Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1853-04-14
Desperate Fight with Panther.

The Arkansas Shield contains an account of a
desperate fight between man and two women
on the one side, and panther on the other.--
The fight took pfscs % Beaver. .Bayou, upi.iliips
County, Arkansas, on the 10th Of February
The Shield says:
"On the 10th, Mr.. Grimes had left his house
during the deep snow that then lay on the ground,
to procure some frewood in the adjoining forest
leaving in the house sick child, his wife, and
her mother. Attracted by the cry of child, it
is supposed, large and fierce panther ap-
preached the door of the house. The initiative
note Of 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 closing the
door, and shutting out the panther An alarm
was then glver by the ladies', which drew TO the
house Mr.. Grimes, supposlng his child to be i'll,
and little dreaming by how fierce an enemy his
cabin was beseiged.
Judge then OF his surprise on seeing coolly
seated upon the step of his door, huge panther.
Mr.. Grimes advanced and attempted to gel pos.
session OF his gun, which Mrs Grimes had.
opening the back door, brought around to him !;
crouching, with tail switching and eyes fiercely
garing, the panther watched every movement of
Mr.. Grimes. AT the very moment Mr.. G. grasped
his gun, and before he could use it, the panther
made deadly spring at his throat. With great
presence of mind, and almost miracuously, Mr..
e. seized the monster by the throat The pan
ther got the left arm of Mr.. G. in his mouth, and
victory seemed to be with him. Every muscle
OF Mr.. e. was now called into action and strain
ed to the utmost, and long struggle ensued
the panther was thrown, and by placing his knee
on its neck, and still retaining the grasp he had
on It's throat, he succeeded in releasing his left
arm from the jaws of the panther. They again;
rose from the ground Mr. G. never abandoning
his vise.like hold of its throat had now both of
It's fore-egs grasped in his left hand he thus
kept 1t at arms length, and prevented it from
s@@'nr n-'-' Is.L "a. -,.-ls. TT
"Victory vas not yet with Mr.. IT,, and he
still might have met with a Waterloo defeat
had not the ladies', Boucher like, come up with
reinforcements.
"A pair of tongs and battling stick were
brought to bear upon the panther. One blow Of
the tongs sent down his throat several teeth-for
SO tight wis the grasp OF Mr. G. that the AMI
NAL jaws were wide open. The heroines in
this fight Mrs G. and her mother) continued be-
aborng the panther until blow broke it down
in the Ions. Mr.. G. kept his hold until the pan.
her breath4d his last-and firmly believes tina,
he choked him to death, Notwithstanding the aid
given him by the ladies. When captured, il
measured eight feet and a half from the tip Of
the noae to the end of its tail. Its skin now
hangs on the outer side of the cabin, a trophy
of a hard and bloody battle.
"Mr. Crimes is now much injured. So stiff
is he in every muscle from his great exertons
that he is unable to get about. One arm i:
much swollen and badly sprained, the Other
pierced in several places by the teeth Of the
panther The scars of this fight he will beal
with him to the grave, if it does not become nee
esary to amputate his arm.