Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1859-03-22


At last Myres in burst of anger and
/ Inpatience called them all a set of COW
ards, and snaiching the loaded rifle from
the hands of The chef, 10 the amazemen,
OF the whole party, marched deliberately
/ towards the panther. The Indians kept
cautious distance to watch the result of
! The fearful battle. Myrcs walked stead
! lily up 10 within about Two rods Of the pam
/ ther, keeping his eye fixed upon him
while the eyes of the panther flashed fire,
and his heavy growi betokened at once
the power of the animal. At about TWO
rods distance, Myres leveiled his rifle,
took aim and fired. The shot inflicted d
heavy wound but not fatal one and lAe
furious animal, Inaddened with pain, made
but two leaps before he reached his as
sallant. Myres met him with the butt
end of his rife, and staggered him a lit
tie with two or three heavy blows, but the
rifle broke, and the animal grappled him.
apparently with full power. Ike indians
at once gave up Myres for dead, and only
thought of making timely retreat for
themselves.
Fearful was the struggle between Ny
res and the pan,her-the animal had the
best of II at first, for they soon came to
the ground, Myres underneath, suffering
under the joint operation of sharp claws
and teeth, applied by the most powerful
muscles. In falling, however, Myres.
whose right haud was at liberty, had
drawn from his belt long knife As
soon as they came 10 the ground. his right
arm being yet free, he made desperate
plunge al the yitals Of the animal, and as
his good luck would have it, reached his
heart. The loud howl of the panther told
that IT was death wound. lie quivered
convulSively, shook his victim with spas
modIc leap and plunge, then loosened his
hold and fell powerless to the Garth
Myres, whose Wounds were severe but
not mortal, rose to his feet bleeding and
much exhausted, but with life and strength
enough 10 give grand whoop, which
conveyed the news Of his victory 10 his
Indian friends.
They now came up to him with shout
ing aud JOY, and so full of admiration that
they were ready TO worship him. They
dressed and bound up his wounds, and
were now ready to pursue their Journey
home with out any impeachment. Before
crossing the river, however, Myres cut off
The head of the panther, which he took
home with hIm. and fastened 1t up by the
side of his cabin LOG door, where 1t re-
manned Tor years, memorial of a deed
that excited the admiration of the Indians
IN all that region. From that time forth,
they gave Myres new name, and al
ways called him ~ the Panther"
Time rolled on, and the Panther con-
unued 10 occupy his hat IN the wilderness,
on the banks OF the Illinois river, gen
eral favorite among the savages, and ex-
erclslng a great influence. over them
AZ last, the tide OF white population over
took him. and he found himself once more
surrounded by white neighbors. Suli,
however, he seemed 10th TO forsake the
noble Illinois, on whose banks he had
been SO long a fixture. And he held on,
forming sort Of connecting link between
the white settlers and the Indians
AT length hos,Illties broke out, which
resulted III the memorable Black Hawk
war. that spread desoation and sadness
through that part of the country. Parties
of Indians committed the most wanlon and
cruel depredatlons upon the white settlers
IN every direction, often numbering old
TRENDS and companions, with whom they
had long held friendly intercourse
The white settlers for some distance round,
tiocked TO The cabin OF the Panther for
protection. HIS cabin was transformed
into a sort Of garrison, aud was filled by
more than hundred men, women and
cLIldren, who rested almost their only
hope of safety on the prowress OF the
Panther and his great influence over the !
savages.
Al TINS time party Of about nine hun I
dred OF the lroquoIs tribe, were encamped (
on the banks OF the Illinois, about a mile /
from the garrison of Myres aud nearly /.
opposite the present town of La Salie.- /
Que day news was brought 10 the camp
of Myres, that his broIher-In-law, and /
wife, and their three children, had been /
cruelty murdered by some of these Indi- /
ans. The Panther heard !, IN silence
The eyes Of The people were upon ham TO |
see what he would do. Presently they /
beheld him with deliberate and deter /
mined air putting himself IN battle array !
He glrdled on his tomahawk and scalping /
knife, and shouldered his loaded rifle, and /
al open midday silently and alone bent
his steps towards the Indian encampment I
With fearless and firm tread he march /
ed into the midst of the assembly, leveled /
his rife at ;he head of the principal chief .
present, and shot him dead on the spot /
He then deliberately severed the head /
from the trunk and holding II up before /
the awe stricken multitude, he exclaimed: /,
8 You have murdered my brolher-in-law, |
his fe and their little ones, and now |
have killed your chief. | am now even
wllh YOU. But now mind; every one of /
YOU that 5 found here tomorrow morning
at sunrise, Is 4 dead Indian"
All this was accomplished without the /
least moIestation from The amazed sava-
ges. These people are accustomed to re-
gard any sudden and remarkable deed
OF daring as the result of supernatural
agency, and doubtless SO considered The