The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-08-14
An Adirondack Adventure.

1hc party consisted OF seven men, all en-
pcricnccd in wood life, and members of the
'tNorway Forestcrs,' as follows: Charles
Hall, NJ. d., Hiram Austin, Walter Scrvs,
Zcnas Smith, and Willis Kelley, of Norway,
and Jay Dclcvan and George ii. Worden,
of Prospect. Tie party met and organized
ut tho house of Ed. Wilkinson, ut Wilmurt,
and proceeded to the mouth of Indian
river, which makes into the west branch of
the West Canada creek, about fifteen miles
above Ed. Wilkinson's, on the cast side.
Here VIC went into camp and staid until
after dinner, when Smiths adventure COM
mcnccd. Zenas Smith is rather below
medium height, sandy complexion, clear
gray eyes, and, witha, Il fine looking,
frank, easy appearing young man of
twenty-five years. He and myself were to
take our rods and baskets and go to "Four
Mile Saltwater" on the West branch, and
if we found the fishing good, were to camp
there and fish the next day, distance Of
about five miles from where we were. We
left camp about IL NJ, and kept along the
creek trail for over mile, when we came
to the marked birch for the cut off saving
about miles tramp from the bend of the
creek. Taking, as we supposed the right
direction, we travelled for three hours and
not reaching our destination concluded we
had been bearing too much west, 80 made
a sharp turn to the right expecting to strike
the stream in half an hour at most While
we were clambcring along in this manner
we were suddenly startled by the appear
ance directly in front Of us. and not more
than twenty rods distant of a large moose,
probably eighteen hands high, or more,
and making directly for us. In the same
breath Smith caught Inc by the shoulder
and pointed to tree near the moose, where
l bchcld the glittering eyes Of panther.
The reader will remember that we were
without arms or ammunition of any kind,
the only offensive or defensive weapons We
possessed being our pocket knives. l con-
fess to being more than frightened at the
time, but seeing the GOODNESS of Smith de-
tcrmincd not to let him see my knees rattle.
BY this time the moose was upon us; at a
glance we knew he came for protection,
but the huge panther still loomcd upon us,
but had stopped in his hcadlong course.
''Smith," said /, chow is this 2"
81 believe we are all right" said Smith.
''Fhc moose has come TO us for protcc-
tion, consequently he is not bclligerent :;
the panther is undoubtedly cowed by our
numbers, or dare not tackle man. Let
us build fire and will stay here while
you 60 back to camp and bring tic rifle,
and have one of the other boys come back
with you.
TO this dcmurrcd for long time, but
finally concluded to so, leaving all my traps
with Smith, to make the more rapid pro-
grcss. This part of the story can be told
very shortly. got lost, wandered until
after dark, built fire, slept some. got up
next day and travelled till dark again, built
fire, and started next morning and
trampcd until about n a. NJ, when
came to stream, and following it down
came to Jocks Lake outlet slanty, and
from there went back to the Indian river
shanty, where the first man to grcctme was
Smith, whom I supposed had been con-
vcrtcd into panther meat before this time.
| was nearly starved, but asked "Smith
how was it2"
"After you left, said Smith, 81 got all
the wood together l could and kept up the
fire, the moose standing back little, but
keeping me between itself and the panther,
which kept his position in the tree. We
kept this up all night, the moose one side
OF me, the panther garing with his eye
balls of fire upon the other, and you may
imagine l acted my part as middlcman
without getting very sleepy. About sun
rise Thursday morning, the panther gave a
terrific growl, sprang from the tree and
rapidly disappeared in the forest. While
was watching the panther 1 had not
thought anything about the moose, and
finally, when turned my head, he was
gone. Immediately came to camp and
found you gone Some went to look for
you, some went back with me, but VIC
found no further trace of either the moose
OF panther"