Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-11-12
Chased by Lynxes.


ia Vermont. and the French village Of Co
aticook, 10 Canada. distance Of eighteen
miles, the country is an almost unbroken
wilderness Here bears are frequently
seen, sitting up in the bushes beside the
track, staring wonderfully at the passing
trains and deer and lyuxes often bound
across the rails in front Of the locomotive.
So plenty indeed were these latter animals,
few winters since. that droves Of them,
ten or dozen together, were repeatedly
seen on the track
Quite late in the autumn, but before the
FIRST fall Of snow, one Of the railroad en-.
ployes, a young fellow named Finlock, hev-
ing stopped from an up train at little
wood station near the boundary liue, started
TO walk back on the track to Island Pond,
the distance being eight or ten miles II
was after Eve o'clock before he set of from
the wood station, and at that season of the
year it soon grew dusk. A "snow bank
cloud had risen in the south, aDd a cold,
din haze made the late autumn evening
doubly dreary
lie had proceeded three or four miles
when he began TO hear a swapping Of twig-
of in the thickets on the west side Of the
track. Fnlock was disturbed by the sound
and cast anxious glances into the shadows
rs he hurried forward. Some animal was
following him, but was keerng out Of sight
in the frs Ugly iancies kept coming into
his mind The place had an III name. An
" Indian devil" tFeiis coRcolorl was saiJfo
prowl here.
Thus he went on, half walking, half rum
ming for a hundred rods or over, aud
still the crack.ingof brush kept fully abreast
of him, only few yards Of in the hush.
At last finding that the creature, what
ever it was, could not be outrun, he stop
ped in sheer desperation Immediately
the cracking stopped, and he faueied he
could sec a pair Of ferry green eyes of 10
the shadow. He shouted at it in gruG tones
Still the eyes glared steadily, Then, fumb.
/ ling along between the ties Of the railroad
track, he found a piece Of iron, loft by the
sectionmen, and flung it with all his might
in the direction Of his pursuer. Instantly
there was jump aside "spit, anda long,
hidcous sound the peculiar, wild yawl Of
the lynx
1t made poor Finlock tremble with fear
standing there in the dark Momenturily
too. the yawl was answered from off in the
woods on both sides and from far behind
The whole forest seemed to resound with
screechings Every glade and bushy hill
redoubled the cries. Finock did not longer
act on the defense, but ran for life down the
track.
N tbs aF b.n oil III
lynxes in the vicinity collected and joined
in the chase.
1t did not take Finlock long to run an-
other mile, but before he had run half this
distance, he heard the animals tearing
through the bushes on both sides Of him,
suarling aud miauliug irightfuly and
whenever he stole glance backward, he
could see half dozen dusky forms leapiug
on the track behind, and could hear the
patter of their furry feet on the ties. More
than twenty, he thinks, we're thus following
him.
Expecting nothing less than to be throt-
tied, Finlock gazed about with rage of de-
2 spair, aud wildly brandishiug his arms.
shouted and screamed at them. The crea-
lures drew back little, splitting and rails
ing their backs. On the track a whole
squad were glaring at him, while on both
sides the bushes were shaken by their mo-
tions.
What to do or which way to turn he
9 knew not. The cats did not quite dare to
attack him as yet; but they were getting
3 holder He despared Of holding them at
bay much longer They kept pressing up
a little nearer, their wild, hungry eyes
cleaning in the darkness. Making sud-
den break, the hunted man ran Of again
for twenty or thirty rods, then stopped to
shout at them, and hur stones and dirt
and 10 this way he got over another half
mile or more
But his strength was failing Despite
his terror, he felt ready to drop from
exhaustion. He shouted himself hoarsc
- His mouth was dry. He could hardly ut.
ter cry His clothes were wet with cold
sweat. lie did not expect to live another
Eve minutes.
G A low rumble and jar caught his ear
= 1t was the down freight. Whata welcome
u sound to poor Finlock Sure it would dis.
" perse the cats for a minute, at least, if he
: could only get aboard it he would be safe
l. With fresh effort he yelled aud threw
: dirt and stones at the miauling pack
!, The rumble aud jar came nearer. A
! moment later the great bright eye Of the
headlight broke into view around a curve.
and the ground, already frozen hard was
trembling beneath the procession Of heavy
j. ireigbt-cars, such as traverse no other line
= of railway.
Mastering his voice Fnlock now shout
= ed, Help, help! Hold! In Gods name
stop"
The driver and fireman heard a strange
uoise--heard it above the rattle of the
70 train.
"Said the fireman, "Was that bear or
bobcat 2 or what was it ?"
Again they heard it.
THAT'S man =! cried the driver. 4" There's
. trouble ahead !" and instantly whstled
down brakes"
Something strange and alarming 10 the
= cry made itself felt on the moment
Not Immediately could the long train be
e brought to a stand.stil 1t drove on.
y Even past where Finock stood at bay.
The driver and fireman. peering anxiousy
ahead, saw by the light of the head-an.
= tern man step aside from the rails, and
" several gray forms leaping after him into
the darkness. A moment aflcrward, a
scared face, white as Sheet" climbed
, up by the step into the cab.
What's the matter" What are
4 you here for 2" were the questions which
assaulted him.
. He was barely able to tell them to 60
y, ahead" and lay, weak and exhausted on
a tho 6remans cushion the remaining four
y miles
v A driver, with whom tho writer was
!, riding ION the engine) through the above
- mentioned region, related that, while com
I" ing down to Island Pond one night, he
: esped lynx running on the track 10 the
light Of the reflector, keeping fifteen or
twenty yards in advance of the cowcatcher.
o The beast, 10th TO leap aside into the dark
y ness, but having begun to run along the
J. lighted track, preferred to keep on, rather
j. than take the ditch in the dark, Hares
'e frequently run 10 this way till overtaken
l. and run over The light bewlders them.
'e perhaps The train (freight) was this
S evening running about twelve miles
N an hour Wishing TO run down the car