Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-12-13
PANTHER STORIES.
Adventures of Early-Day Settlers
in Missouri.
A Plucky Little DO.-A Little Girl
Watches u Pamth in Tree
While Her Sister Gives
Warning At Home.

lido not believe there are now any,
or but very few. panthers in Missouri
p rhaps in The deep forests of South.
eastern Missouri. or amid the fast
nesses of the Or ,rk range. there are
in all d N. but we do not hear Of
even that many. Fifty years ago they
were very numerous They were de-
s,ructive, too, and sometimes made
serious ravtges upon the hogs and
young cattle IF the settlers. For some
reason they did not often trouble the
sheep; perhaps the flavor Of mutton
was not to their liking. They pre-.
ferred pi.s. and have been known 10
brave al sorts of peril to get one.
Their srreng h and agility served
them as well as their daring. An old
settler tells me he saw panthcr-a
"paintcr" he called it ne day tro
ting along through corn-fie.d. with
15O-pound hog thrown over his
shoulder, as nimbly as cat nigh
run away with rat.
Panthers very rarely attacked
human being. They often ran from
an unarmed man. The worst pecu-
liarity about them was their fierce
screams. Many a zion eer. brave as
Cesar. as h. Sat by his firesiie in his
lonely cabin in the forest. has felt his
blood chill and his heart stand still as
the piercing scream Of prowling
panther was borne to his ears OH the
wings of the night wind The cry of
panther is pecuiiar-,omelh hing like
that OF woman in distress and
agony. but much more penetra ing
and harr, wing. Ii can be heard dis
tinctly mile or more. My old pic
neer friend SAYS:
N ihin' ever SIX cred me like the
yell OF a painter 1t male the cold
s.rraks shoot OVER me. never could
get used 10 i, fen a II ard it, and
somehow i. always Made me think of
Ijans."
1 he NJ ssouri river bottoms in Saline
COUNTY were favoriie haunis OF these
amin ais in early DAYS L, the Ell
ag,. a panther killed and carried
away six large hogs in one day. H
concealed thea in II large cavity in he
grouid formed b. the uproo ing of a
tree In hurricane, covering them with
leaves. H. dispatched his victims
within 8" short time that all of
tn" carcasses we're warm when the
pl. was discovered. This was hug
dog panth'r. sav:gr rs any tiger in
the jungles of b n-a. The settler,
organlz d a pursuit and chased the
animal across the Missouri river into
Charlton County. II swan the river
with ali ease. and very swiftly. As
il reached the northern bank il shook
its"lf
As q dog that shakes his ears
When he leaps fro IN the water to the land,
anu tern .uud cry. a, IF lrIu ph
over The b"tli / hunters on the other
shore. he spran- up he bank and dis
appeared III the heavy bottom TIM
bers.
In the year 1925 PANTHER was
lied in the DAVIS bottom. north #
Where the Gown IF Malta Bend now
stands. Fur men e Gorge Davis, his
son. q 'rnan in NJ: Davis employ.
AMI h'rei negro man 6elo ging to
James NJ X yiolis. were at work n =
clearing. For some da, previously 4
large panther had made its appear
ance in the boriers of the c caring.
ou after gazing upon the men for a few
minutes. II mad uttered Il few sore .ches
and gone away. o. thl- particular
day The men ha taken their guns with
them and had C ,r.d the services of
half a d z n dog. ole If which was
an INSIGNIFICANT fussy little flee. not
Digger than iOucat. b t rs brave
As gamec'ck. The men were EATING
their d aners. with huge tree trunk
Tor table. when the panther appear
ed. The guns hal been left on the
other side Of the clearin quarter If
mile away. The dogs were with
their masters but upon the first APP
pearance OF The panther skunk away
and cringed at the feet of the men as
If for protection. The little fee. how.
ever did not quail H. tire around
and barked aad growIed at the in
truder as il he meant o eat him M
The panther came boldly forward. and
a. last sprang upon the log here the
men were sitting H,uitered scream
as if demanding his. share Of the din.
neE.
Upon the appearance Of the beast
upon the log the negro and the Ger.