Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-03-30
desperate Fight with Panther.

GrogGg HrxcGLEY was last Friday
NIGH. al eleven O'Clock, driving from
Corinth to Conklingville, Saratoga County,
n Y somewhat belated. There was no
Moon and the road was uncertain, owing
10 the rough weather which has prevailed
Tu that section FOR two weeks or more. He
Was in a light cutter. well protected from
the cold by robes ard blankets, and was
driving q spirited horse. The road lay
through some underground OF woods.
While the horse was Jogging along at a
moderate troi, suddenly be stopped, threw
Lis esrs forward, gave furious snort and
refused 10 60 further. The driver urged
him 10 go and finally struck him with a
halter. the strap end of which was tied To
the cutter in order TO prevent it, dropping
ont and becoming lost. The horse jumped
forward In q frightened manner, but be-
fore he had taken three steps huge
uanther gprang from behind low ever
green close by the track and leaped
sauarely into the cutter. AS IL struck the
cutter its fore paws came with great force
against Hinckley's breast, and with one
hallI with its powerful nails the man.
clothing was stripped clean from his skin.
Hjnckley had the halter with which he
had lust struck the horse still in his hand,
and Instinctively he laid ii with all his
might over the head of his fierce assailant.
Bv one Of the blows the headstall was
passed over the panther's head. 1t being
a slipping. moose, the next effort TO strike
drew the moose tight about the panther's
neck. Then desperate, hand.to-hand,
"a II were, fight engued. The man strug.
cIed 30 throw off the beast, but succeeded
0niy 50 far as TO prevent it from fastening
il powerful Jaws upon his now bare
neck The panther grabbed the mans left
arm which il BIT through and through,
the blood which flowed only seeming TO
make IL the more furious. With
his right arm Hinckley frightened the slip.
ming moose about the animals throat SO
tight was it drawn by that strength which
comes Of desperation that the panther was
choked 80 that IL let go its hold on his
arm and gasped, al the same time strip.
ping its victim OF clothing and decorating
his skin with its sharp claws. With the
first spring Of the panther, accompanied
AZ il was with a wild, fierce 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. Jut biiH pIcFtd w NC
the salvation of the driver; for in making
short turn in the road the cutter was
overturned, dumping driver and panther
out upon the frozen snow. The moment
they struck the earth, however, they
parted company. One end Of the halter
being fast TO the cutter and the other tight
about the wild animals neck, the latter
was merciIessly dragged after the flying
sized, its body jumping and bounding
along the road like tin pan hitched TO a
dogs tail.
The running away Of the horse saved
Mr. Hinckley's life He was left by the
roadside, whence he in course OF time
found his way to house. The horse ran
till he got loose from the cutter and then
he went to Conklingyille. The cutter,
badly shattered was found half a mile
from the spot where the panther leaped
from behind the bush. The animal was
dead, choked TO death, and badly bruised.
IL was a narrow escape, and one OF the
most peculiar and desperate struggles
that ever occurred between man and beast.
--SGrot0gtan.