The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-01-13
A Remarkable Combat.
Rutland (vt.) Herald.

Last Friday, as Mr.. H. N. Fits, of
West Wardsboro, and Mr.. s. 3. Perry
were going to their work, blasting lime
rock from q ledge situated In the edge of
Stratton, they noticed the tracks Of q
wild animal. Supposing they belonged
to bear, they concluded to follow them
for a short distance, to satisfy their Gu
riosity. These soon led, into wood
about mile southwest of the village of
West Wardsboro, where Mr.. Fits and
his companion abandoned the search, in
tending to secure help and follow it up
next tfmorning. Saturday morning the
hunters, about sixteen in all, armed with
rules, shotguns and revolvers, and ac-
companied 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 place was surrounded with chain
of armed men to prevent his escaTe If
he should attempt to make break for
the mountains. Twelve of the hunters
were thus arranged, while Messrs. Fits,
Perry, and II. r. 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 and
place should be reached 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 hedgehog. The
bed where some large animal had lain
the night before was discovered, and
fresh tracks were apparent on all sides.
The uneasiness of the dogs as they strug-
gled to FREQ themselves from their leash
es also gave evidence of the near pres
ence of the game. When they were
loosed they darted through the brush
yelping and barking, while the hunters
followed on as fast as possible Soon the
barking ceased, and the ANIMALS rushed
hither and thither hunting for the trail,
evidently at a loss. Mr.. Perry, however,
who was armed with a shotgun, doubly
charged with shot and ball, discovered a
dark1ooking object in the top of a tall
hemlock, Withouta moments warning
he raised his gun and fired, and the dark
object came tumbling to the ground,
disclosing 10 the eyes of the astOnished
hunters regular American panther.
Although shot through the breast and
with one of his fore legs broken by the
fall, the magnificent animal was disabled,
but not conquered, and as the dogs at
tackled him, clearing himself with his un-
injured paw, he leaped into the air over
the heads of the men, and landed in
thicket a dozen or fifteen feet away.
The dogs, however, were gritty, and ter
ribly in earnest, and when he leaped
again he carried one of them with him,
clinging to his flank. He attempted to
climb tree, but this, in his disabled
was impossible, so dropping
10 the ground he made dash for clump
Of tree-tops few yards distant. Away
went the panther and the dogs, scratch
ng, snarling, and yelping, while the
men followed close behind, urging on
heir dogs. Hitherto the demonstrations
If the hunters had been more noisy than /
Effective, but as the panther was disap-
oearing in thicket of spruce trees, John
ION seized him by the tail, and called
ipon Perry for help in making the cap
,ure. Perry legally responded, but just |
Is he had got good hold the beast gave
! leap, carrying both of the men with |
him, and for few minutes aerial navi-
cation was lively. The panther went
,ver tree-top, but the men remained |
IN the other side, still clinging to his
all. He tried to turn and fight them,
,ut the dogs were on hand. Just at
his moment johnson bethought himself
If his revolver, and five pistol bullets
we're lodged in the panther's head. Still
he fight continued, and Mr.. Fits, who
lad not been an idle spectator, managed
% fastened rope around the panther's
eg and secure him to a tree. Shotguns
md pistols were empty, but the panther,
hough weakened, refused to die, and tho
ife Of the king of the American forests"
vas brought to an ignominious close by
he use Of pocketknife and cudgel. He
measured seven feet from tip to tip, and
weighed one hundred and Ave pounds.
three toes were missing from one of his
ore feet, which seemed to evince an in
innate acquaintance with a steel trap
ONE time in the past. Hunters and
ogs escaped unhurt-a fact probably
ue to the severe injuries sustained by
he animal in the early part of the fight.
he carcass was borne in triumph to the
illage, and exhibited to the wondering
yes of the inhabitants.