The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-06-22
A Dangerous Fet.

Pittsburg Visitor, in some comments u
pom an article descriptive of the Ameri
can cougar, which recently appeared il
Chambers Edinburg Journal, gives al
interesting account Of her own persona
experience in the panther line She says
that eleven years ago her husband bought
IN Arkansas young panther, six month:
old, which had been caught, while kit
ten, in the woods. He was brought home
and rem aimed there four years, until the
time of his death Tom (that was his
name) was about nine feet in length, of a
gray color on lis back and sides, and
nearly white on the belly and throat
His back generally was perfectly straight,
his form symmetrical, and his movements
1.-the and graceful. In the twilight of the
evening the animal was accustomed to
pace back and forth to the full extent OF
his limits, ever and anon uttering a short
piercing shrek, which made the valley re-
vertebrate for half a mile or more in'eve-
ry direction. Mrs. SwissheIm says these
sounds were the shrillest, and at the same
time the most mournful she ever heard.
They might perhaps be likened to the
scream of a woman in an agony of terror.
The natural ferOcity the panther was
at length so far subducd, that his fair mis-
tress sometimes venturcd to stroke his
head and feel his paw, when he was in a
good bumor. On one occasion, indeed
when he had broken his chain, aud all the
men in the house, with the exception of
Mrs SUissLelm, had fed to the barn for
safety, she seized him by the collar as he
took refuge in the dining room, and held
him until ker husband took ehectual
measures to secure him. AtleDgtb, how
ever, Mrs. Swisshelm was thrown from a
carriage and so severely injured that she
was confined to her bed several weeks
She says:
"Whon we appeared on crutches vein
adyertently went quite near him and we
we're warned by low growl that he was
US as his prey. We turned
ana found him couched within five
or six feet Of Us, ready to spring-his
eyes green and blazing; and the tip Of his
tail moving from side to side. We kept
our eyes fastened on his; there was no
one within call, and we tried to make lin
remember US by talking to and naming
him.
Tom, poor Tom" but Toms eye lost
none of its fire, and the tail keptits regu-
lar motion
Then we tried to intimidatc him as we
had often done before, by assuming 4
voice Of command. Tom, Tom! Down
Tom but Tom kept his hostile attitude,
and we,-in doubt as to whether his chain
was long enough to reach US or strong e.
nough to resist the spring We saw he in
tended making,-kept our place and tried
to stare him out Of countenance.
After what appeared to US long time,
trusting to the power of the eye to keep
him still, we set our crutches, and still
speaking to him, threw ourself backward
4 step. The instant we moved he sprang,
but the chain held him, and being too
short, lie rcbounded against post about
eighteen inches from US
Her pet Tom never showed the same
desire to attack man that he did to at
tack a woman or child. When a child
was in sight he would pace back
and forth, loll out his tongue, and
sometimes scream with rage that he could
not get at it, He never purred ex-
cept when carcssed and in an extra good
humor. When in fear he bumped his
back, bristled his hair, and spit like a
cat. lie was in all respects "a large grey
cat looking on all animals as rats, mice
and birds. Men to him were large rats
whom he thought best to let alone"