, 1874-08-16
An Old Hunter Eighth. q Mnmmoth
EEf1EN0uNt.

From the Reading (Fa.) Eugk.
4 correspondent sends the following very
thrilling account Of desperate struggle with a
Mammoth catamonnt ia the B!ue Mountains,
a''oat I miles from Feathero1fville, on the e1-
tre1ne northern edge Of Albany Township. He
tays: II hsd just learned the particulars OF
=, stroline encounter had on the mountains On
nednesdaE evening Of this week. which has
caused great deal Of talk il this section. For
S:eEs past. people coming down or crossing
Le bills have reported at various times
having seen d large wild animal, and 9TH
as as having heard deep growls and
granger noises at certain hours Of the
hight. 4 farmer along the base Of the hills,
laucd Ere Seusenig, lost tvo young calves aud
u entire litter Of young pigs in the short space
Of eight DAYS. and he attributes the loss to the
Acutslons of this strange animal. These runors
cane to the ears Of Rudolph P1cger. an old
aaiter aud trapper, who has passed fully forty
.tars on the mountains. He made several
pupose At last he concluded to organize q
tasll hunting party. he had some one to write
to Schuylkill County to TWO old friends Of his
fho we're also engaged in hunting, aud who
nad lkewlse passed more than half their lives
On the mountains. On Tuesday last they
tae cabin of Paeger that night, determined to
E.a1t out as soon al they were rested. Their
names a1e Henry Vancolt and Thomas Anson,
tso Enslishmen, who first came to the mines
sntn the canal was built, but gave up their
BUSINESS and took to the hills soon afterward.
"a Wednesday afternoon. about 2 o'clock, the
sasee started out on three different pathways, the
ny; m having previously agreed to meet at the
"e tree, point about 5 miles of In the
91onntalns. 9s' They were well armed and
zee ee:e1mlned to hunt up the mysterious
happened to any of the party up to the tins
saen Pheger and Vancolt arrived ut the tree,
.thch WAS within 4 half hour Of each other. |
ino!dng was seen or heard of Anson. The sun |
M aaa gone down behind the hills and the forest |
taa woods was becoming gloomy in the dusk. |
T. lhason y ~as making his way slowly and cautious
n, naen about one hundred yards from the point OF |
.ssng .reen1ng he determined to pass ur through
5.al 5iAu fa5lno whose sides we're overhung with 3 |
es5 eelse underground Of shrubs- When directly |
saaar *;sa . small craig, and walking along |
il feu Ss head sanbea 5sd to the arse9e ground ao1 apa
h..lts7 ~ vine, Ill Of q sudden he
ts1d at:sd ctash overhead and the next minute he
te fs the claws Of an animal sink in his neck and
rs;.t r@a accompanied by fierce grows. By very
ss sasS movement Anson swung around his arme,
nlsped 1a the animal By the neck with both hands,
t1ea - oack to the clearing, when the animal
IKE nh. OF the hunters grasp and made an effort
e..'N ote ms neck Quick as thought the man
4sei:ea 4zsepea knife in his belt. and with fearful
tsesy ts.aay sWung it around and sunk it deep into
tsa, ts ah,mal's side. The brute gave long, low
H. rolled over on the ground, aud as
~ ..s! did 80, the former received three
n,.ge n,,ste bites IN the shoulder, The groWls
~; h. :ae animal attracted the attention OF the re-
iossang two hunters, who came dashipg through
~. @~sHd the spot where the hunter and the brute
s;d sIe t9saellng On the ground. The struggle
sseoaH ao1 LAST long. Anson plunged his knife the
s,;sH sooa time in the animals body, and in few
sq1es f. it rolled over in it's own blood and died.
b. hunters then examined it, aud found it to
+ = spec1os Of panther, and which MAS thought
&c catamount Of the mammoth Rpecies. It
ki{sned l48 pounds, and measured 4 feet 6119 |
tIIa tasa long not counting the leug.h OF its tail,
hn hatna Vas feet inch. It stood 4 feet 8 |
Essre.s .1, Msh anI was powerfully knit, Ind Tery