The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-10-20
From the Weekly Budget
Old Myers, the Panther.
A tale from Real Life in the
EaCkWOOds.
BY SEBA SMITH.

EaCkVOOds.
BY sEBA SMITH.
In country like ours, of boundless
forests, rapidly filling up with growing
and widely spreading population, the pio-
neers of the wilderness, those hardy and
daring spirits who take their lives in their
hands, and march in advance of civiliza-
ton, into the wild woods to endure priva-
tions among the wild animals, and run
the hazard of wild warfare among the
savage tribes, form very peculiar and
interesting class. Whether it is a natur-
al hardihood and boldness, and love of
adventure, or a desire for retirement, or
a wish to be free from the restraints of
civilized society, that thus leads this pc
culiar class of people into the wilderness,
it matters not now to inquire. Probably
all these motives, in greater or less de-
gree, 90 to make up the moving principle.
At the head of this class is the renown-
ed Daniel Boone, whose name will live as
long as his own Kentucky shall find a
place on the page of history. He was the
great Napoleon among the pioneers of
the wilderness. But there are many
others of less note, whose lives were also
filled with remarkable adventures, and
curious and interesting incidents. In
deed, every State in the Union has had
more or less Of these characters, which 60
to make up the class. One of these was
Old Myers, the Panther; q man of iron
constitution, of great power of bone and
muscle, and an indomitable courage that
knew no mixture Of fear.
Four times, in four different States,
had Myers pitched his lonely tent in the
wilderness, among the savage tribes, and
waited for the tide of white population to
overtake him; and four times had "pulled
up stakes and marched still deeper into
the forest, where he might enjoy more
elbow-room, and exclaim with Selkirk,
al am monarch of all | survey
Myrights there is none to dispute"
And now at the time of which we speak,
be had fifth time pitched his tent and
struck his fire on the banks of the Illinois
river, in the territory which afterwards
grew up to a State of the same name
Having lived so much in the wilderness,
and associated so much with the abort
gines, he had acquired much of their
habits and mode of life, and by his loca-
ton on the Illinois river, he soon became
rather favorite among the Indian tribes
around him. His skill with the rife and
the bow, and his personal feats of strength
and agility, were well calculated to ex-
cite their admiration and applause He
often took the lead among them in their
games of sport. 1t was on one of these
occasions that he acquired the additional
name Of the Panther,
A party of eight or ten Indians, ac-
companied by Myers, had been out two
or three days on hunting excursion and
were returning, laden with the spoils of
the chase, consisting of various kinds of
wild fowl, squirrels, racoons and buffalo
skins. They had used all their ammuni-
ton except single charge, which was
reserved in the rife of the chief for any
emergency or choice game which might
present itself on the way home. A river
lay in way which could be crossed only
at one point, without subjecting them to
an extra journey of some ten miles round
When they arrived at this point, they
suddenly came upon huge panther,
which had taken possession of the pass,
and, like a skilful general confident of his
strong position, seemed determined to
hold it. The party retreated little, and
stood at bay for while, and consulted
what should be done.
Various methods were attempted to
decoy or frighten the creature from his
position, but without success. He growl-
ed defiance whenever they came in sight,
as much as to say, off you want this
stronghold come and take it," The an
imal appeared to be very powerful and
fierce. The trembling Indians hardly
dared to come in sight of him, and all the
reconnoitering had to be done by Myers.
The majority were in favor of retreating
as fast as possible, and taking the long
Journey of ten miles round for home but
Myers resolutely resisted. He urged the
chief, whose rife was loaded, to march
up to the panther, take good aim and
shoot him down; promising that the rest
of the party would back him up closely
with their knives and tomahawks in case
of miss-fre But the chief refused; he
knew too we'll the nature and power of
the animal. The creature, he contended,
was exceedingly hard to kill. Not one
shot in twenty, however well aimed,
would dispatch him; and if one shot failed,
it was a sure death to the shooter, for the
infuriated animal would spring upon him
in an instant, and tear him to pieces.--
For similar reasons every Indian in the
party declined to hazard battle with the
enemy in any shape.
At last Myers, in burst of anger and
impatience, called them all set of cow
ards, and snatching the loaded rife from
the hands of the chief, to the amazement
of the whole party, marched deliberately
towards the panther. The Indians kept
d;c{opoo m watch the rpSUlt