The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-10-20
Tph,lede,ph,a T,m@.l

now In state OF excitement. For nearI,
| six weeks past III. Il. Webster, n wcll.knowr
| farmer and butcher, whose residence and
slaughtcr-house are within a stones throw
Of Rubicau Station, has been losing poultry
at rate never before experienced In the
county. Mr.. Webster supplies beef and
poultry 10 the Philadelphia market, coming
into the city every market-day, and bis
stock OF fowls Is, or was few weeks ago,
unusually large. He bad over three hundred
chickens altogether. These were kept In
small coops In an open yard back Of his
barn. About month and half ago
the number hogan TO diminish rapidly.
Every morning IL would be found that three
or four had disappeared during the night.
Mr.. Webster has four sons, the oldest OF
whom IL in business with him, and they oil
live at home on the farm. Among them
they have three or four dogs OF the English
fox-bound species. Several times the dogs
would be heard barking in the night, upon
which the family would he aroused, and
rushing out would find them running
through the fields like wild, while the ut
most connection would be going on among
the chickens. In less than two weeks over
forty chickens were missing. The only
traces OF them would be the heads, several
OF which would invariably be found in a
field near the coops on The morning after
their disappearance. There was no clue as
to the kind OF animal that was doing the
work. The closest watch failed to discover It,.
FIRST SIGHT OF THE vARMINT.
About five weeks ago Mrs. Webster, wife
OF III. Il. webster, was walking along the
York pike, which runs directly past the
house, on her way 10 call on q neighbor,
Mrs. 1riebles, whose husband, G. III. X.
Triebes, coal.dealer of this city, has a
country-seat also on the York pike about
two hundred rods from the residence of the
Websters. 1t was on Sunday evening
shortly after dark. Just as she got about
halfway between the two houses she saw
an animal come out OF a field and cross the
road in front OF her. Ii was a long, black
animal, and looked like large-siZed dog.
Mrs. Webster thought it was dog, and
passed on without taking more than passing
notice Of il. On the Tuesday night following
James Webster, one OF the sons, attended a
Democratic meeting at Fox Chase, and re.
turned home about O'Clock IN the morn
ing, being on horseback. He put bus horse
away, and was about going into the house
when he heard the dogs barking down in
a lane few rods from the barn. He ran
down, but saw nothing. Between the lane
and the stable was a beaB.patch, through
which he had TO pass 10 get back. Return
ing, he had almost reached the stable,
when be saw a large black animal run like
lightning through the patch with chicken
in its mouth. He thought it was dog, aud,
rushing into the house, got a gun, and, wa
king up one OF his brothers, together they
came out. The dogs still kept barking fu-
riOu.Iy, and the scene Of the excitement
was the bean-patch. Entering here, James
kept hold Of the gun and took up bis sta
ton near the fence, while his brother went
into the place TO rec0nnoitre. BY this time
the dogs were running in every direction
through the patch in the widest excitement.
James got to the lower end Of the field and
was turning to come back when suddenly,
like Il Fl lash. the animal bounded through the
crashing 5ean.>talks right toward him.
james saw il had dropped the chicken, and,
furthermore, that it wasn't a dog, and he
did some OF The fastest scamperiug he had
ever done in his life TO reach the top OF
fence. This being accomplished in quicker
time than it takes to tell it, he turned bis
gun TO shoot, but by this time the dogs
were upon il, and, after brief but ter
rife struggle, the dogs were shaken
the fields, tore away in the direction of
woods. The dogs and the two men fol-
lowed. They chased 1t through meadow
and INTO one OF Mr.. Tliebles's fields, where
the dogs lost its trail. IL was now near
morning, and after futile hunt OF upwards
OF half an hour they returned TO the house.
As soon as the family were up and the news
imparted to them they were disposed TO
laugh. James declared his belief that it
was a catamount. His father chaffsd him
about keeping late hours and being unable
TO discriminate between catam0unts and
stray dogs. The neghbOrs likewise rallied
James and dropped sly hints abeHt the con-
dition OF his head OIL the night in question.
THE ANIMAL AGAIN APPEARS.
On the Sunday evening following Mr..
W ebster the elder, was sitting in bis par
lor, his sons being out, when be was aroused
by what he thought was the barking OF
dog. Ii was short, peculiar yelp, such as
he had never heard before. Rushing out 10
the chcken.coops, whence the sound came,
he saw long, black animal, such as his son
had described, in the act Of making an at
tack on the chickens. AT this instant 1t
turned aud saw him and like flash disap-
reared through the field. He had seen
The report now spread through the neigh
borhood. and those who had laughed be-
fore heard what was said about 1t with no
little concern. Meantime the Websters had
lost by this time nearly hundred and fifty
chickens. The neighbors began TO feel un'
easy about their sheep, and everybody VINO
had an old gun, pistol, or hre-arms OF any
description, began TO load 1t and carry IL
with him after night.
The neighbOrhOod was now excited.
further stage in this state OF feeling was
reached about two weeks ago. -Four per-
sous had now seen the animal, and their de-
scriptions OF II all tailed exactly. 1t was
described as large and black, and much
longer than any dog. About four nights af-
ter Mir. Webstel's sight of it Mr.. Triebles
was sitting In his pailor with his wife. The
house stands In the centre OF large yard
enclosed with paling fence. 1t was on
Thursday night about IL O'Clock. Suddenly
the two dogs OF the family, one large bull
dog. set up violent barking. Mr.. Triebles
raised his window and looked out. A low
erowl was heard near The fence which sepa-
rates the front part Of the yard from the
York pike. Mr.. Triebles thought 1t was
the moaning Of a COW, and went out. AS ne
the fence the dogs spraDg fran
tically forward. only TO bound back sgaln
as though afraid. Against the fence, stand
ing on its hnd-legs, he saw large black
animal, and be knew In moment 1t was The
one that had been described. He ran back
to the house to get his gun, but his vile
would not let him go out again. Presently
the growing ceased and the animal dlsap-
peared. Mr.. Triebles thought 1t was cala-
mount. Next day party went out win
dogs and guns, but could find no trace OF 1t.
,,,p,or,c ATTACK IN A noe