The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-12-07
THRILLING ADVENTURE ON A TEXAS
ROAD


THRILLING ADVENTURE ON A TEXAS
ROAD
San JAcINTo COUNTY, Nov. 1.-Sec.
ing an item about leopard cats in the
paper, ] am reminded of recent little
adventure of my own, the story of
which haven't before told in print.
1t happened in the spring.
was riding with friend, whom 1
will call p, from Willis, on the great
Northern Railroad, to Waverley, in
this county. About one hour before
suDdown, just as we had ascended
from little clear running branch to
the top OF small hill, my attention
was attracted TO the queer actions OF
my horse "a small, active fellow, in
good keeplng), who Was evidently
worried by something in the rear. Z.
was Oh my left, and his horse a little
behind mine. i looked back. and saw
coming into the road fl ON the bushes
Oh our left and back of us both, All an
imal the species of which l did not at
first recognize. 1t came on in a line
with P's horse (Which it did not seem
10 notice at alp and until il could pass
just in front OF and under the horses
nose, when ii filed suddenly TO the
right, Increased it's speed TO trot, the
body slightly depressed, aud when
within about eight ieet gathered its
limbs together and make a spring,
one claw into the pony's flank, and
reached the other up, attempting thus
to Chamber up behind me TO seat, q
la piiliOn. This was all done in mu Ii
less time than it has taken me to tell
it.
l dare TO say that no more astonish-
ed and thoroughly frightened horse
ever lived than was my Dalton when
that creature tried to make a ladder of
his leg. Such pitching such kicking
such running! such squealing! You
skill in horsemanship to keep in the
saddle. Moved by instinct, the horse
endeayored constantly 10 get into the
thick woods outside of the road. But
it that increased his chances Of getting
rid of his enemy, it exposed me to the
danger of either being dashed against
tree or Of being dragged off by an
overhanging limb. The attack was
| made at point where the new road,
in which we were travelling, and the
old road, which had been abandoned,
separated, but ran nearly parallel for
some distance. The first spring the
horse made took him out of the new
into the old road, tie second across
tn, old road and into the edge of the
woods. But by this time l had got
enough control of him to bring him
back into the old road and turn his
head in the direction l wanted to 90.
All this time the cat was losing his
hold and catching again, Being Who'll
ly unarmed, not so much as pocket
knife or even Il loaded riding whip.
there was nothing that l could do.
Finally the kicking, struggling and
plunging of the horse became so ter
rifle that the cat was dislodged and
received snch parting kick as sent it
tumbling over and over in the sand.
From the moment the animal sprang
upon the horse had seen nothing of
it, all my attention being absorbed in
managing the horse and keeping my
seat But now stopped and looked
back to see what pussy was doing. 1t
had just recovered itself, and, looking
around, espied Dalton and me some
fifty yards off. To my great astonish-
ment, it started toward us again in
long, loping strides, evidently dispos-
ed to try for a second ride on horse
back. put my little horse to his
mett,e, and was soon out of danger.
What had become of my friend z.
all this time? Some people sncer at
special provldences. L. is a cripple
from birth, has no use of his lower
limbs at all, his body is large and
heavy, his legs short, and his seat on
horseback 4 very insecure one. Itold
you at the beginning that the leopard
came into the road behind P.'s horse,
passed along his entire length, crossed
the road right under his nose, and at
tack ed me. Account for it as you
please. l choose 10 believe that a
gracious Providence protected the
poor helpless man who could not have
helped himself. From first to last the
beast took no notice of him.
The next morning, some young peo-
pie went into an old plum orchard, mot
great distance from the scene of the
adventure. They found there leop-
ard cat, dead. but evidently not very
long dead. On its side, Owe. the ribs,
the hair was rubbed off and the skin
greatly discolored.-[Cor New York
Sun.
HoMELY MAXIMs FOR HARD TINES.
L. N-.1-