The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-11
Fight with a Catamount.
A Sleigh Ride EnIiyened by an Encouter
with a Humgry Animal.

Aman driving horse covered from head
to foot with foam Grove into the village of
Milford, Pa, just after dark a few nights
since. writes Port Jervis correspondent of
| the New York Sun. He was suffering from
nervous shock. His buffalo robe vas bad
| ly tom, his whip broken, aud the back part
of his sleigh spllntered and covered with
scratches and deep indentations. The man
gave his name as G. D. Keeney, of New
York. He was travelling sewing machine
agent. He had been attacked by caia-
mount four miles from Milford, and had on
" escaped from it after a desperate contest.
He told this story:
He was on his way to Milford, over one of
the lonely, narrow aud crooked back roads
of Dlngman township, bordered by deem
woods. 1t was nearly dark, and Just as be
was rounding one of the short turns in the
road. his horse, which is somewhat spirited,
| suddenly shied and then gave Jump for
| ward and started on furious run. At the
| same time an animal sprang from the side
| of the road. 1t had evidently eaped for the
horse, but the quick movement of the latter
| defeated It's purpose, and it alghted with its
| fore feet on he buffalo robe that Law across
a. Keeney as it clung to the robe with It's
claws, and uttered fierce grows. KeeDey
had never seen ca'amOunt, 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.
Clingng 10 the reins with his left hand.
he drew the whip from its socket, and dealt
the catamount bow with it on The head,
which Caused it to loosen bold on the robe
and drop iniO he snow. Ii instantly re-
newed the attack with increased fury, and
sprang upon the back of the sleigh. AL
though Vhe horse was running madly away
along the narrow and crooked road, throw
ing the sleigh from side to side aud threat
ening il constantly wi h destruction against
some rock or stump, Keeney was obliged TO
drop the reDs aud leave the result to chance,
for The catamount was fighting desperately
and furioIsy TO gain a foothold In the
sleigh and clrse with ils occupant.
Keeney says he knew that in case the
sleigh cOllided with any heavy obstacle he
would be no match for the catamount fight
ing on the slippery snow, even If he we're
thrown out and unharmed, and so be
strained every Lerve to it while he was still
at an advantage in the sleigh. Ouce he
thought it was all up with him, for as the
sleigh was carri. d abruptly around a turn
one runner struck stone, and the sleigh
tipped over and ran for several yards on the
other runner. KeeneY mechanically threw
the weight of body AGAINST the upper
side, while siil raining blows on The cata-
mount, aad forced the runner back on the
track.
few more blows after that and Keeney
was rel iced to see the tenacious brute first
loosen one claw, hang for an instant with
The other while 1t tried to seize the back of
he sleigh again with his teeth, and then
fall with loud yell into the snow and lie
there motonless. Keen-y dropped back in
his seat too weak to make any endeavor to
regain control of his horse. which as still
rushing wildly along the uncertain road,
now made more uncertain by the gathering
darkness. After running for three miles
the horse was compelled to come to stop
from exhaustion. Keeney had recovered
sufficiently to drive in the rest of the way.
Three large catamounts have beer killed re-
Gently near the sceneof Keeney's adventure.
These animals are considered dangerous an
tai sonisIs wheA wounded or cornered, but 1t
is only when they are rendered desperate BY
hunger that they will venture to attack