The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-12-17
A Panther Huut.
AN EXCITING CHASE BY SIXTEEN MEN IN
VERMONT.

SthnoHis
Last Friday, as Nh II. n. Fits, of West
Wardsboro', and MI. 5. Perry were going
to their work blasting lime rock from a
ledge situated in the edge of Stratton, they
noticed the tracks of a wild animal Sup
posing they belonged to a bear, they con-
cluded to follow them for short distance
to satisfy their curiosity. These soon led
into a piece of woods about a mile south
west of the village of West Waldsboro'.
Here Mr.. Fits and his companion aban-
doned their search, intending to secure
help and follow it up the next morning.
Saturday morning the hunters, about six
teen in all, armed with rifles, shotguns and
revolvers, and accompanied by several
dogs started for the animal. They first
passed around the woods to make sure
that the supposed bear had not left his
lair, and then the whole place was sur
rounded by chain of armed men to pre-
vent his escape if lie should make break
for the mountains. Twelve of the hunters
were thus arranged, while Messrs. Fits,
Perry and III. 3. Johnson, with two boys
and four dogs, entered the woods to stir
up the beast. The dogs were kept back
by ropes until the proper time and place
should be reached, and the hunt com
menced. The trail of the previous even
ing was soon struck, and in a few moments
of hedgehog. The bed where some
large animal had lain the night before
was discovered, and fresh tracks were APP
parent on all sides. The uncasincSs Of the
dogs as they struggled to free themselves
from their leasheS also made evident the
near presence of the game. When they
were loOsed, they darted through the
brush, yelping and barking. while the
hunters followed on as fast as possible.
~. Al, L.
rushed hither and Lhither hunting for the
trail, evidently at a loss. Mr.. Perry, how
ever, who was armed with a shot gun,
doubly loaded with shot and ball, dis
covered a dark looking object in the top
of tall hemlock. Without a moments $
warning, he raised his gun and fired
and the Clark object came tumbling to
the ground. disclosing TO the eyes of the
astonished hunters regular American
panther. Although shot through- the
breast and with one of his forcleos broken
by :he fall, the magnificent animal was
disabled but not conquered, aud rs the
dogs attacked him, clearing himself with
his uhinjured paw, he leapcd into the air
over the heads of the men, and landed in
thicket dozen or fifteen feet away. The
dogs. however, were gritty and terribly in
earnest, and when he leaped gain he car
RED ore of them with him. cinginp to his
this, in his disable condition, was impossi-
bic, so, dropping to the ground, lac made a
dash for clump of dead tree tops, n few
rods distant. Away went the panther and
the dogs scratching, SnaIling and yelping,
while the men followed close behind urp-
ing on the dogs. Hitherto the demonstra-
tions OF the hunters had been more noisy
than effective, but as the panther was dis
appearing III thicl1ct of spruce trees
l,.1, sei-z H. H.,
on Perry to help III making the capture
Perry loyalty responded, but jest as he had
got good hold the beast gave a leap, car
rying both of the men with him, and for a
lew moments aerial navigation was no
whore. The panther went over Il tiCc-top
but the men remained on the other side
still clinging to his tail He tried to turn
and fight them, but the dogs were on hand
Just at this moment johnson bethought
himself of his revolver and five bullets
were lodged in his head Still the fighU
continued, and Mr.. Fits who had not
been an idle spectator, managed to fasten
rope around the panthcr's leg and fastcn
him TO q tree. Shot guns aud pistols were
empty, but the panther, though weakened
refused to die, and the life of the sskinp of
the American forests was brought TO an
ignominous close by the use of a pocket
knife and cudgel. lie measured seven
ieet lIol UP 10 UP, ana weighed 100
pounds. Three toes were gone from his
tore foot, seeming to evince an intimate
acquaintance with a stecl-trap some time
in the past. Hunters and dogs escaped
unhuit-a fact probably due to the severe
injuries sustained by the animal i'll the
early part of the fight. The carcass was
borne in triumph to the village and exhib-
tied to the wondering eyes of the inhabi.
tauts.-BUtIdnd W Herald