St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-05-04
Encounter with q Panther.

An event took place, early on the
morning of Thursday, the 10Th inst .,
which Will long he remembered by the
citizens of Richtord and vicinity and
especially MIR. Thomas Peggingten, the
gentleman Immediately concerned. 1t
appears that about 5:3O, A. NJ, he, in
company with his dog, started to go to
his sugar place for the purpose of gath
ering his buckets. When about half
way-the sugar bush is situated neatly
two miles from his house-iu il lonely
place between two hills he heard some
thing scIeam, which he ut first took to
he the voice of Il woman in distress, and
he was about to call out in reply, when
he suddenly heard the brush crack in
front of him, and to his horror discov-
cred huge panther standing upon IL
projecting ledge not thirty feet from
where he was standing. Being totally
unarmed, he knew not what to do. and
could only stand helplessly gazing at
the animal, expecting each instant that
he would spring upon him. The brute,
however, seemed i'll no way inclined to
attack him, but seemed to mainly be
occupied with the dog, which all this
time had been standing at the foot of the
cliff furiously barking at it. For sew
eral minutes matters remained thus,
when suduenly the beast seemed reused
to action. Lashing his side with his
tail he gave vent to the most savage
growls, and prepared to spring upon the
dog, which, not seeming to realize his
danger, kept on barking. Suddenly
there was il spring, lush of IL huge
body through the air, a yell of despair
from dog, IL short struggle, and in less
time than it takes to tell it the unfortu-
nate canine was torn to pieces. For Il
moment the savage brute gazed ut the
remains of the dog, and then turning
his attention to Mr.. PeggingtOn, crouch
ed, and with low growIs of rage pre-
pared to spring. Our hero thought his
hour had come this time, certain, but
fortunately for him his presence of mind
did not utterly forsake him. As the
panthers body shot through the air
toward him, he, quick us thought, threw
himself forward fiat on his face, allow
ing the beast to pass over him. Spring
ing to his feet he seized stone near by,
and IN sheer desperation hurled it at
his assailant just as he was about to
make his second spring. As good luck
would have it, it struck the beast full
between the eyes, and for il moment
completely stunned it. Following up
his advantage, he seized club near ut
hand and sprang at his foe, but by this
time the panther had recovered from
his mOmentary stupOr, and maddened
by the blow it had received, sprang ut
the man with tenfold fury. As the an
lmal came Oh lie attempted to dodge us
before, but this time his nimble antago-
mist was too quick for him, and us it
came on one paw hit his shoulder, tear
ing his coat and lacerating the flesh and
knocking him over. He, however,
managed to seize hold of one of the
animals legs, and together they rollel
over and over upon the ground, which
was dyed with the blood of both. At
last, they i'll some manner managed to
roll over precipice 90 feet high, and
that is the last Mr.. Peggington remem-
bers until arouse by the rain drops fall
ing I'D his face. With considerable diff
Guilty he managed to arise to a sitting
posture, and saw by the sun that it was
high noon, and that he must have lain
insensible for some hours. With great
and and untold suffering he
i'll reaching the path, where
he was discovered shortly after by his
son: who had been sent into the woods
with his fathers dinner. Summoning
aid, the boy had him conveyed to the
house. He is badly bruised and his
recovery is doubtful, as it is thought
that he has sustained internal injuries
by his fall over the ledge. What be-
came of the panther it is impossible to
tell. 1t is thought that being himself
badly bruised by the fall he left without
his victim. The incident has
caused much excitement here. The