The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-03-09
A WILD BEAST STORY.
4 Remarkable Encounter on Lonely Sleigh
ride in Saratoga County.

A correspondent of the Saratog an
writes from Conklingville, Saratoga
County, one Of the most remarkable
stories of encounters with wild beasts
that have lately been told. In briefit is
as follows:
A man by the name OF George HInck-
ley was on Friday night, Feb. 70, driy-
ing from Corinth to COnklingyille some
what belated. There was no moon and
the road was uncertain, owing to the
rough weather which had prevailed in
that section for two weeks or SO past.
He was In a light cutter, well protected
from the cold by robes and blankets, and
was driving spirited horse. 1t was
about IL O'Clock, and he was nearly at
his journeys end. The road lay through
some undergrowth OF woods. While the
horse was jogging along at a moderate
trot, suddenly he stopped, threw his
ears forward, gave q furious snort, and
refuAed to 60 further. The driver urged
him to 60, and finally struck him with q
halter, the strap end Of which was tied
to the cutter In order to prevent Its
dropping out and becoming lost. The
horse jumped forward in frightened
manner, but before he had taken three
steps 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 its powerful nails
| The mans clothing was stripped clear
/ from his skin. Hinckley bad the halter
| with which he had just struck the horse
still in his hand, and instinctively ht
laid IL with all his might over the heae
of his assailant. BY one OF the blows
the headstall passed over the panthert
head. 1t being a slipping moose, thu
/ next effort to strike drew the noost
tight about the panther's neck. Then 9
desperate, hand-Lo-hRnd, as 1t were
light ensued. The man struggled Il
Throw off the beast, but succeeded ONLY
SO far as to prevent it from fastening iii
powerful jaws upon his bare neck. Th,
| panther grabbed the mans Left arm
i which it bit through and through, tn,
blood which flowed only seeming t,
make it more furious, With his stroni
fright arm Hinckley tightened tn,
lslipping moose about the animal
tthrOat. So tight was it drawn by tha
tstrength which comes Of desperation tina
the panther was cnoked SO that it let 8
its bold on the mans arm and gasped
lat the same time stripping its vict,m'
iclothing and iacerating his skin witt
Its sharp claws. With the first sprini
OF the panther, accompanied as it wa
with o wild, fierce growl, the hors
! took fright and ran at full speed, ever
Heap fairly lifting the cutter from tn
track. Thus, while Hinckley was strug
Cling for life In the cutter, the horse wa
arunning away. But the running ava
of the horse proved to be the salyatio
OF the driver; for in making short tur
In the road the cutter WAS overturned
dumping driver and panther out upon th
frozen snow. The moment they stfue
earth, Aowsyer, they parted COMPANY
One end OF the halter being fastened
1.-The cutter and the other end tight abeu
1.-The wild animals neck, the latter wa
dragged after the tying steed, it's bod
! Humping and bounding along the Toal
I 1.-THE running away OF the horse save
/ Mr.. HiHckley's life. He was left by th
roadside, whence he in course OF tim
: found bis way TO o habitation, III
horse ran till he got loose from the Gu
, tier, and then he went TO Conklingyiil
!, lThe cutter, badly shattered, was fonp
. half mile from the spot where the pai
4 ther leaped from behind the bush. Th
I animal was dead, cnoked to death, an
} lbadly bruised. The substance OF Vi
Il jcorrespondenvs story is as given absy
, and we forbear from casting any doub
3 on so tragic a tale.