Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1889-01-18
miscellaneous.
A Corner on Catamounts.

Rev. Shamrock Henderson, Camp
belitc preacher Of Mcdowell county,
who has Travelled these mountains for
almost half century, says Cole Creek,
CIV. Va.) letter to the Pittsburg Post,
and who has in times past had advcn-
lures and escapes enough to satisfy any
reasonable mortal was crossing Cole
Creek in its widest part, close up to
Micajah mountain, when he saw two
catamount kittens playfully tumbling
on the creek bank
The reverend gentleman concluded to
capture the pretty bobtalcd innocent
looking punches Of GuIf and fur alive,
and take them home as curiosities lie
dismounted, and stepping as lightly as
possible gave chase. One of the little
fellows slipped into II hollow log while
the other made break for the woods.
The one which struck fof the woods was
easily overtaken and captured, after
having pretty severely scratched tho
hands Of the reverend zoologist. Tho
one in the log stuck like locch to its
sides. and it was not until after an hour
or more of hard work the preacher sue
ceeded in pulling him out with forked
stick, when no, too. was carried back to
the horse and consigned to one side of
the saddle bags whose contents consist
ed Of hymn book and Bible.
Mr.. Henderson finding that time had
flown on swift wings while he had been
after his kittens, started his horse for
the house Of the nearest neighbor, dis
lance of six miles or more Before he
had ridden half the distance the sun had
disappeared behind the mountain. The
reverend gentleman was riding slowly
along through the deepening gloom Of
the forest in thoughtful, half sleeping
mood when shrill screech behind him
and up the mountain side reminded him
that it was growing dark and there was
rapidly approaching prospect of fight
if not pair of them--with the parents
of the kidnapped contents of the saddle
bags.
DR.. Henderson can make long prayer
and is not averse to good square fight
when he cannot get out Of it. He real
lied that this was one of the occasions
when prayer had to take back scat
and muscle and grit must hustle for the
supremacy. Dismounting, he secured
u heavy hickory club before the cats
arrived, but not moment too soon.
Both the old cats appeared at the same
time in the road ahead Of tho preacher
They had undoubtedly scented the kit
tens and made directly for their captor.
One of the catamounts. an unusually
large and ferocious male, made spring
for the dominie's throat, but received a
whack with the hickory which laid him
on his back. Before Henderson could
recover his guard the female caught
him by the shoulder as it leaped and
raked him, tearing section of his coat
and about six inches of skin and flesh
into ribbons.
Fortunately the cat missed her cacu-
lation. as the preacher swung about with
the weight Of the blow on her partner,
or it would have gone worse with him.
AS it was the wound was terribly pain
full aud made the dominic come as near
saying unorthodox things us he over did
in bis life. BY this time the male had
got on his feet pgain, and both cats pre-
pared TO spring at once. Henderson,
seeing that the affair was getting serious
backed up against tree and awaited
their onslaught. He didn't have to wait
long, as the male, snarling with rage,
made leap at his throat, while the fe-
male crept to one side as if TO flank him