The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-12-11
Dsspsrats Eneoun.er ,vl.h Panther.
Correspondence Mariana 6Fla,) courier.l
Sr. ANDREWS BAY, November z.

correspondence Mariana (Fla,) Courier.l
Sr. ANDREWS BAY. November Z.
While hunting near the coast few days
since, it was my misfortune to witness a
sickening and beartrending scene, near a
bayou. Ny companion and self had been
hunting two OF three days previous near the
locality, and shot four deer, one of which
ran toward that spot so badly wounded
that thought it would fall within two
hundred yards of the place at which it was
shot; but rs we had as many rs we desired
for that day, we did not trace it. On our
return two days afterward 70 hunt near the
same place, / noticed buzzards flying near
the spot where / suspected that the deer had
gone, and suggested to my companion to go
70 it, just to satisfy myself that | was cor
rect in my surmise, and also To show him
how accurately could shoot; for he con-
tinually taunss me with the number of deer
that carry with them evidences of my poor
craftsmanship. On approaching the spot the
stencil was sounpleasantt that we were IN the
act Of retracing our steps, whenI noticed a
buzzard hop as If chased, and insisted on go
ing far enough to be satisfied that was cor
rect On nearer approach, most horrible
scene was before us About twenty PAGES
from bayou a number of immense alliga-
tors were keeping of flock of buEzards
from partially eaten and decohposing
body of 4 hunan being, and near by the
carcass Of q panther. The head and limbs
Of the human being were severed from the
body, and were scattered in an area of ff-
teen feet The head was bruised, scratched,
swollen and eaten so that it could not be
recognized, except that it was a white
mans. Nearly all the flesh was eaten Off
the bones, and so recently, too, that the
trace Of large teeth were noticeable. The
carcass of the panther was also devoured.
A large, heavy SAILORS knife, stained with
blood, was near the trunk Of the human
being, and there woro other evidences of a
desperate struggle for life between the man
and the panther. Aswe approached, none
Of the guardians over the dead moved I'M
I'll my companion threw heavy pine knot
into their midst, when the smaller retreated
To- the wates. the larger moving snllenly in
that direction, but never going farther than
the edge, all the time closely watching
every movement we made.
When my companion began 60 collect the
bones Of the man for inferment, while
held both guns, the aiiigators near the edge
became. ferocious and about item rushed
madlv toward Us We stood cur ground,
and dred four times, fatally wounding, II
not killing. as many alligafors. / looked
toward TIE kayoo aud its surface was COW
cred With alligator heads as tar as the eve
could reach, which came toward the shore,
suppose % learn tie cause Of alarm. As
we did not wish 30 wage war with the ALI
gator Kingdom. amid the stencil which was
nearly sitting, We retreated.
All inquiry has lailcd 70 furnish any iu-
formation IN regar1 70 the man. except
what has been detailed above. Ii IS oan-
jeclured that he was an UnloftOnate sailor
who had been saipNtecked and cast ashore.
and who, ID king % reach some habita-
tion q man, mas overtakcn hg tho sad ms
fortune which helcll him.