The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1875-12-23
A PANTHER HUNT.
An Exciting Chase by Sixteen Men in
Vermont.
From the Rutland { U.) Herald.

From, the Rutland U.) Herald.
Last Friday, as Mr. H. n Fits, of West
Wardsboro', and Mr. S. Perry were going
to their work, blasting lime rock from
ledge situated in the edge OF Stratton, they
noticed the tracks of wild animal. SuppOs-
ing they belonged TO bear, they concluded
to follow them for n short distance to satisfy
their curiosity. These soon led into piece of
woods about a mile southwest Oft village
of West Wardsboro' Here Mr.. Fits and
his companion abandoned their search, in
tending to secure help and follow it up the
NJ xt morning, Saturday morning the hun
tel S, about sixteen in all, armed with rifles,
shotguns and revolrers, 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 was surrounded
by chain of armed men to prevent his es-
cape if he should make break for the
mountains Twelve of the hunters were
thus arranged, while Messrs. Fits, Perry
and II. 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 aud place should be reach
ed, 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 light
before was discovered and fresh tracks
were apparent on all sides. The uneasi-
ness 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
thror Oh the brush, yelping and barking,
while tn hunters followed on as fast as pos
siblp. Soon the barking ceased, and the
anil ais rushed hither and thither hunting
for the trail, evidently at a loss. Mr. Perry.
however, who was armed with shot gun,
doublv loaded with shot and ball, discovered
4 dark looking object in the top of tall
hemlock Without moments warning, he
raised his gun and fired and the dark object
came tumbling to the ground, disclosing to
the eyes of the astonished hunters 4 regular
American panther. Although shot through
the breast and with one of his forelegs
broken By the fall, the magnificent animal
was disabled but not conquered, and Is the
dogs attacked him, clearing himself with
the uninjured paw, he leaped into the air
over the heads Of the men, and landed in a
thicket dozen or fifteen feet away. The
dogs. however, were gritty and terribly in
earnest, and when he leaped again he car
ried one of them with him, clinging to his
flank. He attempted to climb tree, but
this, in his disabled condition, was impossi-
bic, so, dropping to the ground, he made &
dash for clumb Of dead tree tops, few
rods distant Away went the panther and
the dogs, scratching. snarlinS and yelping,
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 was disappear
ING in thicket Of spruce trees. johnson
seized him by the tail and called on Perry
to help in making the capture. Perry 10y
ally responded, but just as he had got a
good hold the beast gave 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 remained on the other side, still cling
ing to his tail He tried to turn and fight
them, but the dogs were on hand. Just
at this moment johnson bcthought himself
of his revolver, and FIVE bullets were lodged
in his head. Still the fight continued, and
Mr. Fits, who had not been an idle specta-
tor, managed to fasten rope around the
panther's leg and fasten him to tree. Shot
guns and pistols were empty, but the pan
ther, though weakened, refused to die, and
the life of the king of the American for
ests' was brought to an ignominous close
by the use Of pocket-knife and cudgel.
He measured seven feet from tip to tip,
and weighed lO5 pounds Three toes were
gone from his fore foot, seeming to evince
an intimate acquaintance with a steel-trap
some time in the past, Hunters and dogs
escaped unhurt-a 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 in