Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-05-02
a(isttllaueous.
The Virginia Panther Fight.

William and Henry Randolph and my
self started in the year in 1851 on deer
hunt and snow more than knee deep. We
started up different ridges, all leading TO
to the top of Paddy Mountain. After
had gone short distance, got upon n
large bear-track, las supposedD. | seem
ed to plow through the snow like a horse
| halIoed for the boys, and when they came
up they agreed it was bear. We follow
ed on the track. Did not 90 far before we
saw where it had torn up deer. We
thought it was one the bear had found dead
but soon discovered we were mistaken. -
1t had eaten all the flesh. We saw sever.
al small tracks rs we afterwards concu-
ded those of n female panther. We kept
along the top of the mountain, and
could see where it would 90 into den after
den of rocks, in and out. Followed on nm
til near dark when we 'denned it, 1t was
desperate looking place-oh, most terri
ble
We concluded we had better 90 home
and next morning get some dogs, when we
would have some fine sport. We had ia,
ligulng time getting home, tired enough,
and after night. Early the next morning
we started with five dogs, and got to the
top of the mountain by sunrise, (six or sew
en miIes.) When we reached the place
we found that the panther had come out
and the small one with it. W. followed
their track, They entered aud left several
dens. As you may guess, it was tiresomo
work to us. They seemed to travel on the
very toughest and most rocky places. We
still thought them bear. The track turned
aud seemed to come back another way
At last it stopped and went into the rocks
We were awtuly tired and the sun nearly
down. We made nm examination. Des
perate looking places, the rocks very high
and straight ms the wall Of II house. The
track went around at tho base of the cliff
then came TO n lower point and got on top
Then IT jumped down into hole between
the rocks six feet deep, and perpendicular
| laid down aud peeped over. At the bot
tom | could see n crack in the side where
the beast had gone in.
Operations began 10y letting one dog down
He barked, and n growl answered that
seemed like the loudest thunder beneath us.
Then all the dogs jumped down, aud such
growing you never heard. We could
hear the claws against tho rocks. One
small dog got well at him, and had -four
holes bitten in him, you could put youl
finger in. We still thught it was bea
and wonld come out, aud kept our gun,
cooked and pointed. 1t became clear tha
we must get the dogs out. So we helped
William down. He handed up the dogs
They out, all was quiet and nothing to b,
seen, We pulled William out but let hin
down again, 10 look in the crack at the an
imal. We let him down head foremost
and held him by the ends of his trowsors
William reports, Il see his eyes. They ar,
wide apart and big as silver dollar. 'Oh
says |, you are scared NO, | amt;
can see his head, but cant tell his shape
Take mo up | am sick'-his position throw
ing the blood to his head.
$50 l was put down. Saw his eyes
saw II little light from the crack; saw i
was no bear. My head soon suffered lk
Williams and was compelled to be draw
up. Rested little. | was again pu
down with n stick to move away the loos
rock aud widen tho crevce. did so an,
made out the color, tho short head, an,
great width between the eyes--head like
Tiger and color of doe. | could only sta,
long enough to note this, aud was agar
drawn up, Late rs it was, aud almost bro
ken down as we were, wo had u short tim
time to parley. There was but one plan
Two must be let down with one gun-on
to hold the gun, and the other 10 aim an,
pail trigger.
William aud went down together
our weight partly supported by the side
of the well-like opening, aid partly by
Henrys hold on ouI trowers. | had /,
hold the gun upside down and sighted
along the bottom Of il, being inverted my
self. All this passed in less time than il
takes to tell you, as it was impossible to on
dure the position long. We got the gun
pointed. "A little higher, little more tc
the right. A little higher vet PuHi