal line.
| in search OF It's prey. but not discovering
it, she cast a furious look aloft among the
tops OF the trees, when in a moment the
eyes of Wheaton and the panther met.
| Now for another leap; when she dropped
for that purposes; but the bullet and two
buckshot Of old smooth bore, were too
quick, as he lodged them all exactly in the
brain Of the savage monster, and stretch
ed her dead on the spot where the hunter
had slept but short time before, in the
soundness OF a mountain dream.
lie had marked the spot where her
young were hidden, which at the report Of
the gun, we're frightened and ran up tree.
| Wheaton now came down and found the
panther 10 measure from the end Of its
nose to the point Of its tail, eight feet and
six inches in length-a creature sufficient
! ly strong TO have carried him off on full
run. had he fallen into its power. lie now
reloaded and went TO the tree where the
young panthers were, and soon brought
them down from their grapple among the
limbs. companions for their conquered and
! slain parent.
Wheaton dismantled them Of their hides,
and hastened away, lest some other en-
counter, before the night should set in.
might overtake him, of similar charac
ter, when the disadvantage Of the dark
ness might decide the victory in way
more advantageously 10 the roamers of the
forest. Of this feat Ben Wheaton never
ceased TO boast; reciting it as the most
appalling passage;o of his hunting life. The
/ animal had scented him while asleep, and
had found him, as. she supposed. intend
| ing to give her young specimen of the
manner OF their future life. or if this is too
much for the mind of dumb animal. she
intended at leas, to give them supper.
This circumstance was all that saved
his liie. or the panther would have leapt
upon him at first. and have torn him to
pieces, instead of covering him withleaves,
as il did. for The sakeof her young The
panther is a ferocious and almost untame-
able animal. whose nature and habits are
the same as the cat; except that the ma
lures and powers Of this domestic creature,
are, in the panther immensely magnified.
in strength and voracity. 1t is in the
American forest, what the tiger is in Afri-
ca and India, a dangerous and savage
| animal tho terror of all other animals as
well as of the Indian and white man.
Extravaganza.
a full grown buckeye, in rather an OBJ
liyious and .'balmy" state, tumbled into a