Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-06-22

The Panther Fooled.

Old man Wheaton, who lived in Brier
Valley, about two miles from the Susque-
hannah river, was an inveterate lover of
forest sports. He, like most of the early
settlers of Ostego had selected swamp flats
for hunting grounds. His shanty was
erected on a small stream in Brier Val
lev, which is now called, after his name.
Wheaton Greek. The most OF his time
was expended in journeys through The for
est, frequently with a far famed Mohawk
Indian, named Antoine; but sometimes
Ben loved to pursue his sport without a
companion And well he might, for be
did not need a guide. Every nook, dell,
crevice, and cave. from the Oslago Lake
to the mouth of the Delaware River, was
familiar TO Ben Wheaton, and he had oft
Gu pursued his game to almost every part
of that country. He chiefly hunted the
wolf, as well for profit as for sport, for
government paid silver dollar, in the
shape of bounty, on every skin.
Bent upon increasing his store of coin,
old Ber. one fine summer morning, should
cred his rife, and taxing his knapsack,
containing sufficient supply of corn-calle
and dried venison, he crossed the Susque-
Il
lin Mountain, which lies between the viii
lagos of Ostego and Franklin.
The day was sultry, and by the time he
had accomplished one half the ascent of
the mountain he concluded that he need
ed a rest He therefore took seat upon
a moss covered log, near spring and eat
his luncheon. The still solitude, the
baImv air, together with the singing of
birds, and the lazy hum of the bee, final
" lulled the hunter to repose. He must
have slept long, for when he awoke the
sun was declining far westward, and
few ripples Of golden light fingered on
the tree-tops which he first noted after
clearing a mass of dry leaves from his
face, which he thought had blown there !,
but on attempting 10 rise, however, he
discovered himself completely buried in
them.
Now, it is notorious fact that the pan
ther will cover sleeping or dead body,
and leave it for a time, but only eventu-
ally to return and devour it. The instant
Ben awok, therefore. the truth flashed
upon his mind that panther had found
and concealed HIM, and that the beast
might at that momen; be watching him,
ready to make the fearful spring. He
rose quickly, sized his rife, that rested
against a tree, and hastily throwing to-
gether some large pieces of decayed wood
and covering them with leaves he climbed
a tree Fad waited patiently the panther's
coming. Presently he saw it-a she one
stealing along with cat-like tread, and
with two cubs behind her, which she hid
~, cor,a br,sh,oad
Dropping herself on the ground, she
crept slowly towards her expected prey,
! lashing the earth with her tail, and eyes
glowing like Goals of fire, The appear
ance of things, however, did not seem TO
satisfy her, but she sprang up, elevated
her back, and threw herself upon her
supposed victim with a wild yell. The
wood and leaves flew about in every di-
rection, but the panther seemed palsied
by rage. Suddenly she leaped aside,
dropped her tail, and peered around a.
mong the brushwood; then raising her
ewes upward (fairly emitting sparks of
fire in her anger,) she encountered the
hunters gaze fixed upon her With
another screech, more terrible than the
first, she prepared to spring toward him,
when, with an aim that seldom failed, old
Ben fred, and she fell, tearing the earth
with her claws. The shot was fatal.
30 Prayer was not invented, It was