The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-09-24
1ariety.
A STRUGGLE IN THE MOUNTA ms
-HOWA PANTHER TACKLED AN
EEGLLSHifAN, IND NOW THE
PANTHER WhS KILLED.

fdnlit EE VAS klLLi4U
A correspondent sends the following
very thrilling account of a desperate
struggle with mammoth caiamount in
ihefBluo Mountains, about seven miles
rom Featherolfyille, on the extreme
northern edge Of Albany township. lie
says: II have just learned the particu-
lars Of an encounter had ON the noun
tains on Wednesday evening Of this week
which has caused great deal of talk in
this section. For weeks past people COM
ing down or crossing the hills have re-
ported at various times having seen q
large wild animal, and others as having
heard deep growls and strange noises at
certain hours of the night. A farmer
along the base of the hills, named Ezra
Sensening, lost two young calves and an
entire litter of young pigs in the short
space OF eight days, and he attributes the
loss TO the incursions of this strange ami
Iaal.
These reports came to the cans of Ru-
dolph Pheger, an old hunter and trapper
who has passed fully forty years on the
mountains. He made several efforts to
hunt up the strange animal, but to no
purpose. At last he concluded to organ
ize small hunting party. He had some
one to write TO Schuylkill county to two
old friends of his who were also engaged
IN hunting, and who had likewise passed
more than half their lives ON the noun
hains. On Tuesday last they arrived on
foot over the hills, and stopped at the
cabin of Pheger that night, determined
to start out as soon as they were rested.
Their names are Henry Vancolt and
Thomas Anson, two Englishmen, who
hrst came 10 the mines when the canal
was built, but gave up their business and
took 70 the hills soon afterward
On Wednesday afternoon, about two
Iclock, the three started out on three
different pathways, the men having pre-
ViOusly agreed to meet at the "big tree"
Hpoint about Ave miles of in the noun
Gains. They were well armed, and de-
herminedto hunt up the mysterious ami
nal If it were possible. Nothing hap
pened TO any Of the party up TO the time
Ehen Pheger and Vancolt arrived at the
kree, which was within q half hour of
Nach other. Nothing was seen or heard
Sf Anson. The sun had gone down be-
hind the hills, and the forest was becom-
ing gloomy in the dusk. Anson was
making his way slowly and cautiously
through deep and tangled underbrush,
and when about one hundred yards from
The point of meeting, he determined to
pass up through small ravine whose
sides were overhung with dense under
growth Of shrubs. When directly under
a small crag, and walking along with his
head bent 70 the ground and his form
doubled in creeping under low vine,
al Of sudden he heard crash over
head, and the next minute he felt the
Saws Of an animal sinkin his neck and
hesh, accompanied with fierce growls.
ny avery quick movement, AnsOn swung
around his arms, grasped the animal by
nhe neck with both hands and held it in
his Vise-like grip. He then staggered
back to the clearing, when the animal
@hook off the hunters grasp, and made
an effort 10 bite his neck. Quick as
thought the man grasped knife in his
belt, and with fearful velocity swung il
around and sunk it deepintO the animals
nde. The brute gnve . long, low howl,
and amidst the excitement man and
beast rolled over the ground, and as they
Sid 30 the former received three severe
bites in tho shoulder. The growls of the
animal attracted the attention Of the re-
naming two hunters, who came dashing
through the brush. toward the spot where
Abe hunter and the brute were tusselling
Sn the ground. The struggle did not last
hong. Anson plunged his knife the Sec
snd time into the animals body, and in
Afew minutes II rolled over and died.
The hunters then examined it and
-bund it TO be species of panther, and
which was thought TO be catamount of
abe mammoth species. 1t weighed JAG
pounds, and measured feet 81 inches
long, not counting the length of its tail,
which was 2 feet inch. 1t stood . feet
3 inches high, and was powerfully knit
and very compactly built.-ReGding, Pa,
EagIs.