, 1878-01-19
LOST GYAsTICUrUs.
A fsuxh sssFy About the AHeeaiaRee sf
Wild AllnAl.

A LOST G1ASIlCUTUS.
A rs.sh Story Abe.t The Apeeas..ee sf .
Wild Animal.
LIBERTY, lind December %, lS77.-We
have inst had the particulars related to us Of
one OF the strangest and most remarkable
Occurrences that has been our lot to chronicle.
The occurrence took place near Rising Sun,
small village about eight miles east Of here,
and, Is there is no mail communication be-
tween the two places, the particulars have
been about two weeks in reaching here, On
the road leading west from Rising Sun, and
about one mile distant, is the large farm Of
Mr.. Hunt, who keeps in his employ two fam
lilies Of colored people, residing also on TIE
farm. Midway between Mr.. Hunts farm
and the village is what is familiarly known
as the Halfway Place. which is designated
byHothing more than fence dividing cleared
land from the woods. One of the colored
men on the farm had been over to the village
one evening, and returned home at 9 O'Clock
at night When he got home he was speech
less from fright. He related story that
seemed at that time to be incredulous, and
was lightly passed over. He said that he
had seen some mOnstrOus animal that had
pursued him down the road, and that was all
the explanation he could give.
A few evenings after, about two weeks ago,
a colored girl named Mary Crane, living in
the village, made \ visit to the farm. Here
she was told Of what had been seen, but she
laughed at them. Indeed, no one but the
young man who told the story seemed to
give credenco 70 it, but none of them were
fully prepared to say that such might not
have been the case, and they were not eager
to investigate the matter Mary declined
staying all night at the farm, but, as it was
growing late, she wanted some one to ac-
company her to the village. Failing to get
any one at the first house, she went across
the road to the other negro house, and
young man started with her.
For about quarter Of rnife the road
passes through what IS known as the Black
Forest, on account of the density of the
timber and underground. The trees grow to
4 great height, and are large in dimensions
The ground in the woods is a little swa.npy,
and is grown up with bushes. Mary and the
Young fnan had reached the middle of this
forest when they were startled by peculiar
scream or shrek issuing from the woods.
they stopped and resolved to investigate.
1t was but moment, when Mary called her
attention to two bright spots
about midwayup a large pofelar tree stand
ing about forty feet back from the road.
Their first impulse was to run, but they
seemed charmed Though the night was
misty and very dark, they were enabled to
zee the bright objects slowly descending,
md they heard sound as the clawing Of the
bark. They then ran short distance, when
he Buck again mustered up courage As
hey were looking back they heard rustling
n the woods close by them. A moment
ater and the animal had mounted the fence
md pursued them, following along on top
he fence for short distance. They no
ongcr remained for investigation, but struck
,ut for their lives. and were rapidly gaining
IN the beast when it leaped to the ground
md pursued them down the road, every now
md then uttering the peculiar shrek 1t
oon overlook them, and the young man,
yho had hold of Mary's hand to assist her
n running, let loose, and fairly few down
he road to the village and gave the alarm.
The animal caught hold of the girls dress
md she fell fainting to the ground. She says
The knew nothing more until few minutes
,efOre she was rescued, when she awoke and
elt there was something holding her around
he body, when there appeared to her the
sensation CT something licking her face.
When she become fully aroused she realized
Ter perilOus situation and remained perfectly
nOtiOnlesA She soon heard the voices of
Ter friends, when she says the animal, which
vas as "big as a good sized calf, with tail
IS long as the deor, p" raised up and started,
,rowliag, toward them Their coming up
frightened it, when, with shrek, it leaped
;hefence and bounded off through the woods,
he cracking Of the brush and the splashing
# the water being distinctly heard for q
short distance.
The girl was 50 aHIfervea by fear that she
had to be carried to the village, and has had
ever since. Stimulants were ad-
and she soon revived, when she
related the foregoing The next morning a
large party Of men started out in hunt of the
animal. They saw its tracks, which were
over six inches across. They tracked it in
The mud for nearly half mile, but the trail
vas lost IN the grass on the high ground.
Dogs were put upon its track, but failed to
discover the beast. The hunt was kept up
for two days, but without success.
1t has been ascertained that sheep and
young hogs have been missed by farmers hv-
ing near the Black Forest, and it rs pre-
snmed that this animal has taken them.
What manner of beast it is no one seems to
have any idea Where it came from is the
strangest circumstance of all, unless it has
escaped from some menagerie. The whole
affair is wrapt in mystery, which the inhabi-
tants of that region greatly desire to have
solved. CireAxa.i Enqiarer.
THE LADIES OF r'FKIsco.-A correspondent.
of the Boston Jennai says: The women of
San Francisco have a perfect passion for
wealth. They have terrible longing for
fashionable life. They think of ease and
luxury and would make life complete holi-
day. Dresses and diamonds, the opera and
theater, never endinground of social gayety
and frovolity constitute the height of female
ambition here. was dining with a friend
at the Grand Hotel. and opposite US sat