The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1853-04-07

DESPERATE FIGHr.--The "Arkausas
Shield" contains an account of a desperate
fight between a man and two women on the
nue side, and panther on the other. The
fight took place ON Beaver Bayou, Philips
county, Arkansas. The Shield says: On
the 10Th OF January Mr.. Grimes had left his
house curing the deep snow that then Law
on the ground, to procure some fre-wood in
the adjoining forest--leaving in the house q
sick child, his wife, and her mother At
iracted by the crying Ct the child, il is sup
posed, a large and fierce panther approached
the door Of the house. The initiative note
Of n child crying drew to the door Mrs.
Grimes, most fortunately; for already was
the nose Of the fierce intruder thrust within
the door. By an effort she succeeded in clos
ing the door aud shutting out the panther.
An alarm was then given by the ladies,
which drew TO the house Mr. Grimes, sup
posing his child to be i'll. and little dream-
ing by how fierce an enemy his cabin was
bssieged.
Judge then Of his surprise upon seeing
coOly seated upon the step Of his door a huge
panther. Mr.. Grimes advanced and at
tempted to get possession of his gun, which
Mrs Grimes had, opening the back door,
brought around to him; crouching with tail
switching and eyes fercely glaring, the
panther watched every movement Of Mr..
Grimes. At the very moment that Mr.. G..
grasped his gun, and before he could use it,
the panther made spring at his throat.
With great presence Of mind, Mr. G. grasp
ed the monster by the throat. The panther
got the left arm Of Mr. G. in his mouth, and
victory seemed to be with him. Every mus
Gle Of Mr.. G. was now strained to the Ut
most, and long struggle ensued; the pan
ther was thrown, and by placing his knee on
lis neck and still retaining the grasp he had
on its throat, Mr.. G. succeeded in releasing
from the jaws of the panther his left arm.
They again rose from the ground; Mr.. G.,
never abandoning his vice-like hold of its
throat, had now both of its forelegs grasped
in his left hand; he thus kept It at arms
length and prevented it from tearing him
with its claws. Victory was not yet with
Mr. G., and he still might have met with
Waterloo defeat, had not the ladies, Blucher
like, come up with reinforcements. A pair
Of tUngs and "batting stick" were brought
to bear upon theipaniher. One blow Of the
tongs sent down his throat several teeth;
for 50 tight was the grasp of Mr.. G. that the
animals jaws were wide open. The hero
ines in this fight CMrs. G. and her mother)
cOntin0'd belaboring the panther until blow
( broke it down in the loins. Mr.. 6 kept his
bold until the panther breathed his last
and firmly believes that he choked the pam
/ ther to death, Notwithstanding the aid given
him by the ladies'. When captured, it meas.
ured 81 feet from the tip of the nose to the
end of its tail Its skin now hangs on the
outer side of his cabin, a trophy of hard
and bloody fight.
/ SEAsoNABLE AHEcDoTE.-Many years ago
there was a scarcity of grain in Norwich
Conn, and I. ..man of family applied to a
miller for the purchase of grist, but he,
ike others now days, was disposed to a
vail himself Of the general dearth for his
own gain, whereupon the applicant cursed
him.
Cursing was''in those primitive times an
indctable offence. The delinquent was
summond to npear before one Squire Hyde
/ To answer. At the time specified he was
there with Bible in hand, to encounter
the plaintiffs council, who very eloquently
des cribed the enormity of his offence, array
ing statute and precedent against him in the
most conclusive manner. Nothing daunted,
the defendan met the law with gospel, be-
1 ginning with the text, Cursed is he that
witholdeth corn from the poor Idid curse
him, and l. curse him again. The Bible
curses him, and now, Squire Hyde, do you
curse him, for one of your curses is worth
two Of mine. The plea was overwhelming
and the defendant was acquitted.