The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1861-03-15
A Panther Fight.

MANY years ago, when the State Of
Michigan was an unbroken wilderness
myself and four companions were trapping
in that section known at the present day
as Grand Traverse. 1t was in the fall of
the wear, and little after dark one eve
ming we were sitting around the fire in our
log cabin, smoking and telling stories,
when We heard chorus of slrieks few
rods back of the cabin, that might be heard
Ten mile off. We had heard those un,
earthly shrieks too many times, in thu
course of our lives, not to know what they
meant; and we all started up, with the
word "panther on our lips. Taking our
rifles. we started out to encounter that
most formidable of American animals.
The panther is liz every way fitted to be
terror to the hunter; he has the strength
of the black bear, the cunning of the fox,
and the tleetness of the deer; in fact, he
is a warrior of both flood and field swim
ming the swiftest rivers with as much ease
as the otter, and climbing the tallest trees
with the dexterity of the squirrel, and
a more savage and untamable animal never
drank human blood.
A few rods back of the cabin there was
swift stream, running along the bottom
of a rocky chasm, or gully, as d hunter
would say. The chasfn was about forty
feet wide, and about the same number of
feet in depth at the spot wherh we ap,
preached it. At this point the trunk Of
a pine tree lay across the chasm. We
had scarcely reached the foot of the log.
when a huge panther came bounding along
it from the otEer side, followed by anoth-
er that seemed to be his match in size.
At last, as the first panther reached the
center Of The log, be became aware that
his pursuer was about to spring upon him
when he turned and closed with him in
his last struggle for life Fer minute or
two they fought and tore each other. and
then, in their rage, forgetful Of the slippery
place on which they were struggling, they
rolled to one side, and in confused heap
they shot down into the dark abyss
Running back to the cabin we procured
torches, of which we always kepta good
supply. We ran short distance along
tuS VI tIc ClletSlti LII " q lSdCIcu Il
rayine that led into it, and in an incredi-
bic short space Of time the glare of our
tolches brought to our view one of the
tiercest combats that ever falls to the lot
of hunter to witness.
1t was nearly quarter of an hour be-
fore either of them seemed to get the al
vantage of the other; but such fl ght as
that could not last great while; and soon
Que of them forced the other on his back
and grasping his throat in his huge jaws
he seemed about to end the battle.
"Don't let that big cuss, that's on top,
get away, boys! p said Tom Lacey, who,
to use his own expression, hated pan
theirs like pisen;' he had good reason to
hate them, for he got pretty well chawed
up in a panther fight once.
Stick your torches in the sand, boys"
said |, and sight him.
In an instant our rifles were leveled and
our fingers on the triggers.
After a few Intellectual struggles, with
gasps for breath, the panther that was un-
der Strengthened out and appeared TO be
dying.
Fiie" said | /; and FIVE bullets pierced
the heart of the victorious animal.