Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1859-02-03

hiS AiShU dlHl DSIlS yen lTee, he MADE g
desperate plunge at the Yitals of the an
imaJ, and as his good luck would have
it reached his heart. The loud howl of
the panther told that it was a death
wound. He quivered convulsively,
shook his victim with a spasmodic leap
and plunge, then loosened his hold and
fell powerless to the earth. Myres,
whose wounds were severe but not NOR,
tai, rose to his feet bleeding and much
exhausted, but with life and strength
enough to give grand whoop, which
conveyed the news Of his victory to his
Indian 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 his
wounds, and were now ready to pursue
their Journey home without any imped-
iment Before crossing the river, how
ever, Myres cut off the head Of the pan
Their, which he took home with him, and
fastened it up by the side of his cabin
door, where it remained for years, a
memorial of deed that excited the ad-
miration Of the Indians in all that egion.
From that time forth, they gave MyreS
new 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,
q general favorite among the savages,
and exercising a great influence over
them. AT last, the tide Of the white
population overlook him, and he found
himself once more surrounded by white
neighbors. Still, however, he seemed
10th to torsake the noble Illinois, on
whose banks he had been so long fix
ture, and he held on, forming sort Of
connecting link between the white set
tiers and the Indians.
At length hostilities broke out, which
resulted III the memorable Black Hawk
war, that spread desolation and sadness
through that part of the country Par
ties Of Indians committed the most
wanton and cruel depredations upon
the white settlers in every direction, of
ten numbering old friends and compan-
ions, with whom they had long held a
friendly intercourse. The white settlers
for some distance round, tiocked to the
cabin of the Panther for protection
His cabin was transformed into sort
OF garrison, and was filled by more than
a hundred men, women and children,
who rested almost their only hope of
safety on the proves Of the Panther
and his great influence over the savages.
At this time a party of about nine
hundred of the Iroquois tribe, were Gu
camped on the banks of the Illinois,
abogt q mile from the garrison Of Myres
and nearly opposite the present town of
La Sale. One day news was brought
to the camp of Myres, that his brother
in-law, and wife, and their three chill
dren, had been cruelty murdered by
some of these Indians. The Panther
heard it in silence. The eyes of the
people were upon him to see what he
would do. Presently they beheld him
with a deliberate and determined air
putting himself in battle array. He cir
dledOn his tomahawk and scalping knife
and shouldered his loaded rifle, and at
open MIDI day silently and alone bent
his steps towards the Indian encamp-
ment. With fearless and firm tread
he marched into the midst of the assem-
bly,, leyeled his rifle at the head Of the
principal chief present, and shot him
dead on the spot. lie then deliberately
severed the head from the trunk and
holding it up before the awe stricken
multitude, he exclaimed :" You have
murdered my brother-in-law, his wife
and their little ones, and now I have
killed your chief am now even with
you. But now mind; every one of you
that is found here tomorrow morning
at sunrise, is q dead Indian"
All this was accomplished without the
least molestation from the amazed saw
ages. These people are accustomed to
regard any sudden and remarkable deed
OF daring as the result of a supernatural
agency, and doubtless so considered the
present incident. Believing their chief
had fallen victim to the anger Of some
unseen power, without any thought of
Myres bore off the head in
triumph to his cabin, where he was
welcomed by his anxious friends almost
as one returning from the dead. The
next morning not one Indian was to be
found any where in the vicinity. Their
camp was deserted, and they had left
forever their ancient homes, and their
dead, and that part of the State was not
molested by them afterward.
The last account we have. of old
Myres, the Panther, was in the year
1848. The old man was at that time
eighty years of age; but his form was
still erect and his step was firm, a" his
eye was not dim, nor his force abated."
Up to this time he had remained on the
banks Of his favorite Illinois. But now
the old veteran pioneer grew discomfort
ed. The State was rapidly filing up
with inhabitants, the forms and re-
straints Of civilization pressed upon him
and discommoded him. The wilder
ness and freshness of the country were
destroyed. He looked abroad from his
old familiar hills, and he saw that in
every direction the march Of civilization
had broken in upon the repose of the
old forests, and his heart again yearned,
"FOr a lodge in some vast wilderness,
Some boundless contguity Of shade,
Where OF oppression or deceit,
OF unsuccessful or successful war,
Might never reach him more"
The old man began to talk of selling
out, and once more pulling up stakes to
be off.
"What ~ said neighbor, "you are
not going to leave US, father Myres,
and take yourself to the woods again in
your old age7'
Yes" said Myres, 81 can't stand
this eternal hustle of the world around
me. I must be off into the woods where
it is quiet; and as soon as can sell out
my improvements. | shall make tracks. :"