The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-04-18
KILLING A CATAM0UNT.
LUKE FAuLkNER'S TERRIBLE BAT-
TILE WITH A WILDCAT.


-
The Brute Took Possession Of the House.
The Negro Man who Was Going to
"srnarsh I'm" but Didnt-Luke's subse-
duent Fondncss for Large Knives.
Who is that gentleman with the large
gray whiskers?
This Is the question often asked Of an
old. well known blacksmith In Berrieh
county. now nearing on to ripe old
age.
1t is Luke Faulkner. the man who had
such terrible encounter with a cata-
mount some thirty years ago, don't
suppose you would find one-half dozen
men in Berrien county that would have
had half the courage that this man did
possess at the time write of.
The facts and circumstances of the
case are about as follows.
You viii recollect that thirty or thirty
Ave years age Befrien county was very
thinly settled, and consequently wild
animals were more numerous than they
are now It is true there are now in
these days of George Mes and Shade
Dorminy's occasionally a catamount, but
they are not to be compared to the cata-
mount Of thirty years ago.
SHE THOUGHT 1T WAS THE DOG.
But to the subject in hand Luke had
not long been married He lived on a
little clearing near the ten mile creek
famous for the number of wild cats,
catamounts, ETC.. that roamed its banks
and swamps in quest of fish or stray
litter of young pigs
The day on which this episode took
place was mill day with Luke, and as
the mill was some distance off 1t was a
pretty big day s trip, and if the mill hap
pened to be crowded it took till in the
night to accomplish the trip. And it SO
happened that the mill was crowded.
No one was lett with Mrs. Faulkner
for the day as no danger was apprehend
ed during the day time. and Luke in
structed her that if perchance he was gone
till after dark she should go down at
sundown to neighbors house, little
way distant on the road to the mill. so
that she should be ready when her hus-
band came back from the mill.
The day wore heavily away, as it does
to all young wives when first left to
themselves, until the sun seemed to stand
still. But finally the shades of evening
began to lengthen, and many an anxious
glance was cast up the road to see if Luke
was yet coming.
No Luke!
The fuel was prepared for the night,
the supper cooked, all preparations
were made for the night and Mrs. Faulk-
ner was sitting by slow fire knitting
and waiting Waiting for the one or
both of two things For the return of
| her husband or for the approach Of the
| time when she should go TO the neigh
boris.
1t was now time she should start. She
would knit around once more. Pit-a-pat
-pit-a-pat She hears the dog jump the
fence and come walking in the piazza,
and she turns to look, expecting to see
her husband driving up the lane.
What was her fear and surprise when
instead of the dog, great big, ugly
catamount walked in eyed things csu-
tiously for moment during which time
she was afraid to move) and turned and
walked under the bed and lay down on
a pile of seed cotton.
Can you imagine her feelings? Gently
easing up from her chair and out at the
door she fairly flew to the neighbor's
| ali Ix, T. he
tant only about half a mile. and the dis
tance was made in quick time.
This man was the owner of a slave,
a large, heavy fellow, whom she thought
she would get to 60 and run the cat off
But mo, sahi Me to 'fraid of dat war.
mint. Can't CO."
In an hour or so Luke returned from
the mill. stopped and called for his wife,
according to previous arrangement, and
was told the story Of the cat.
He'd go Frank would go with him II
he'd take the two dogs along. Yes
they'd take them. A large hand light
was procured and they started.
"Now, massa, if he jump on me you
smash um, and if he jump on you
smash 'um."
THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK.
All right. They walked on The ne
gro kept behind like a cowardly puppy
They walked up to the yard fence and
began to make preparations for des
perate encounter. The negro's heart beat
a double tattoo all the while. Just as
the light was well replenished and di
vided SO that each should have light il
case one got put out, and Luke reached il
his pocket to get his knife. biff! he fell
the weight of big dog right in hi.
breast and face which knocked him ovel
and put out his light. oh horrors! III
could hear the negro's feet packing the
grit way off up the road. Gone! He hat
thrown down his light and betook him
self to fight. Luke by himself? Ger
tainly by himself in the dark and bis
catamount making desperate struggle
to lacerate his flesh with his sharp claws
which was. however, prevented by ;
thick new suit of jeans which he had on
II was a tight hand to hand fight. hare
telling which would gain the ascend
ancy and win the night, as it were
Finally Luke placed his left hand on hi
throat and held such firm grasp tina
the cat lay still with its talons bur
led in his clothing. With his right hant
and his teeth he managed to get out ane
open his knife, and with a sweepin,
cash cut its throat from ear to ear, ant
the beast was made to relinquish hi
hold. Lukes clothing was literally tori
in shreds, but he received no wound o
q serious nature.
When he returned for his wife HI
found the negro cuddled up in the cor
ner having genuine dog ague. Lux
did not say much to him, for he knew
that was the very thing the negro woul'
do when they started When asked VIII.
he did not stand his ground he replied
"W'y, Mass Luke. my legs jes gin t
wiggle. and | soon was back here won
derin' where I'd dig yer grabe"
, Luke got to making pocket knive
after that, and to this day carries on