Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-11-27
Panthcrs and Alligators.

A hunter in the wilds of Texas, who
met many startling adventures, and saw
some strange creatures, was once witness
to a singular battle ON the banks of Q
lonely lagoon in the forest.
He had killed black panther at this
place-more in self-defence than for game
for he was chasing wild cattle that day
and leaving the carcass, to return possibly
by-and-by for its skin, hurried forward
on trail which he expected would lead
to the object of his hunt.
He came back before night with the
trophy Of wild bull hide, and passed
the lagoon where he had encountered and
killed his dangerous assailant in the
morning. Savage cries and sounds of
brutal struggle informed him, before he
came to the place, that some deadly bat
tie was going on among the beasts of the
forest.
He soon came in full view of the scene
and a sanguinary one it was. Four black
panthers were ferociously disputing the
possession of the carcass of the dead pam
ther with two enormous alligtors. The
object of the combatants on both sides ap-
peared to be the same, viz; to eat the car
cass; and for this both fought with bloody
tenacity, tugging at the bone of conten-
tiop by way of seeing how much had been
gained.
The panthers were superior in numbers
two to one; but the alligators had much
the thicker armor, and could fight with
their tails as well as their heads, so that
the battle was pretty nearly equal. One
of the big reptiles had a panther on his
back, plying his flank furiously with his
hind claws, and another was holding him
by the fore leg with jaws like tiger.
When he succeeded in shaking off his
savage assailants his fore leg was broken,
and slit was made in his side nearly
Through the flesh into his entrails.
Meantime the other alligator was maxi
ing frantic efforts to get the third pan
succeeded, when with tremendous swing
the huge tail of his fellow-saurian knock
ed out the panther and wedged itself
firmly between his jaws. The teeth
snapped together like pair Of copper
mill shears, and one of the etail-thrashing
combatants was minus his weapon.
The fourth panther, that had been Vi
ciously busy with teeth and claws at the
eyes and throat of the curtailed reptile,
now redoubled his attacks, and with the
aid of two others, in front and rear, soon
disabled him. The third panther, owing
to his entrance and exit through his enc
mys Jaws, was hors du combat with brok-
en- back. a3a
The fight was now between single
alligator and the three remaining cat
savages. One of the three, however, was
by this time badly damaged. Some ter
rife stroke or bite had completely scalp
ed him, and the skin hung down the side
of his neck. Tapping as he fought An
other, apparently, had RIB or two brok
en-, but did not seem to mind it. Ih'
odds in the battle were still not so yer,
!. great.
Only the advantage of celebrity wa
vastly on the side.of the panthers, an'
when the alligator, with much difficulty
succeeded in seizing one of them, he wa
so slow about crushing his prey, ant
u made so much awkward mouthing of i
u that he put himself almost at the nero
'e of his antagonis is.
e Still his powerful tail was free, an
the cat-like creatures, in springing abo'
Z" to find his vulnerable points, were not
is spry but they took some stunning cut
from this caudal bludgeon. Beside
'h during all the combat, the amphibial
a had been working gradually towards IL
40 water, and now the survivor was almo
~ at the edge.
10 Once in the lagoon and his eneml
an would be powerless. The panthers see1
re- ed to be sensible of this, and by an a.
~ full movement both succeeded in gettil
10. at his throat while his mouth was full.
oi A few seconds of vigorous tugging a
Ia. tearing at the tender flesh made the al
nu gators death-wounds, and he slid hol
-, en- lessly into the water.
iiy Two panthers survived to claim
va victory. Bnt they had scarce strene
'ne enough left to snuff about the bodies
'hd their slain. Both were much the wo
enc for wear; and the hunter leveled his
ior Ae and easily brought them down witt
'ins single shot apiece, after which he t.
yer, off their hides and the hides OF tn
'ual companions, and made his way back
his ranch.
ig In an eventful life of more than
',ef- years, subsequently to this in from
iiNe countries. he never saw anything in
'e,, shape of forest or jungle tight
Inc III x<. ~ th.o cou hat hpfW