Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-05-06
rHEHUNrnGLEoPAR


hesd IN ne Sa.xis ~
think II was here writes . corre-
spondent 10 Our indian Stations, that ]
witnessed the only instance ever saw
Of the black buck being run into and
killed by the cheetah. or hunting
leopard. Many consider this low
kind of sport, but | think 1t Is equal to
Q partridge shooting. besides being .
beautiful sight. shall therefore de-
scribe as well as can what ] saw. On
arriving with my friends at the place Of
meeting In the jungle we found . few
rough-and-ready-looking natives in
charge Of three carts, or rather small
two-wheeled platforms. drawn by bull
locks. On each vehicle sat, in an erect
attitude, q beautiful leopard, strongly
chained and with hood over his eyes,
similar to those used for hawks. We
were soon under way and driving TO-
ward the herd Of antelopes which could
be seen grazing in the distance and
which had been marked down before
hand. There was no difficulty in getting
the carts TO within 100 yards Of the deer.
Then one Of the cheetahs, fine male,
was unhooded and set free. Its depar-
ture from the gbarry and its decision in
choosing the most covered line in the
open plain for rushing on its prey were
so instantaneous and rapid as to be quite
marvellous. 1t seemed to vanish from
the cart and appear simultaneously half
way toward the fine black buck Il had
singled out for attack. When at about
thirty yards from the unsuspicious troop
they suddenly became aware of the
deadly peril they were in. One and all
sprang into the air with galvanic
bounds, and no doubt expected to es-
cape easily by flight But the hunting
cheetah is. / suppose, for hundred
yards, by far the fleetest Of all wingless
things; and this one was soon in the
midst Of the affrighted throng, which
scattered wildly and panic-stricken in
all directions, as their leader--a fine
black buck-was struck down in their
midst. There he lay, alone, in his death
agony, in the deadly clutch of his beau
tiful and relentless foe. We ran as hard
as we could and were soon surrounding
the strange group.
Neither animal moved, for the buck
was paralyzed by fear-his starting eye
balls and dilatcd nostrils alone gave
evidence of life. The chectah, on the
other hand. with his body spread out
over the PROSTATE form Of his victim,
seemed to strain every nerve in pressing
his prey against the earth as. with his
long, sharp fangs buried in its delicate
throat, he continued the process OF
strangulation. He was very motionless,
but his eyes were fixed upon us with
glare Of extraordinary ferocity that be-
came intensified as his keepers rushed
forward and Seized the deer by the hind
leg The brute now growled fiercely,
and, tightening his clutch, looked 50 ex-
tremely dangerous that / was far from
envying those who were in such close
proximity to him. But they know their
trade. With a long, sharp knife they
cut the deer's throat and caused the
warm blood to spout in torrents into the
face Of the half-wild beast, whose whole
frame now seemed to thrill with ecstasy.
One of the operators, in the meanwhile,
caught quantity Of the crimson life
stream in a wooden bowl, and forced
the steaming fluid rasnder the very nose
Of the excited leopard, who. quitting his
hold, at once began to lap with avidity.
While engaged in this process the leather
hood was swiftly clapped over his eyes,
and the collar, with two chains attach
ed, was adjusted round his neck. While
this was going on a third man had cut
off one OF the bucks hind legs. and this,
the "lion's share, was held close to the
bloody chalice, which was no sooner
emptied than the brute seized the meat
thus provided with vice-like grip.
Each chain was now grasped BY
different man. who. BY keeping apart SO
that the tether remained taut, kept
the leopard between them in such q way
that neither was within reach Of his
claws or teeth. Then the third individual,
who had ever retained his hold Of the
shank-bone of the leg of venison, gently
drew the cheetah TO the little cart that
had now been brought close up. AZ
soon as the beast felt himself against
the edge Of his own familiar chariot he
sprang lightly upon it and proceeded to
demolish his succnlent moroccan at his
ease. now inspected the carcass Of
the deer, with view to ascertaining, If
possible, how the chectah had been able
SO instantaneously to strike down such
a powerful animal Immediately on get
ting up with it. at once observed q
single long, deep cash in the flank,
which was evidently caused by the de-
cisive blow. But could not imagine
with what weapon the leopard had been
able to infiict this very strengthening.
wound, for the cheetah has foot like q
dog and his claws are not rctractile.
Turning then to the beast as it sat on
the cart / inspected it closely and saw
that the dew-claw. which in the dog ap-s
pears such a useless appendage. is repre-
sented in this brute by a terrible-looking
talon exactly suited to the infection Of
such cash.
8&e8 ----aps-s <n---------------