Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-10-14

AZ 1aBJ MF6rB5 III 7UuTSt OF anger ant
impatienee, called them all q set of COW
ards, and snatching the loaded rife from
the hands of the chief, to the auiazemen
of the party, marched deliberately towart
the panther. The Indians kept at q eau
tious distance, to watch theresult of}th,
fearful battle. Myers walked steadily nj
to within about two rods Of the panther
keeping bis eyes fixed upon him. while
the eyes Of the panther flashed fire, anc
his heavy growi betokened at once, tht
power aud frmness Of the auimdl. a
about two rods distance, Myers Ieyeled
his rife, took deliberate aim, and fred.
The shot inflicted a heavy wound, bat moi
q fatal one and the furious animal mad
dened with pain, made but two leaps be
fore he reached his assailant. Myers met
him with the butt end of his rifle, and
staggered him a little with two or three
heavy blows, but the rife broke, and the
animal grappled him, apparently with ite
full power. The Indians at once gave
Myers up for dead, and only thought OF
making . timely retreat for themselves.
Fearful was the struggle between Ny
Iers and the panther, but the animal had
the best OLA at first, for they soon came
to the ground, and Myers underneath, suf
fering nnder the joint operation of sharp
claws and teeth, applied by the powerful
muscles. In falling, however, Myers,
whose right hand was at liberty, had
drawn a long knife AS soon as they
came to the ground, his right arm being
free, he made q desperate plunge at the
vltals of the animal, and as his goodluck
would have it. reached his heart. The
loud shrieks Of the panther showed that
it was a death wound. He quiyered con.
vulsiyely, shook his victim with a spas
modic leap and plunge. then loosened his
hold, and fell powerless by his side
Myers whose wounds were severe, but not
mortal, rose to his feet, bleeding and much
ea tea7l@t Is E9seaa-atpaAstht
give a grand whoop, which conveyed the
news Of his victory to his trembling Ind
ian friends.
They now came up to him with shout
ing and joy, and SO full of admiration
that they were almost ready to worship
him. They dressed and bound up hit
wounds, and were now ready to pursue
their way %homeward without the least
impeachment. Before crossing the river,
however, Myers cut off the head of the
panther. which he took home with him,
and fastened it-up by the side Of his cab
in door, where it remained for years, O
memorial of a deed that excited the ad.
mlration OF the Indians in all that region.
From that time forth they gave Myers
that name, and always called him the
Panther.
Time rolled on, and the Panther con
tinued to occupy his hut in the wilder.
ness, on the banks Of the illinois River,
a general ~favorIte among the savages,
and exercising great influence over them.
At last the tide Of white population again
overlook him. and he fouAd3 himself once
more surrounded by white ~reighbogs.-
Still, however, he seemed i3yh to forsake
the noUle illinois, on whose banks he had
been SO long q fixture, and he held on,
forming q sort of connecting link between
the white settlers and the indians. a
At length hostilities broke out, which
resulted in the memorable Black Hawk
War, that spread d~esolation through that
part Of the country. Parties If Indians
committed the most wanton and cruel de.
predasions, often numbering I'D friends
and companions, with whom they had
held long conversation. The white set
tiers, for some distance round, hocked to
the cabin of the Panther for protection.
His cabin was transformed into q sort OF
garrison, and was filled with more than q
hundred men, women, and children, who
rested almost their only hope of safety
on the prowess Of the Panther, and his
influence over the savagee.
AT this time o party of about nine hun
bred Of the Iroquois tribe were On the
banks of the Illinois, about o mile from
the garrison Of Myers, and nearly oppo
site the present town o. La Sale. One
day e was brought to the camp OF
Myers, that his brother.inlaw and wife,
and their three children, had been cruelty
murdered By some Of the Indians. The
Panther heard the news ia silence. The
eyes OF the people were upon him to see
what he would do. Presently thew be-
held him with a deliberate and determin-
ed air, putting himself in battle array
He glrded on his ~tolnahawk and scalping
knife, and shouldered his loaded rifle,
and at open midday, silently and alone,
bent his steps toward the Indian encamp-
ment. With a fearless and firm tread,
he marched directly into the midst of the
assembly, elevated his rifle at the head oil
the principal chief present, and shot him
dead on the spot. He then deliberately
severed the head from the trunk, and
holding it up BY the hair before the awe
struck multitude, he exclaimed, You
have murdered my brother-in law, bis
wife and their little ones and now
have murdered your chief. | am now
even with you. But now mind, every one
Of you thai is found here tomorrow morn
ing at sunrise, is a dead Indian u
All this was accomplished without the
least molestation from the Indians
These people are accustomed to regard