Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-12-05
AN ADVENTURE.
Tom Deane's Agonizing Experience
with Two Panthers.


: riety of names than-let US give an in
complete list of his names - cougar,
puma, American lion, American tiger
and panther, often corrupted into
:'painter," Indian devil, catamount.
The panther. that is his best name,
has very extensive range, being found
from Northern New England all the way
through both American continents. He
is an active climber. His cry is pc
culiar, and has often been taken for
the scream of a woman. There are we'll
authenticated instances of persons in
dense forests who have hurried, as they
supposed, to the rescue of woman in
distress, and have not discovered their
fearful mistake until the fierce animal
was upon them.
Ordinarily the panther is coward1y
beast. 1t sneaks up behind it's victim,
after the manner of the lion of South
Africa, and though it often retreats
rather than engage with an enemy, it is
a dangerous foe when wounded, and oc-
casionally displays remarkable courage.
There are parts of Pennsylvania which
are almost as wild to-day as they were a
century ago, when the shout of the red
Indian awoke the forest echoes, and no
settler had trOd the unbrolzen solitudes
There are even now in one county,
ticks" to which deer still come, in spite
of the closing in upon them of the stead
lily advancing hosts of civilization.
Mr.. Wilson Deane is well-to-do
farmer in the wild region of which
speak. He has a son, Thomas, now
eighteen years old, bright, wide
awake, good-natured youth, who still
goes to the dis riot school in the winter
and assists his father during the rest of
the year. He is strong, active boy,
and one of the most skillful rifle shots
in that country where good marksmen
are plenty.
Toms grandfather came from Massa-
chusetts, but his father was born
where he now lives, and both of them
have thrilling stories to tell of their ad-
ventures with wild animals.
Like most boys, Tom is fond of hunt
ing, and when the farm work goes well
he expects days cunning once every
month or two.
Through corn harvest and potato dig
ging" last season Tom Deane's labor
had been cheered by the promise of one
or two days to go deer hunting about
the 1st of October. But heavy rain
delayed the work somewhat, and so it
happened that he did not get time for
his outing until the middle of the
month. Then he set off one morning
with his rifle, of the old jointed- breech
pattern, on his shoulder. and with the
light spirits which the prospect of a
season of recreation after hard work
usually brings. But Tom was destined
to have a memorable experience that
day.
His father gave him parting warn
ing: Look out for yourself, Tom" then
he added, little anXiously: Don't get
lost in the woods, and try and be back
before shutdown. l don't like to milk
alone"
His mother, who was more anxious, as
mothers always are, said: do be care
full, Tom, with your gun, and don't go
too far into the woods
Tom smiled; he was used to this
sort of caution. That was what his
mother always said to him 1t seemed
rather womanish talk. But he loved
her none the less for it
The lick" which Tom intended to
visit first was about three miles distant
through a wild section of woodland. He
reached the spot he had selected, and
although the time of day was not par
ticnlarly favorable for the appearance
of deer, he concealed himself behind
some large rocks to wait for game to
come.
He had hardly settled himself in his
position when his ear caught the sound
ID peculiar whirring noise, which he
recognized instantly, and promptly
made the greatest leap of his life.
Turning about he saw a large rattle
snake in coil, his head erect, and the
peculiar vibrant apparatus at the end
OF his tail continuously in motion, Civ
ing forth that warning sound. which,
once heard, is forever remembered.
Tom could have shot off its head with
put difficulty, but he was afraid of
alarming the deer which he hoped were
in the neighborhood. He, therefore,
hastily opened a bombardment of the
enemy with stones, and speedily dis
abled it.
''Where you find one of them you're
2pt 10 find its mate, muttered the young
hunter to himself, and proceeded to
select another hiding-place, very nearly
On the opposite side of the lick"
An hour more passed with no signs of
game. Then, getting tired of his en-
forced inaction, Tom decided to 60 to