News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-03-13
AT DUSK IN PIKE COUNTY.
A New York MANS ~ Ugh Ride Enlivened
by a Hungry Catamount.

A man driving a horse covered from
head to foot with foam drove into the
village of Milford, Pa, just after dark
few nights since. He was suffering from
nervous shock, His buffalo robe was
badly torn. his whip broken, and the
back part of his sleigh splintered and
covered with scratches and deep linden
| tations. The man gave his name as G.
D. Keenev. of New York. He was a
travelling sewing machine agent. He
had been attacked by catamount four
miles from Milford, and only escaped
| from il after desperate contest. He
told this story
He was on his way to Milford, over
one of the lonely, narrow and crooked
back roads of Dingman township, Dor
dered nv deep woods. 1t was nearly
dark and inst as he was rounding one
of the short turns in the road, his horse,
which is somewhat spirited, suddenly
SHE'D and then gave Jump forward and
started on a furious run. At the same
time an animal sprang from the side of
tbe road. tt had evidently leaped for
| the horse. but the quick movement of
the latter defeated Its purpose, and II
alipbted with its fore feet on the buffalo
robe that lay across Keeney,s lap. The
animal elared savagely at Keeney, as 1t
chung to the robe with Its claws, and
uttered fierce growls. keeney had never
seen a catamount but he knew that he
had one to deal With, and very large
and desperate one at that. He had no
weapon. but fortunately his whip was
heavily loaded at the butt.
Cinging to the reins with his left
hand, he drew the whip from its socket,
and dealt the catamount blow with IL
on the head which caused it to loosenlts
hold on the robe and drop into the
snow. Tt Instantly renewed the attack
with increased fairy, and sprang upon
the back of the sleigh Although the
horse was running madly away along the
narrow and crooked road, throwing the
sleigh from side to side and threatening
it constantly with destruction against
some rock or stump. Keeney was COM
PEELED to drop the reins and leave the
result to chance, for the catamount was
fighting desperately and furiously to
gain foothold in the sleigh and close
with its occupant.
Keeney says he knew that in case the
sleigh collided with any heavy obstacle
he would be no match for the catamount
fighting on the slippery snow, even if he
were thrown out and uninjured, and so
ne strained every nerve to conquer 1t
while he was still at an advantage in the
sleigh. Once he thought it was all up
with him, for as the sleigh was carried
abruptly around a turn, one runner
struck a stone, and the sleigh tipped
over and ran for several yards on the
other runner. Keenev mechanically
threw the weight of his body against the
upper side, while still raining blows on
the catamount and forced the runner
back on the track.
A few more blows after that and
Keeney was rejoiced to see the tenacious
brute first loosen one claw, hang for an
instant with the other while it tried to
seize the back of the sleigh again with
its teeth, and then fall with a lond yell
into the snow and lie there motionless.
Keeney dropped back in his seat toe
weak to make any enGeavor to regain
control of his horse. which was still
rushing wildly along the uncertain road
now made more uncertain by the gath
ering darkness. After running for three
miles the horse was compelled to come
to stop from exhaustion. Keeney had
recovered sufficiently to drive in the resi-
of the way.
Three large catamounts have beer
killed recently near the scene of Kee,
ney's adventure. These animals are
considered dangerous antagonists wher
wounded or cornered, but it is only
when they are rendered desperate by
hunger that they venture to attack {
man.