The Empire County argus., 1854-06-17
CHASED by a cATAMoUNy.
A SCENE FROM THE LIFE OF A p1oNEE,

had been on hunting excursion. and as was
returning fell IN with that oftdescrbed parsonage
the Oldest inhabtant." He kindly accosted me
and entered gladly into conversation with him.
Young man. said Ee, "when first visited this
town, there We're only three families living in it,
You who now live in ease, can never know the
| hardshlps and perlou5 scenes through which the
early settlers passed Come with me- he con-
tinued, 'and will show you the exact spot on
which the first hut ever erected in this town was
located"
followed silently, until the old man reached the
bottom Of the west side Of Paris Hill
There said he, ION this spot was erected the
hut. shall never forget the first time visited it
and the story was told"
"What is it 2" | asked
Il will tell you. When the first settler moved
here, his nearest noighbor lived twenty miles dis
tant IN the present town of Rumtord and the only
road between the two neighbors was path that he
had cut through the woods himself, SO that in case
Of want or sickness he might get assistance One
spring, think it the third season after he had
settled here, he obliged to go to Rumford after
provisions. lie arose carly one morning and star
ted for his nearest neghbor People of the present
day would think it hard to make Journey oftwen-
ty miles for bag Of potatoes and on foot too but
such was the erland Of the first settler He arrived
before noon, and was successful in getting his po-
tatoes got some refreshments and started for home
But t was not very easy to travel with u load of
potatoes and finally, at sundown, he threw of his
lead, and resolved to make shelter and spend the
night. have been with him to the exact locality
of it it was situated u5t the other side of the
stream, which are mills in the village, now
known as Pinhook in Woodstock. He built q shell
ter, struck fire, and took out Of his pack pecc
Of meat to roast All young man." continued the
narrator, you little know with what relish q man
eats his food in the woods but as was saying be
commenced roasting his meat, when he was star
a1 cl,,lI bo IL
come from nothing else but catamount | will
relate it to you rs near as can in the language
Of the old settler himself:
Il listened Il mOment,1 said he 'and it was re-
pcated even louder and it seccmed nearer than be-
fore. My first thought was for my own safety
But what was to do z! 1t was at least ten miles
from my home, and there was not a single human
being nearer than that to me. | first thought of
Selfdctcnse: but had nothing to defend myself
with. In q moment concluded to start for home,
for knew the nature Of the catamount too we'll to
think should stand the least chance Of escape if
remained in the camp. knew, too. that he would
ranSaclz my camp, and hoped that the meat which
| left behind might satisfy his appetite, 50 that he
would not follow me after eating it.
II had not proceeded more than half mile, be-
fore knew by the shrieks Of the animal. that he
was within sight of the camp. doubled my speed.
content that the beast should have my supper al
though declared would not have run i'll had my
trusty rifle with me. But there could be no cowal-
dice in my running from an infurated catamount,
doubly furious probably by being hungry, and
with nothing that could be called weapon, save a
pockct-lnte.
Il had proceeded. probably about two-thirds of
the distance home, and hearing nothing more of
the fearful enemy, began to slacken my pace, and
thought | had nothing to fear. | had left behind
about two pounds Of meat, beef and pork, which |
hoped had satisfied the terocious monster Just
had come to the conclusion that | would run no
more, and was looking back. astonished almost at
the distance had travelled in short a space Of
time, was electrified with horror to hear the ami
nal shrek again
Il knew then that my fears were realized. The
beast had undoubtedly entered the camp and ate
what lie could find and then had scented my track
and followed after ne. 1t was about three miles to
NY log cabin, and it had already become dark.
red ubed my speed but / felt that must die
And such death The rcccolection Of that feel
ing comes to my mind as wildly though knew
the animal was now pursuing me. But am no
coward, though to be torn in pieces and almost
ten alive by a wild beast, was horrible!
Il calmly unbustoned my frock with the deter
minaion to throw it OF before the beast should APP
proach me, hoping thereby to gain advantage Of
him by the time he would lose in tearing it TO pieces
Another shrek, and tossed the garment be-
hind me in the path. Not more than five minutes
elapscd before heard shrill cry rs he came to it,
! !
deer But in moment the animal made another
cry, which told me plainly that the garment had
| only cxaspcrated him to ferccr chase.
/ 20. God = slid |, ''and mustl die thus | can
must live for my wife and children" and | ran
even faster than had done before, and unbutton-
inc my wastcoat, dropped it in the path as pro-
ceedcd The thoughts Of my wife and children
urged me to the most desperate speed, for thought
more of their unprotected state than the death |
was thaea2ned with, for should die what would
become Of them.
In moment. the whole events ofmy hfe crowd
ed TO nv brain The hot blood coursed through
nv veins with torrents force. The catamount
shrieked louder and louder, and fast us | was run
ning. he was rapidly approaching me. Nearer and
nearer he came, until | fnnccd | could hear his
bounds At last came to the brook which you are
wonder and it was double the size which it is now,
for it was swollen by recent freshets and longed
to cool NV fcvercd brain in it but | knew that
would be as certain death to me as to die by the
claws of the beast. With three bounds | gained
the opposite bank, and then | could clearly see a
lirbt in nv log cabin, which was not more than
one hundred rods distant.
II had not proceeded but short distance, before
| heard the plunge of the catamount behind me-
lcaped with more than human energy, for 1t was
life or death In moment the catamount gave
another wild shrek, as though he was AFRAID he
should lose his prey At the same instant yelled
at the top of my lungs to my wife, and IN a moment
[ saw her approach the door with light
"With what vividness that moment comes back
to my mind The catamount was not so tar from
me as was from the house. dropped my hat,