Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1862-09-13
i, Joe Harris Panther Fight.

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Joe Harris was the Youngest of three
brothers, the eldest, Bill and Sam, be.
ing tall, -boned, haired, fair.
complexioned men, noisy, insolent, and
quick of quarrel, and constantly en-
gagged in fights, in which, by the way,
from their great personal strength and
activity they generally proved victori-
Gus. Joe, on the other hand, was about
medium, with dark skin and eyes, and
his bullet-head covered with short,
crisped curls, Of the jettiest black
Quite cool in his demeanur, he seldom
if ever got, into difficulty, out when
he chanced to be drawn into one, gave
ample proof that he was by no mears
behind any Of his family in fistic Prov
ess and accomplishment. They lived
in Crawford county, Arkansas, thirty
years ago. 1t happened on one occa-
sion quarter race-at little place fa-
miliarly known in those days as Pin
Hook, bat is now the thickly- settled
town Of Van Buren-that Joe got mix
ed up in fl ght with one Of the bullies
of the neighborbood and was knocking
the conceit out of him "hand over tist,'
when Bill, the eldest brother, who was
standing by, and hadn't had good
fight for more'n a week, jumped in be-
tween, took the fight off Joe's hands,
and demolished the fellow in the twink
ling Of a. a>bed-post. ..Ht.s ".'
After the affair was over, and before
they had time to liquor on it, Joe took
Bill one side out Of ear shot, and very
deliberately remarked to him -
'Look here, Bill, I'll tell you what it
is, Pve no objection in the world, if you
see that feller's getting the better of
me that you should step in ard get us
apart, but l've no notion, when I've got
ateller as good as whipped, that you
should run in and take all the credit of
the fight! faint the first time yon've
done 1t; and if you ever do it again, |
give you fair warning, I'll turn right
round and lick you like h--l! Now
mind if [ don'tw i"'. ...."& 2H2"
every well," said Bill, who was we'll
aware that he would be apt to be as
good as his word "I'll try and remem-
ber.' -.s.- .a..s,. ...-:
They then went back to the crowd,
and clinched the understanding with
smile Of Baldface. .Eala..t
A few weeks after the conversation
and fight aforesaid, Bill and Joe walk
ed down into the river bottom, either
to hunt up some cattle or hogs, or to
look for timber stock. Bill had his RI
file, but Joe was unarmed. After fore
ing their way some half mile or such
matter, through the thick underbrus
composed in part of the red buckeye,
with its brilliant blossoms, they were
suddenly startled by a low, savage
growl, which sounded unconfortabIy
near, and ere they could look about
them, or make any preparation. with n
wild shrek of exutiuy rage large fe-
male panther >prun" from a limb over
head full upon the shoulders of Joe.
81 To twist himself around and seize
the animal by the throat was but the
work of an instant on the part of the
intrepid borderer, and then commenced
struggle for life or death. After be-
ing stripped to the skin and receiving
some severe scratches, Joe got his knife
in requisition and put an end to the
panther by ripping up her bowels
Meantime Bill had been looking on .qui.
etly resting on bis rifle. When the beast
was dead, and Joe had recovered
breath somewhat, he noticed the calm
ness Of Bill. a... ..... -....... .-c.s
= 'Why, Bill! why the HI didn't YOU
shoot the varmint, when YOU seed her
dom me %" inquired he. 81
''Hum - says Bill. every good rea-
son why. Didn't YOU tell me t'other
day If | ever mixed in fiyht of vonrn
aylu, when y"u was geitln' the pest OF
1t, that yon'siliick me, "a. II III IA
seed the panther have you down, pat
tin it into you, I'd a shot him; but a.
long as seed son was gittin' tile BEST
OF it, | wouldn't have touched him For
half OF Crawford county, id If |
would! !',,....'& c.,..r&.-- ..........
OF course Joe.Saw that Bill was right,
so he patched up his scratches and said
DO more about it. ,ur...,r E.......:.