Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-07-06
KILLING A CATAMOUNT.
LUKE FAULkNER'S TERRIBLE BAT
TILE WITH A WILDCAT.

""tHh m nut Didnt- Luke's Subse-
puent ondncss for Large Knives.
Who IS That gent.aman with the large
gray "tiaA.is'
Aus is the question often asked Of an
on w",! known blacksmith in Berrien
county, now nearing on to a ripe old
age.
1t is Luke Faulkner, the man who had
such a terrible with a cata-
mount some thirty years ago. don't
suppose you would find one-half dozen
men in Berrien county that would have
a 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 will recollect that thirty or thirty
five years ago Berrien county was very
thiniy settled, and consequently wild
animals were more numerous thar they
are now. 1t is true there are now in
these days OF George Mes and Shade
Dorminy's occasionally q catamount. but
they are not to be compared to the cata-
mount of thirty years ago.
SHE THOUGHT II WAS THE DOC.
But TO the subject In hand. Luke had
not long been married. He lived on a
little clearing neal the ten mile creek
famous for the number Of wild cats,
catamounts, ETC.. that roamed its banks
and swamps In quest Of fish or a 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 it was a
pretty big days 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 herthat if perchance he vas gone
till after dark she should go down at
shutdown TO a neighbours house, a 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 Lukei
The fuel was prepared for the night,
the supper cooked, all preparations
were made for the night and Mrs. Faux
ner was sitting by a 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
bor's.
1t was now time she shodld 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, a great big, ugly
catamount walked in. eyed things eau
tiously for a 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 neighbours
house already mentioned. 1t was dis
tant only about half a mile, and the dis
lance was made in quick time.
This man was the owner of a slave,
a large, heavy fellow, whom she thought
she would get to go and run the cat off.
But mo, sab! Me to 'fraid of dat war
mint. Can't CO."
La 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 If
he'd take the two dogs along. Yes,
they'd take them. A large hand light
was procured and they started.
Now, nassa, if he jump on me you
smash 'um, and if he jump on you
smash 'um."
HI STRUGGLE IN II 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 a des-
perate encounter. The negro's heart beat
a double tattoo oil the while. Just as
the light was well replenished and di-
vided SO that each should have a light in
case one got put out, and Luke reached in
his pocket to get his knife, biffl he felt
the weight Of a big dog right in his
breast and face which knocked him over
and put out his light. Oh horrors! he
could hear the negro's feet packing the
grit way off up the road. Gone! He had
thrown down his light and betook him
self to flight. Luke by himself Ger
tainly by himself in the dark and a big
catamount making desperate struggles
to lacerate his flesh with his sharp claws,
which was, however, prevented by q
thick new suit Of jeans which he had on.
1t was a tight hand TO hand fight. hard
telling which would gain the ascend
ancy and win the night, as it were.
Finally Luke placed his left hand on his
throat and held such a firm grasp that
the cat lay still with its talons bur-
led In his clothing. With his right hand
and his teeth he managed to get out and
open his knife, and with a sweeping
cash cut its throat from ear to ear, and
the beast was made to relinquish his
hold. Luke's clothing was literally torn
in shreds. but he received no wound Of
a serious nature.
When he returned for his wife he