The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-03-16
n Remarkable Encounters ON a Lonely
Sloigh-Ride I'm Saratoga County.


A correspondent Of the SdratoRan writes
from ConklingvilIe, Saratoga county, one Of
the most remarkable stories OF encounters
with wild beasts that has lately been told,
In brief, it is as follows:
A man by the name Of George Hiuckley
was on Friday night, February IS, driving
from Corinth to Conklingvie, somewhat be-.
lated. There was no moon, aud the road
was. uncertain, owing to the rough weather
which had prevailed in that section for two
weeks or so past. He was in light cutter.
we'll protected from the cold by robes and
blankets. and was driving spirited horse.
It was II O'Clock, and he was nearly at his
journeys end. The road lay through
some underground Of woods. While the
horse was jogging along at mode.
rate trot he suddenly stopped, threw
his ears forward, gave furious snort, and
refused to go farther. The driver urged him
to 60, and finally struck him with halter,
the strap end of which was tied to the cut.
ter In order to prevent its dropping out and
becoming lost. The horse jumped forward
in frightened manner, but before be had
taken three steps a huge panther sprang
from behind low evergreen close by the
track and leaped Into the cutter. As it
struck the cutter its FORE paws came with
great force against Hinckley's breast, and
with one blow with it's powerful
nails the mans clothing was stripped
clean from bis skin. HHckley had
the halter with which he had just struck
the horse still in his hand, and it,
stinctiveIy he laid it with all bis might over
the head of his assailaut. By one of the
blows the headslall passed. over the panther's
head. 1t being slipping moose, the next
effort to strike drew the moose tight about
the panther's neck. Tben desperate hand
10 hand, as it were, fight ensued. The man
struggled to throw of the beast, but sue.
ceeded only so far as to prevent it from
fastening its powerful jaws upon his now
bare neck. The panther grabbed the mans
left arm, which it bit through and through,
the blood which flowed only scanning to
make it more furious. With his strogg
right arm Hinckley frightened the slipping
moose about the animals throat. So tight
was 1t drawn by that strength which comes
of desperation that the panther was
choked so that it let 60 its hold upon the
mans arm, and gasped at the same time,
stripping its victims clothing and decorating
his skin with its sharp claws. With the first
spring of the panther, companied, as ii
was, with wild, free growl, The horse took
fright and ran at full speed, every leap fairly
lifting the cutter from the track. Thus while
Hinckley was struggling for life in the cutter
the horse was running away. But the run
ming away of the horse proved to be the sal
walton of the diver, for in making short
turn in the road the cutter was overturned
dumpsg driver and panther out upon the
frozen snow. The moment they struck earth
however, they parted company. One enc
of the halter being fastened TO the cutter
and the other end tight about the wild ami
mal's neck, the latter was dragged after tht
flying steed, its body jumpingahd bounding
along the road. The running away OF tht
horse saved Mr.. Hinckley's life. He was LEFT
| by the roadside, whence he in course of time
| found his way to babitation. The horse
ran till be got loose from the cutter, and theI
be went to Conkljngyille. The cutter, badl,
shattered, was found half mile from tht
spot where the panther leaped from behin(
the bush. The animal was dead, cboked t
death and badly bruised. The substance o
the correspondents story is given above, ant
we forbear from casting any doubts on 81
tragic tale.