Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1878-02-14
WILD ANTmAL.
fGs DepredatiOns 10 the Northeast Of
Use

It's DepredatiOns to the Northeast Of
Uss
Delaware Gazette.
Great excitement is said to prevail in |
| the northeastern section of the county !
and the adjacent portion of Morrow coun- |
tv, oeeasiOned by the alleged presence OF
| a wild animal, which has been killing
stock and causing panic among the IN
habitants. The following special de-
spateh appears in the Cincinnati CONNER
ssC,pDTxcToN-- O., Jan. 3O.-The south !
ern mart of Morrow county is greatly eX-
cited bv a report that an escaped uger
from some travelling show mas Deen seen
several times in the vicinity OF the little
town of Marengo. On last Friday even
in0 the tiger, it is reported, pursued a
man named George Harvey through owl
Creek. and nearly home, he barely es-
| Gaming the clutches of the wild animal be-
fore reaching home safely. The people
in that vicinity are out en- nlGSse securing
the country in search of the animal
A correspondent writing from Kings
ton township, furnishes a graphic ac-
count of the state of excitement in that
locality. the performances of the animal,
and the efforts to slaughter or capture it.
We give his statement, presuming it to be
substantially correct, but without under
taking to vOuch for it:
LIVINGSTON, Jan. 29.-The greatest ex-
citement of to-day seems to be in Kings
ton township. Great damage has been
done to the stock of this neighborhOod by
the Lion, which, for some time, has been
creating so much excitement throughout
the county. The first stock killed by the
beast belonged to Mr.. Emerson. Three
sheep were found dead the first night,
/. four the next, and several were missing
that have not yet been found. The next
killed belonged to Addison Wood. A
: large hog was killed and one fine year.
ling steer, which was not all devoured.
Smith Clark is said to have hogs missing,
and his cattle were badly frightened on
the night of the 23d. 1t was next heard
2 at a point in Charles Lees woods, by per-
5 sons going to the Union Sabbath-School
Bible Society, Thursday night. 1t was
first heard by Charles Lee, coming from
the south. He anticipated climbing a
: tree, but it was so far off that he arrived
l at the Society in safety and gave the
e alarm. Several persons went out and
{ heard the prodigious roaring of the sup
: posed lion. 1t seemed to be drawing
nearer. While they were listening to the
{ roaring of the beast young man by the
:. name of Benjamin McDaniels came run
= ming in breathless haste, with his sister
in the rear. Great excitement prevailed
throughout the evening, the services
were short, and prayer was offered up
8 to God to protect us on our homeward
=
ceived by the dispensing party. As moth
ing was heard of the ferOcious animal
. Friday evening it was hoped it had de-
parted to unknown regions. Vain hope
T Such was not the case, as an attack was
n made on Mires Clark, Saturday evening,
q as he was passing by a small jungle in
3 Styles Cooks. woods. He took to- his heels
= the animal following him to the field
u Ewhere the chase was abandoned. He ar
,e rived at Eggleston's in safety and pro
v Fcured gun, and together with Eggles
. ton proceeded to the house of their neigh
Dor, Mr.. Cook. Here they procured an
% other gun, and sword, and together
n started for the woods. They had entered
n the woods but short distance when the
! dog bristled up, and. right before then
u arose the prodigiOus monster, and with ;
al roar he prepared to spring. The gun
were instantly discarged and hasty re-
treat made for the house, the lion giving
as chase. An attempt was made to load Oh
ic the run, but resulted in nothing bette
= than getting the shot down first. The.
W reached the house, when the door wa
IN opened by their wives, and they entered
o. falling PROSTATE on the floor, aImos
40 breathless and fainting. The door wa
l!shut and blockaded as we'll as possible
NC They next proceeded to remove the sho
r; from their guns. 1t was no sooner con
n than their attention was drawn to tn
"a porch, and looking out they perceiVet
: eight or ten large hogs lighting an
y squealing and trying to get in at the door
Mt ETheir little dog, surrounded by the hogs
K was also trying to gain an entrance. Sud
III denly a tremendous roar was heard aboV
- the din, dying away in a low smart, whic
se seemed to come from the other side of tn
he house. They proceeded to the windoV
on that side, and beheld the form of
large, dark animal dimly outlined agains
n the we'll curb. Both guns were instantl
fired through the window, and when tn
111 III kr,h
seen. The hogs remained on the pore
us till daylight. Inside was constant fea
ar and dread. No sleep was had that nigh
oh There was kept a constant watch ii
. morning, but nothing more was seen {
at the beast. Sunday morning came, an
ID with it a drizzling rain. Large track
h. were seen in the mud, Tut were nearl
,ro obliterated by rain. 1t Tained all da!
nevertheless the news spread like wilt
II fire. A few neighbors gathered in tt
ng morning to see what all the shooting an
he blowing of horns the night before w;
~ for. Stiles relates that he saw the liO
.A and that it was as big as COW, and E
IN gleston said it was as large as big do!
ole Stiles has history on animals, and the
ate studied it all day, and Stiles thinks it WI
ut a hyena. Billy Forsythe thinks it was
All rhinoceros Cook procured thick plaI
ing and nailed up his windows. Several pa
ind ties went out through the day, but not
red ing could be seen. 1t continued to ra
- all night, so the hunt was put off ii
,1 1eN Monday night. On Monday evening
lty party of about thirty gathered togethe
to and the hunt was commenced, They staI
ed for Cooks woods with five dogs al
arms of war-some with guns and son
with axes, cOrncutters and swords. Tht
our entered the woods short distance, al
on started the dogs ahead to hunt up t
sle- lion. They had not been gone long VIII
LasG the attention of the men was drawn t
uc- ward a small clump of bushes by t
bowling of dog. 1t made several yell
'le' growing fainter and fainter, and final
ties ceased altogether. They called the dog
IN and as only four returned they suppost
ter the either was killed, which was a lar
ers yellow bulldog, belonging to Isaac Clar
They proceeded to the place from when
pie the sound came, and heard low sns
the and craunching, as if some animal w
ng eating meat. They stopped and held
TN TN short consultation, which resulted in t
| TO decision that those with the guns were
proceed and fire, and then retreat a.
OF load while the rest attacked him wi
Veu their instruments of destruction. Th
l. went to within few PAGES of it, when
ay, raised its head and two fiery eyes N
re- their view. The guns were instant
IAN discharged and a retreat made. No 500
To- er had they fired than the lion gave
tremendous roar and bounded toward t
men. AS soon as the artillery reach
We the cavalry they all took to their he,
not anu scattered, uGfegafd TO dlclpllT
ing put the CapCalh pew MS trumpet
will order was restored: Ihey gathered
ad- geCher again at a snort dlstance, ana
S as organizing, charged Ihelr guns ana p
nm pared for another attack. The gunnt
ing opened the attack, then retreated to t
resi- swordsmen, when they all fed preci
are EaIeiy, except one man, whose name
en- William Slime. He caught his foot unC
a root and fell. The monster was on h
30 in an instant. He thought his end h