The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-01-14
A Woman KiIls:a:Panther.

OLA4lON SA.J y oahuf1iJ y. nv f'SS
pie in Tennessee Valley have for weeks
been terrified by the depredations of a
wild beast, which made its nightly visits
from the adjoining mountains. In places
the valley is not over half mile wide,
with the mountaineering high on either
side, while the cottage between, by COM
parison, seems to be but speck. In
such place stands the. .house.of Marshall
Bleckley, the brother of Judge Logan
E. Bleckley.
About six weeks ago Mr.. Bleckley's
family we're alarmed by fierce cries from
the mountain side, the cries at times
softening into q plaintive moan, as of
some one in pain. The movement Of
feet among the leaves outside few
moments later, added terror to the sus-
pense, for while some.members Of the
family Thought the cries proceeded from
a wild animal, others thought the move
ments outside were those of man, who
might be prowling around from some
unworthy purpose. A few nights later,
however, as visitor stepped into the
door of the house, the soft cat-like fall
of an animal from the rooftc the ground,
proved that it WAS al enormous panther,
which had evidently sprung from its lair,
only to miss its prey.
The whole community was at once
aroused, and the next night found
dozen men, well armed, at the house of
Marshal Bleckley, to take means for the
determination of the beast They de-
ployed out, some on the roof, and others
at convenient places, along which it was
supposed that the animal might come.
Thus for weeks the watch has been kept
up, but without success, as the beast was
willy enough never to come within dan
ger. One night John Long, the most
celebrated hunter of Rabuu County,
caught sight of what he supposed to be
the panther and taking aim, fired, only
to kill one of Mr.. Bleckley's finest
calves. Meanwhile women became ter.
rorized, and parents would not let their
children go to school, lest they should be
attacked by the animal on the way.
On Saturday night last Mr.. George
Greenleaf, accompanied by his wife, was
returning home from Clayton. 1t was
about nine o'clock, and, as is the custom
of the country, they both walked up one
of the hills, while the mules and wagon
assembled, their little boy being the dri.
yer. Suddenly rustic was heard in
the bushes, and peering. out in the dark.
ness, could be seen what looked like two
balls OF fire. AS if by instinct, Green,
leaf opened his knife, and as tho beast
sprang at him he made lunge, only to
drive the knife into his wife's arm, she
having thrown herself upon him at the
sight of danger. He dropped the knife
nerveless, and fell under the second
spring of the panther, tho beast being
now maddened by the scent of blood.
Just as the animal was about to insert its
teeth into Mr.. Greenleaf, the wife, who
had picked up the knife and acting
under the inspiration of desperation,
took a clean cut at the beasts throat.
The panther gave one p'iful cry and
rolled over. The cry alarmed the hunt
ers at Bleckley's house, near by, and
almost instantly a number of them were
on the spot, only to find that a woman
had accomplished what they mad been
six weeks trying to do. They helped to
lift the dead animal into Greenleaf's
wagon, who carried it home, where be
skinned it, The hide he intends to use
as coverlet for his babies, in order, he
says, to impart to them their mothers
courage.