West-Jersey pioneer., 1883-02-08
PAINTERS IN SOUTH JERSEY

IOl southern NEW JeTSey have Docll oCCii
| in late years at more or less frequent in
tervals, by reputable persons, whose
yeracity cannot be doubted. Nor is this
at all incredible when we remember
that only "a little time ago the priineval
swamps and forests of the section
abounded in animals of the cat kind, as
the brown and cinnamon bear. In the
colonial period fiocks and herds nightly
suffered loss from these fierce creatures
unless closely guarded. The central
part of Cape May, and portions of At
lantic and Cumberland counties are
still covered by dense wood and brush
land with here and there original
growths of heavy timber. In them the
wildcat and panther find a safe lurking
place, secure from the hunters rifle and
dog. When driven by hunger into in
habited places, near their lairs, they set
up hideous bowling appalling to the
stoutest nerves. OF late their cries have
alarmed individuals by the score, and
occasiC iially one, more daring than usual
risks an excursion on the public high
way, when he sometimes has encoun-
tered some belated traveller who saves
his skin only by the most strenuous eff
forts.
In one instance, while a panther was
using up dog, it's owner made a lucky
escape. This occurred near Petersburg,
in upper Cape May, at what is called
the California mills. A favorite pastime
of the panther is to travel up and down
the old Kings Highway, which runs
through the Double Pound, Long
Bridge, and other cedar swamps in the
county. In it, on still nights, the cry,
as if of distress, may be heard. He
would be a venturesome person who
would pass along this road at any time
between sunset and sunrise, for he
would be almost sure of an encounter.
What is called the Butter Road, lead
ing from Petersburg to the seashore, is
another favorite ground for them
There is scarcely a person of the To-
cality who has not heard the fearful
screeching of the ferocious creatures,
and it is common, if there is trouble
some youngster in a family, to threaten
him with a trip through the Butter
Road.
In April, 1878, Mr.. Somers Corson, a
butcher living near the above village,
was returning home through this road
in his wagon, accompanied by John Van
Glider, a neighbor 1t was about sun
down, when entering dark part of the
road, they came face to face with pan
ther A little before, Mr. Corson had
noticed that his horses acted rather
strangely, showing symptoms of great
fear.
The creature leisurely walked along a
little ahead of the wagon, looking over
its shoulder at the disturbers of it's soli-
,tnde. After little time, coming to a
: - +hick Tort, disappeared in the shade of
= e.;,aor are trustwM Messrs. Corson and Van
are any doubling Thomases,, the 8 gehteerre eihhtere
men are still in the land of the living,
and may be consulted.
In the same year, Mr.. Voss, of the
same place, was chased out of the woods
by one of these animals, and his dog SO
badly frightened thatit would not again
go with him when he got reinforce
ments.
A whole company of friends, who had
met at house where the Butter Road
ends, on the Seaside highway, had a bad
scare from the terrific screenings in the
rear of the building. A few days after,
ex-Sheriff Corson, living near, made his
escape from strange beast by feeding
it with fish, of which he happened to
have liberal supply.
Near Seaville, at Wolf Pit Hill, Harry
Katts, as he was returning home early
in the morning, from sparkling, came in
contact with a panther. Being on horse
back, he succeeded in making his escape
the thoroughly frightened horse needing
no urging from the terror-stricken rider.
Near SWANS station, an attack was
made upon gentleman whose name we
are not permitted to use. 1t was just
before sunrise. Selling a big club, he
kept the stealthy animal at bay, by the
determined use of the stick and voice,
and so got away.
Just by the cranberry ponds, between
Seaville and Cresstown, a laborer was
hotly pursued, and his dog torn in
pieces, by one of these ferocious inhab-
itants of the solitudes of Cape May
county.
EARLY in the Winter, Mr. L., near Pal
ermo, was going through d lonely road.
He was well mounted. The night was
pitch dark. His horse suddenly stopped
as huge wild beast, uttering loud,
shrill cry, sprang into the road a few
feet from him. The horse trembled and
refused to go a foot forward, SO turning
his head, Mr.. L. made "John Gilpin
time for home.
Mr.. Isaac Howell, who lives at Sea-
vile, is an experienced hunter and
woodsman, and is well acquainted with
| the animals of his neighborhood, and
| their habits; further he is not easily
scared or deceived in woodcraft. We
|
theirs. ''Panthers," said he, ''there are
plenty of them in the big swamps of up
per Cape May" Eyes. I have seen
them One night my dog treed one.
cautiously approached and saw the cat
like movements of the creature, as il
stealthily walked out on the limb of &
big oak tree, from which it made {
spring for my dog, which barely escaped
its claws. With sullen growls it slunl
off into the woods. In the Joe Goulde1
swamp, at another time, the beast ha(
better luck, and struck my dog, tearing
him to pieces in a few minutes" Eyes
| saw him in the day time, and had {
fair look, and am sure that saw pan
ther." Of course there are more thar
one. My dogs got on the trail of three