The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-03-25

A Backwood's Adventure.
A group of the fishermen and hunters
of this section of Pennsylvania were
gathered around the stove in the little
tavern perched up among these hills,
the other day, telling yarns and dis
cussing prospects of the country. Ev-
cry one of the well-known characters
of the vicinity had told for the hum
dredth time some favorite episode of
his own or some fictitious persons life,
and the listeners were getting tired and
sleepy, when a stranger, who had hith-
erto been unobserved in the rear of the
crowd, spoke out. '"Friends," he said,
"yOu have not asked me to speak, and
have, SO far, been content to listen to
the incidents you have related. But
do not believe in being entertained
without furnishing some entertainment
in return, so, with your permission,
will give you an anecdote out of my
personal history, which l can vouch for,
however much you may be inclined to
doubt its accuracy. This is nv first
visit to this part of the State, most OF
my days having been spent in Pike
County. When was a boy the woods
whereabouts were wild and covered with
q thick underbrush, and many kinds Of
animals and reptiles abounded. The
species known as the catamount existed
IN larger numbers than any other. You
know the catamount is more like the
panther than anything else, being larger
and more ferocious than wildcat.
Our little village had been built on
the edge OF one of the longest stretches
OF woodland in the county, SO that it
only took few minutes to bring vol
into the dense thickets. It was in the
winter of 1888 that am to tell you of.
l was then about thirteen years old,
and as rugged and strong as most OF
the young men of twenty are in these
times. All through the autumn the
catamount and the black snake had
bothered the men cutting timber for
home use. Several of the villagers had
been badly hurt, and one old man was
killed by the tricky animal. The bows
always helped in hauling the logs and
pieces of timber, driving the buck
wagons from the woods to the houses
where it was to be dumped. After old
Uncle Simeon was killed the women
became badly scared, and made the
men 60 armed, and wouldn't let us
youngsters 60 on the teams. No more
trouble occurred. however, until the
winter set in. Everything was quiet
then, and the fright caused BY the acct
dents of the fall had passed away. One
day terrific snow-storm set in. The
flakes came down so thick that we
couldn't see from our windows across
the road to Sam Briggs house. By
dark it had become three feet deep,
and we could hardly get to the barn to
feed the stock. About seven O'Clock it
stopped showing, and began to blow
very hard. 1t grew very cold also.
We heaped great logs on the fire, and
had the blaze roaring up the chimney.
The old man was resting quietly in the
corner, smoking his pipe, and seemed
not to care about what was going on,
when suddenly we heard a long,
deep growl coming from the woods.
The old man knew what that meant,
and so did some of nv older
brothers. The catamounts, maddened
by hunger, and prevented by the
storm from getting anything to eat,
were coming in body to the village.
In minute all we've astir. Two of the
boys started for the barn to see that
the door was fast, so that the cat
amounts could not destroy the cattle.
The rest of us were told to fasten the
windows and hunt up the guns, which
were about the house somewhere.
went to close a window, and then
could see the dark pack rushing
as fast as they could through the
snow. The sky had cleared and the
stars were out, so that could see the
folks at Briggs and down the street
were preparing for the hungry animals.
l didn't get those blinds shut any too
quick oithcr, for the head of the gang
was within few yards of the house.
just as was leaving the room the old
man came rushing through the hall,
saying, Jim and Jake have been
headed off between here and the barn
by the pack, and all the wildcats are
on 'em.' You bet there was lively
movin' around then. The old man
and Bill, an older brother, took the
guns and went up stairs to the bed
room windows looking out on the yard.
We could hear the boys yelling for
help amid the growls of the delighted
animals. I put for an open window,
and there was an fearful sight. Jim
had drawn his jack-knife, and was
keeping the cats at bay, but poor Jake
was helpless. A big fellow had him
Iorpr onJ ToLo hoj h;s hor1. -, A.
rascal's throat with an awful grip.
Four or five more of the gang were
trying to get show at Jake, too. He
kicked right and left, and fought like a
tiger. Jim had his hands full,
even though be did have a
knife. They got behind him,
and would jump on him. He
gradually worked his way toward
the house, however, and Sister Sue, q
brave girl, with nerves like a soldier,
was waiting to open the door and let
him in. The old man fired from the
window first. and one of the pack fell
dead. Neither Bill nor the Guv' nor
dared shoot at the animals right around
Jake, for fear of shooting him. 1t was
awful, I tell you, friends. Bill put a
charge in another of the fierce brutes,
and he keeled over. By that time some
of the pack were devouring the first cata-
mount that the old man had shot. But
there were so many of them that even
the two dead ones only drew away few
of the gang. Jim had put two Of them
out of the way, and was working his
way fast toward safety, but he was ter
ribly weak from the wounds the cats
had given him. He was perfectly cool,
though, and he shouted once to Bill.
xiii another BLACKBOARD, and then
enough of 'em will be busy eatin' to
give me- time" Bill cracked away, and
down went catamount close to Jim.
Two or three of the beasts jumped on
the wounded members of the pack, and
Jim made dash for the door. Sue had
it unfastened, and the minute he
reached the steps she threw it open and
he rushed in, but, by George! one Of
the hungry rascals sprang in with him.
Then tell you there was fun. Sue had
q big meat knife in her hand and she
stabbed the brute; but it only exasper-
rated him. It went for her right away,
and in moment there was cut down
her nrettv cheek that left a scar she