The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-10-26
THE WESTERN PUMA.
Something Concerning His Habits
and Enemies.
Ranchmen Disdain to Use the Rifle Upon
Him, But Lasso and strangle Him-A
Western Guides "Reminiscences.


"Most any cur dog, big or little, will
tree Il painter: then while he sits up
there on big limb watching the dogs
cavort around, you can sneak up and
Shoot him in the head. A lasso's the
cutest thing to snare painter with on
the run"
The speaker, my guide in the South
west, was one Of those men sometimes
met with in the bacllwoods or on the
frontier, so surfeited with wild life that
they see little remarkable in their ad-
ventures and take every thing in camp
life very much as a matter of course.
John possessed that truthfulness that
comes from Il disposition to look at all
things logically, and never knew him
to eSaggerate even when telling snake
stories. He was, and had been all his
days from boyhood, great hunter,
noted us the most successful and expe-
rienced for miles around. His wagon
loads of wild ducks, geese and turkeys
were famous, the game being all killed
by himself and his brother In his un-
educated way he was both naturalist
and sportsman and besides many hunt
ing tales and interesting geological
facts. he related to me his experience
with that great tawny cat, the puma or
panther, which is not unfrequently met
with in the great prairie district.
The panther in search of small game
will not unfrequently wander to some
distance from the thickets of mesquite
and black chaparral that in miniature
forests of often great extent serve him
for hiding places. Sometimes the we'll
mounted ranchman, while pasture rid
ing, spies the great cat thus out of his
element and, swinging his lasso, makes
straight for it. The panther at once
retreats for the brush, but it does not
take long for the speedy mustang to
overtake it. There is a serpentine
lengthening of the coils of rope and
the moose settles gracefully over the
panther's head, while on the instant
the mustang comes to a quick halt. and
the cat is brought up with a jerk that
tightens the rope on his windpipe and
jugular. A momentary struggle fol-
lows and the horseman wheels about
and gallops off, dragging and stran-
Cling the ill-fated feline. Only blow
back of the ear is further needed to
settle the panther, and the skin, minus
bullet holes, is worthy trophy of the
lasso. This seems rather an ignomini-
Gus death for such Il dangerous beast.
One would rather hear of him standing
at bay, avoiding the swift lasso and
proving himself game enough for pow
der and lead. The hunters of the South
American pampas are said to catch and
kill the panther with the lasso, or with
that more formidable weapon, the
bolas.
But it is well known by all hunters
of experience that the panther, in spite
of its size and strength, is coward.
With the wildcat and bear it has
learned that weaponed man is the sort
of animal to keep away from rather
than to spring upon. 1t has learned,
too. that barking dogs are closely
associated with man and it fears them
accordingly. and to that extent that a
small whitfet or terrier will easily tree
it and keep it there till the hunters ap-
proach within gunshot. Only on GER
tain occasions will a panther stand its
ground against dogs, and then though
the pack were legion and all fierce
bloodhounds. This is when it is hun
CRY and in possession Of some tempting
meal of which it is about to partake
My guide remembered an instance in
which three large hounds were killed,
several severely wounded and the rest
of the pack put to flight by panther
that had just killed calf. But even
at such time, at sight of man it will
general by make off, sometimes, ifpossi-
BILE taking its prey along. 1t seems as If
the animal cowardice is often brought
about by its disposition to keep out of
row If there is nothing to be gained
by getting into one. AS with all car
nivora, the panther has very keen
scent. Either its fondness for fresh
meat overmasters its cunning or it has
not learned to scent man specifically,
for it will walk right into the presence
OF men concealed If game is hanging
around. Once John and his brother,
having killed a lot OF geese and ducks,
had hung them on the limbs OF a
large wesatch, out of the reach of
''varmints," and had, unthinkingly
perhaps, spread their blankets for the
night directly beneath the suspended
game. In the morning, just at day
break, John wakcned up, feeling some
thing lying against his feet outside the
cover blankets. Ha.fasleep, he thought
1t might be his brother, and mechau-
icallyput out his elbow, only TO prod
that worthy in the ribs and to wake
him up also. Both men then suddenly
sat up together and beheld, lying right
at their feet and looking up longingly at
the string of tempting birds, an enor-
nous panther--at least John said it
seemed gigantic. Both gave u frightened
yell. and the panther frightened per-
haps more than they, y,sprang up. bounded
of into the brush and was gone. The
men caught up their rifles and pursued