Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1859-02-03
Eitetarp Mtsttllanp.
A TALE OF THE BACKWo0Ds.
Prem gray. to gay-from lively to severe"
BY sRBA SMITH.

| Wlld WOODS TO endure prlVatlOn among
the wild animals, and run the hazard OF
wild warfare among savage tribes, form
a very peculiar and interesting class
| Whether it is natural hardihood, and
boldness, and love of adventure, or q
desire for retirement, or wish to be free
from the restrainsts of civilized society,
that thus leads this peculiar class OF
people into the wilderness, it matters
not now to enquire. Probably all these
motives in greater or less degree 60
to make up the moving principle
AT the head of this class is the re-
nowned Daniel Boone, whose fame
shall live as long as his own Kentucky
shall find place on the page of history.
He was the great Napoleon among the
pioneers of the wilderness. But there
are others of less note, whose lives are
also filed with remarkable adventures
and curious and interesting incidents.
Indeed, every State in the Union has
had more or less of these characters
which make up the class. One of these
was old Myres, the Panther, a man of
iron constitution, of great power of
| bone and muscle, and indomitable cour-
age that knew no fear.
Four times, and in four different
States, had Myres pitched his lonely
tent in the wilderness among savage
tribes, and waited for the tide of the
white population to overtake him, and
four times had he "pulled up stakes"
and marched still deeper into the forest,
where he might enjoy more elbow room,
and cxclaim with Selkirk,
az am monarch Of all I survey,
My right there is none TO dispute"
And now, at the time of which we
speak, he had a fifth time pitched his
tent and struck his fire, on the banks of
the Illinois river, in the territory which
afterwards grew up to State of the
same name. Having lived so much in
| the wilderness, and associated so much
with the Aborigines, he had acquired
much of their habits and mode of life,
and his new location on the Illinois riY-
err soon became rather fayorite among
the Indian tribes around him. His skill
with the rifle and the bow, his personal
feats of strength and agility, were we'll
calculated to excite their admiration
and applause. lie often took the lead
among them in their games of sport
1t was on one of these occasion that he
acquired the additional name of g the
Panther"
A party of eight or ten Indians, ac-
icompanied by Myres, had been out two
or three days on a hunting excursion,
and were returning laden with the
spois of the chase, consisting Of various
kinds of wild fowls, squirrels, racccons,
and buffalo tongues. They had used
up all their ammunition except single
charge, which was reserved in the rifle
Of the chief for any emergency, or choice
game which might present itself on their
way home. A river lay in their way
which could be crossed only at one
point, without subjecting them to all
extra journey of some ten miles around.
When they arrived at this point, they
came suddenly upon a large panther,
which had taken possession of the pass,
and like a skillful general, conscious of
his strong position, seemed determined
to hold it. The party retreated little,
and stood at bay for while, consulting
what should be done.
Various methods were attempted to
decoy or frighten the creature from his
position, but without success. He
growled defiance whenever they came
in sight, as much as to say, Elf you
want this stronghold, come and take it. -
The animal appeared to be very power
full and very fierce. The trembling In
dams hardly dared to come in sight of
him, and all the accommodating had to
be done by Myres. The majority were
in favor Of retreating as fast as possible,
and taking the long journey of ten miles
around for home; but NJ yres resolutely
resisted. He urged the chief, whose ri
lle was loaded, to march up to the pan
Their, take good aim and shoot him,
promising that the rest of the party
/ would back him up closely with their
knives and tomahawks in case of miss
of fire. But the chief refused; he knew
too we'll the nature and power of the an
imal. The creature, he commended, was
exceedingly hard to kill. Not one shot
in twenty, however well aimed, would
dispatch him; and if the shot failed, it
was sure death to the shooter, for the
infatuated animal would spring upon
him in an instant, and tear him to piec-
es. For similar reasons every Indian
i'll the party declined to hazard a battle
with the animal in any shape.
At last Myres in burst of anger and
impotence called them all set Of COW
ards, and snatching the loaded rife from
the hands of the chief, to the amazement
of the whole party, marched deliberate
ly towards the panther. The Indians
kept o cautious distance to watch the
result of the fearful battle. Myres
walked steadily up to within about two
rods Of the panther, keeping his eye fix
ed upon him while the eyes of the pam
Their flashed fire, and his heavy growl
betokened at once the power of the an
imal. At about two rods distance,
Myres levelled his rifle, took aim and
fired. The shot inflicted a heavy wound
but not a fatal one; and the furious an
imsl, maddened with pain, made but
two leaps before he reached his assail-
ant. Myres met him with the butt end
of his rifle, and staggered him little
with two or three heavy blows, but the
rife broke, and the animal grappled
him, apparently with full power The
Indians at once gave up Myres for dead,
and only thought of making timely re-
treat for themselves.
Fearful was the struggle between
Myres and the panther-the animal had
the best of it at first, for they soon came
to the ground, Myres underneath, suf-
tering under the joint operation of sharp
claws and teeth, applied by the most
powerful muscles. In falling, however,