Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-05-25
GEORGE WOODS ESCAPE.


GEORGE WOODS ESCAPE.
If you are travelling in the West,
you will sometimes hear an animal
referred to as the. American lion; in
Texas or beyond he may be called a
cougar: in portions of South America
you will find him alluded to as the
puma, while in our Northern or Mid
die States he is known as the panther,
or painter all these names being
applied to th" same species of wild
beast.
The panther will be recognized at
once as the most terrible animal one
is likely to encounter in backwoods or
frontier sections, although. as mat
ter of course, he cannot compare in
ferocity. strength and daring with
many of the carnivora found in the
warmer countries.
The most curious panther adventure
which has ever come to my knowl
edge was that which befell George
Wood, a resident of Pike county,
Pennsylvania, some forty years ago.
Young Wood was then but seventeen
years of age, although large, strong
and active. as one can see he must
have been by lookil g at the hale,
vigorous old gentleman he is to day.
Deer and bears are still found in
Pike county, and at the time of which
! speak there were sections where it
looked as if neither white nor red
men had ever penetrated George
Wood lived among the mountains,
but he had neighbors and friends
within a radius of a few miles, and
he always thought it necessary to
venture some distance if he wanted
to enjoy a good days hunt.
A half mile off lived grum old
fellow, who owned one of the worst
specimens of dogs ever known. He
seemed to be mixture of the bull
dog and bloodhound, and he was held
in greater dread than any of the bears
or panthers often met in the wilder
ness
Sturrix and MS wife dwelt in an
old log house around which this
ferocious dog used to trot nights, or
crouch in front waiting for animal or
man to come within reach. Many a
person who was compelled to pass
along the road after nightfall has
climbed the stone wall which bordered
the road on the other side, and made
long detour in order to avoid this
ugly brute.
Sturrix himself was dreaded as
much as his body-guard. He refused
to associate with his neighbors, was
surly and cross when spoken to, while
his wife was scarcely ever seen out
side the tumble down building which
served them as a home. 1t was the
huge canine, however, which the
neighbors had very appropriately
christened ''Tiger." that absorbed the
attention Of passers. He had bitten
great many people; and when one
looked at his frightful head and jaws
he could not but wonder how it was
that q person once seized by such a
beast could escape with his life.
The natural question which my
reader will ask is, why the brute was
not shot, as such dogs commonly are
to-day. when they become dangerous.
One reason, I suppose, was on account
Of the fear in which Sturrix was held.
A farmer. whose team was pestered
by the dog one afternoon, fired an
old pistol at the brute. as he tried to
bite the horses heads. A moment
after, Sturrix, standing in front of
his house, raised his gun and fired at
the farmer. the bullet passing so close
that it cut piece from his coat. "Pll
shoot any man that hurts my dog"
was Sturrix's gruff comment, when
the farmer ventured to demonstrate
with him some days afterward.
Notwithstanding the dread in which
"Tiger" was held, he was fired at
many times, and in some cases he
must have been chit hard;" yet the
only effect seemed to be to make
him fercer and more dangerous.
His treacherous nature was shown by
apeculiar habit he had of barking al
q person passing, after which he
would 60 and lie down in the sun as
though content. But as soon as the
passer had gone far. enough not to
see him, he would rise to his feet and
sneak up softly behind, and without
the least noise spring upon him.
At night he would not bark at all
but lying near the road would trot
noislessly behind person and then
without the least warning, leap for
ward and bite him. 1 do not think a
more startling contretemps can be
imagined than that of walking
thoughtfully along a lonely highway
late at night, never dreaming OF
danger, and then to be suddenly
aroused by the savage bite of such a
dog.
George Wood, one afternoon in tie
Fall of the year, mounted his roam
pony and rode to the mill for a bag
OF flour. The mill was two miles
beyond the "Abe Sturrix place." and
was reached just as it was growing
dark. All boys in the country are
friends, or at least acquaintances, and
the son of the miller was fond OF
George, who stayed to supper with
him, and then engaged in playing
games until about nine o'clock in the
evening, at which hour he remounted
the roam and started for home.
There was no saddle ON the pony
the bag of flour being balanced across
his back and the lad sitting in front
OF it. He had brought his rifle with
hlm on the advice of his father
though there seemed scarcely a pos
si6ility of it being needed, and the
lad, not having fired it off on the way
to the mill, was sorry he had it witt
him at all, as its weight grew to b.
quite n hnrden