Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-11-02
5NisrfllanRull5.
Life in New Mexico,
BY Montpelier boy, whose pres
ent residence is in New Mexico.

pO1 W uVst
ent residence is in New Mexico.
HABITS OF THE PANTHER.
So One of my
herders has just come in with the
news that one of my finest cows was
killed by a Panther last night, so
you must excuse my breaking off
rather abruptly, as | am going to
ride down and endeavor to bring the
gentleman 10 an account if possible.
Well, ! have returned and it was
"no 60" We, that is, myself and
my dogs, tracked him into high
cliff of rocks filled with crevices 10
which he might have secreted him
self, or he might nave hid himself in
some Of the tall Pines with which the
cliffs are covered, and after dill
gent though Intellectual search, | re-
turned dlsheartened, but left a few
doses of Strychnine to do the work
for him. have heard that the PAN
Their disdained TO eat any meat that
he hes not killed himself. but am
confident this is incorrect as they
have frequently removed carcases of
Deer that have killed late in the
evening, and hung up in trees to
secure them from other animals unul
could remove them but they sell
dom eat the meat while fresh. They
will suck the warm blood of the
animals they kill and then drag
them away TO some place that they
fancy, and there bury them with
sticks, leaves, grass or rubbish of any
kind until they become tainted be-
fore they devour them. In the mean
time they stand guard over the irea-
sure until il becomes cooked to their
taste, and woe TO the animal that.
attracted by The scent, comes within
reach of their spring. have often
found where they have buried their
meat, and the Deer they have stolen
from me ! have invariably found
buried. once found very large
Buck buried 10 this way, and saw
the Panther as he sprung from a tree
near II and sneaked away, and on
finding ! could moi get a shot at him
| came back and found The bodies of
two large Wolves and one Prairie
Wolf buried near by, but whether he
intended them as food cannot say,
but from their being buried suppose
this was his design.
AN ESCAPE.
The Panther seldom attacks a
man, but will do so sometimes. The
worst fright | ever had was from
Panther, and believe may as well
give you an account Of that as any
thing else, as ii may amuse you, al
though | assure you i, was very little
amusement TO me at the time.
A number of years ago, a, the
gold mines, the Mexicans reported
having seen red Bear in noun
tain not far of. and ] started with
my dogs ia search of him, but no
Bear nor even the track OF one could
be found, so | concluded II was q
false report and was about returning
when heard the dogs barking on a
trail, and thinking it was the Bear
followed them, but found on exam.
ination that they were in pursuit Of
Deer. BY this time, having become
little excited, thought | might a,
well Try 10 find one myself, SO con,
cluded to ascend the mountain which
is very high and steep, but afiel
searching for sometime and not see
ing any fresh track ! became careles,
and my thoughts were wandering ia
away, when happened to cast IN,
eyes above me TO see in what cours,
to proceed, when a sight presenle,
itself that collected my wanderin,
thoughts at once and convinced IN
that they could be more proftabl
employed nearer home. A shol
distance above me saw an enorm
Gus Panther slipping towards me i
. csouching position his keen eye
were fixed on me lntently, and hi
tail was playing from side 10 side ex