Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-03-27
A Wild BEAST STORY.

correspondent OF the Ndrufoyida
writes from COnklingville. Saratoga Co.
one Of the most remarkable stories Of en-
counters with wild beasts that have late
ly been told. In brief it is as follows
a man by the name of Geo. Hinek-
ley was. on Friday night. Feb, %. driv.
ing from COrinth to Conklingville some
what belated. There was no moon and
the road was uncertain, owing to the
rough weather which had prevailed in
that section for two weeks or so past.
He was in light cutter, well protected
from the cold by robes and blankets.
and was driving spirited horse. 1t was
about ii o'clock. and he was nearly at
his journeys end. The road lay through
some underground of woods. While the
horse was jogging along at moderate
trot, suddenly he stopped, threw bis ears
forward, gave furious snort, and refus-
ed to 90 further. The driver urged him
to 60, and finally struck him with hal
ter. the strap end of which was tied to
the cutter in order to prevent its drop
ping out and becoming lost The horse
jumped forward in a frightened manner.
but before he had taken three steps
huge panther sprang from behind low
evergreen close by the track and leaped
into the cutter. As it struck the cutter
its fore. paws came with great force
against Hlnckley's breast, and with one
blow with its powerful nails the mans
clothing was stripped clean from his
skin. Hinckley had the halter with
which he had just struck the horse still
in his hand. and instinctively he laid it
with all his might over the head of his
assailant. By one of the blows the head
stall passed over the panther's head. 1t
being slipping moose, the next effort
to strike drew the moose tight about the
panther's neck. Then desperate, hand
to-hand, as 1t were, fight 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 panther grab
bed the mans left arm, which it bit
through and through, the blood which
flowed only seeming to make it more fu-
rious. With his strong right arm Hinck-
ley frightened the slipping moose about
the animals throat. So tight was it
drawn by that strength which comes of
desperation that the panther was choked
| an that If lnt on its hold on the mans
arm and gasped, at the same time strip
ping its victims clothing and lacerating
his skin with its sharp claws. With the
first spring of the panther, accompanied
as 1t 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. But the run
ming away of the horse proved to be the
salvation of the driver for in making a
short turn in the road the cutter was
overturned. dumping driver and panther
out upon the frozen snow. The moment
they struck earth, however. they parted
company. One end of the halter being
| fastened to the cutter and the other end
! tight about the wild animals neck, the
latter was dragged after the flying steed
its body jumping and bounding along
the road. The running away Of the
horse saved Mr.. Hinekley's life. He was
left by tie roadside. whence he in course
Of time found his way to habitatIon.
The horse ran till he got loose from the
cutter, and then be went to Conkling-
vile. The cutter. badly shattered, was
found half mile from the spot where
the panther leaped from behind the bush.
The animal was dead. ehoked 10 death,
and badly bruised The substance Of
the correspondents story is as given
above, and we forbear from casting any
doubts on 50 tragic a tale"