Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-12-01

that the supposed bear had not left his
lair, and then the whole place was sur
rounded with chain of armed men, to
prevent his escape if he should make
break for the mountains. Twelve Of the
hunterswere thus arranged while Messrs.
Fits, Perry and H. B. 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 commenced. The trail
Of the previous evening was soon
struck, and in few moments they
came upon the half-devoured remains Of
a hedgehog. The bed where some large
animal had lain the night before was dis.
covered, and fresh tracks were apparent
on all sides. The uneasiness of the dogs
as they struggled to free themselves from
their leashes also made evident the near
presence of the game. When they we're
loosed they darted through the brush
yelping and barking, while the hunters
followed on as fast as possible. Soon
the barking ceased and the animals
rushed hither and thither hunting for the
trail, evidently at loss. Mr.. Perry,
however, who was armed with a shotgun,
doubly loaded with shot and ball, discov-
cred a dark-looking object In the top
tall hemlock. Without moments
warning he raised bis gun and fred and
the dark object came tumblng TO the
ground, disclosing to the eyes Of the as
tonished hunters o regular American
panther. Although shot through the
breast and one Of his fore legs broken by
the fall, the magnificent animal was dis
abled, but not conquered, and as the
dogs attacked him, clearing himself with
his uninJured paw, he leaped into tbe air
over the heads Of the men, and landed
IN thieket dozen or fifteen feet away.
Inc dogs, however, were gritty and ter
nbiy in earnest, and when he leaped
again he carried enc of them with him,
cllnging TO his flank. he attempted to
climb tree but this, in his disabled
condition, was impossible, 80, dropping
70 the ground, he made dash for a
ciump oil dead tree tops, few yards dis
tant. Away went the panther and
the dogs, scratching, snarling and
yeiping, while the men followed
close behind urging on the dogs.
Hitherto the demonstrations Of
the hunters had been more noisy than
effective, but as the panther wes disap-
pearipg in a thicket OF spruce trees,
johnson seized him by the tail and
called on Perry for help 10 making the
capture. Perry Loyalty responded, but
just as he had got good hold the beast
gave a leap. carrying both of the men
with him, and for few moments aerial
navigation was nowhere. The panther
went over tree top, but the men re-
mained on the other side, still clinging
to his tail. he tried to turn and fight
them, but the dogs we're on hand. just
at this moment johnson bethought him.
self of his revolver, aud Eve pistol bullets
were lodged in his head. Still the fight
contin1ed, aud Mr.. Fits, who had not
been an idle spectator, managed to fas-
ten rope around the panthers leg and
fasten him to tree. Shotguns and pis-
tolls were empty, but the panther, though
weakened. refused TO die, and the life Of
the king Of the American forest was
brought to an ignominious close by the
use of pocketknife and cudgel BE
measured seven feet from tip to tip, and
weighed los pounds. Three toes were
gone from one of his fore feet, seeming
to evince an intimate acquaintance With
a steel trap some time in the past
Hunters and dogs escaped unhurt,
fact probably due to the severe injuries
sustained by the animal in the early part
of the fight. The CARCASS was borne in
triumph to the village and exhibited to
the wondering eyes of the inhabitants.