Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1876-04-07

Handle road, ana was queer. his
mental unsoundness at last led to his dis
charge, and it is said he is living on
farm in Minnesota.
Desperate Fight with a Panther.
George Hinckley was, last Friday
night, at eleven o'clock, driving from
Corinth to Conklingville, Saratoga coun-
ty, New York, somewhat belated. There
was no moon and the road was uncertain,
owning to the rough weather which has
prevailed in that section for two weeks
or more. He was in light cutter, well
protected from the cold by robes and
blankets, and was driving a spirited
horse. The road lay through some un-
dergrowth of woods. While the horse
was jogging along at moderate trot,
suddenly he stopped, threw his ears for
ward and refused to go further. The
driver urged him to go, and finally
struck him with halter, the strap end
of which was tied to the cutter in order
TO prevent its dropping out and becom-
ing 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 squarely into the
cutter. As it struck the cutter its fore
paws came with great force against
Hinckley's breast, and with one haul
with its powerful nails the mans cloth
ing was stripped clean from his skin.
Hlnckley had the halter with which
he had just struck the horse, still in his
hand, and instifctively he laid it with
all his might over the head of his fierce
assailant BY 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
around the panther's neck. Then des-
perate hand-to-hand-as it Were-fght
ensued. The man struggled to throw off
the beast, but succeeded only so far as
to prevent it from fastening its powerful
jaws upon his now bare neck. The pan
ther grabbed the mans left arm, which
it bit through and through-the blood
which flowed only seeming to make it
the more furious With his right arm
Hinckley tightened the slipping moose
about the animals throat. So tight was
it drawn by that strength which comes
of desperation, that the panther was
choked so that it let go its hold on his
arm and gasped, at the same time strip
ping its victim of clothing, and lacerat-
ing his skin with its sharp claws.
With the first spring of the panther
accompanied as it was with wild, fierce
growl, the horse took frightand ran with
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,
But this proved to be the salvation OF
the driver for in making short turn
in the road, the cutter was overturned,
dumping the driver and panther out up.
on the frozen snow. The moment they
struck earth, however, they parted COM
pany. One end of the halter being fast
to the cutter, and the other tight about
the wild animals neck, the latter was
mercilessly dragged after the flying steed,
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 source Of time,
found his way to a house. The horse
ran until he got loose from the cutter
and then he went to Conklingville. The
cutter, badly shattered, was found half a
mile from the spot where the panther
Ieaped from behind the BUSH The ami.
NAL was choked to death and badly
bruised II was a narrow escape, and
one of the most peculiar and desperate
struggles that ever occurred between man
and beast.-SaratOgion.
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