St. Landry democrat., 1881-08-20
Killed by a Catam0unt.

published brief account OF the killing
of l.. Painter, of Hamilton Township.
this county, by a catamount or panther,
as the animal is variousy known.
Since then we have been enabled to
learn additional particulars OF the sin
gular tragedy from a resident OF the
township, who visited the scene. Mr.
Painter was farmer, and the section
in which he lived is one OF the widest
in Mexican. In the deep forest some
miles from Mr Painters home is
deer-lick, which is still fre4uented by
those animals, despite the inroau5 made
upon their numbers by local sportsmen
and the encrOacnments upon Old haunts
bv civilization. On the afternoon OF
the day above mentioned the old gen
tleman announced to his family his IN
tention of watching this derrick, and.
takinr his trusty rifle, departed, it is
fair to presume, with the object of get
ting a shot at Il fat buck, although the
game laws do not cOuntenance such
SPORT at this time OF the year. Old
residents, however, are not prone TO
regard such regulations, considering
them more especially designed to pro
tect game from the wanton assaults OF
amateur sportsmen. He did not re-
turn that night, circumstance which
caused his family no great uneasiness,
as Mr.. Painter was not too feeble to
regard camping out alone rs
hardship. When the day was far
spent, however, and still the absentee
did not appear, his relatives became
anxious and thought some misfortune
might have befallen him, and his BROTH
rset out to hunt him up. He made his
way to the deer-lck BY the shortest
course and with all possible haste, but
| the sun was setting as he approached
| the lonesome spot. 1t was in the midst
of dense woods. through which ran a
| purling stream, that he at last halted
and called his brothers name, but only
an echo hooted in return, as though in
derision. In the soft earth at the edge
| of the brook he saw the imprint OF
| deers' hoofs and finally came upon the
well defined impre ssion ola human loot,
where the owner had stepped across the
water. On the other side of the brook
were other traces OF a man S presence.
such as would only be noticed by a
woodman' s keen eye, aud, following this
! imperfect trail, he was led TO sort OF
natural amplfitheater surrounded by
| brush and fallen trees. as though the
place had been visited by a whirlwind.
| A broken bush covered with blood at
tracted his attention, and, looking over
/ it. he saw rifle lying on the ground.
Mr.. Painter picked it up and recog-
nized it as the time honored arm be-
longing to his brother The barre was
partially separated from the stock as
! though by violent blow. A collapsed
cap on the nipple indicated that q charge
had been fired.
A horrible misgiving seized Mr..
Painter aS he looked upon what seemed
to be the mute witness to a woodland
tragedy. and sick at heart he continued
his search. He did not have far to 20.
Stepping over a log at one side OF the
natural inclosure, which seemed to be a
sort OF vestibule to the derrick. he
stumbled upon the carcass OF q great
cat-like animal, such as he had seen IN
the early DAYS of the settlement, but
never OF late years. itwas a catamount
of large size, such as no hunter would
care to meet alone in the woods Sew
eral wounds showed that it had died
hard. and it looked still hideous in
death. A few feet away lay a human
figure, partly overed with bloody rags
and showing in the denuded parts the
marks of terrible claws. 1t was lying
on its face, but NJ. PaImite knew now
the worst, and was not surprised to see
the ghastly face of his brother. One
stiffened hand held hunting knife,
bloody to the hilt, and in the other was
a handful of grass torn up by the roots,
as though in supreme agony. The un-
fortunate man was partially disemb bow
eled, and indeed his whole body showed
; fearful mutilation, while his set features
wore look of great anguish. His dead
, adversary had bullet hole in the
, shoulder and several stabs in the neck
and body. 1t was easy for the afflicted
, brother to fathom the exact nature o
{ the cruel struggle. AS Mr. Palmitel
| la;y watching at the lick the catamoun
| was also watching, and, mad with hun
, ger, as shown by his emaciated body
| had selected human prey instead o
deer and sprang upon him. The mar
attacked was enabled to get one shot
at the ravenous beast, when it struel
the rifle from his hands and grapplet
with him. The struggle must have
8 been fierce and protracted, as th'
: ground for some distance around wa
D covered with blood, until. mortall,
S wounded, the combatants separated b,
= mutual consent to wrestle with tn
I death agony. The catamount measures
five feet six inches in length and owe
; twenty inches high. = Bradtord PA.
: Era. f..af --lssi
y An Italian farmers hired man hay
). inc bought seven donkeys at the fair
:. mounted one and drove all the res
: home W, Rafnre dismnllntinr he cOuIlte