Weekly Trinity journal., 1876-04-08
NUMBER 10.
A NOVEL ADVENTURE.

George Hinckley was, last night at
IL o'clock, driving from Corinth to Conk-
linsvie, Saratoga County, N. Y, some
what belatod. There was no moon and
tho road was uncertain, owing to the
rough weather which had prevailed in
that section for two weeks or more. Ho
was in light cutter, we'll protected from
tho cold by robes and blankets, and was
driving spirited horse. The road lay
through some underground OF woods.
While the horse was jogging along at n
moderate trot, suddenly he stopped, threw
his ears forward, gave iurions snort,
and refused 10 go further. The driver
urged him to 60. and finally struck him
with halter, the strap end of which
was tied to the cutter in order To prevent
its dropping out and becoming lost. Tho
horse jumped forward In a frightened
manner but before no had taken three
steps a huge panther sprang from behind
low evergreen close by tho track and
leaped squarely upon the cutter. As il
struck the cutter its fore paws came with
great force against Hinckley's breast, and
with one haul with its powerful nails tho
mans clothing was stripped clean from
his skin.
Hinckley had tho halter with which he
just struck tho horse still in his hand,
and instinctively he laid IL with all his
might over the hoad of his fierce assailant.
BY one OF the blows tho hoad,tall was
passed over tho panther's head. 1t be-
ing slipping moose, tho next effort to
strike drew thonoos tight about the pan
thor's neck. Then desperate hand to
hand, as 1t were, fight ensued. Tho man
struggled to throw off the boast, but sue
cocdcd only so far as to prevent It from
fastening its powerful jaws upon his now
bare neck. Tho panther grabbed tho
mans left arm, which il bit through and
through, tho blood which flowed only
seeming to make IL moro furious. With
the right arm IIinckley frightened tho
slipping moose about the animals throat.
So tight was II drawn by that strength
which comes OF desperation, that tho pan =
ther was so choked that II let go its hold
on his arm and gasped, at the same tmo
stripping its victim ofclothing, and laccr-
ating his skin with its sharp claws. With
tho first spring of the panther. accompan-
led as II was with wild, fierce growl,
the horse took fright and ran at full speed,
every leap inirly lifting tho cutter from
the ground. Thus, while ilinckey was
struggling for life in tho cutter, the horse
wns running away. But this proved to
DO tho salvation of the driver, for in max
ing short turn in tho road tho cuttor
was overturned, dumping driver and pan
thor out upon the frozen snow. The mo-
mont they stuck earth, however, thoy
parted company. One end of tho haltor
being fast 10 tho cutter, and tho other
tight around tho wild animals mock, tho
latter was mercilessly dragged after tho
flying stcod, It's body jumping and bound
ing along tho road like tin pan hitchod
to n dogs tail.
hc running hW"I VI tho hoVtd thVou
IInckley's life. He was left by tho road
side, whence ho in course of time founl / q
way TO II house. Tho horse run till ho got
loose from the cutter, and he then went 10
Conklinsvslc. Tho cutter, badly shat.
tered, was found half milo from tho
spot where the panther leaped from be-
hind the bush. Tho animal was found
choked TO death, and badly bruised IL
was narrow escape, and ono Of tho
most peculiar and desperate struggles
that over occurred between man andbeast.