The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-23
THE LADY AND THE PANTHER.
A True Story of an Unpleasant
Night.
an the Queen

We were anxious to leave Bombay for
two very good reasons. First, on account
| of the great heat which had been intensely
uncomfortable this season while the rain
fall has been very deficient in quantity,
and secondly because of an almost un-
heard-of visitation, a regular plague of
mosquitoes. The pernici0us culex was of
| a much larger size than we have been ac-
cnstomed to, and their bite venomous in
the extreme; so that ! gladly accepted an
| invitation from our friends. the SIS to
| Witt them at picturesque spot situated
short distance from Khandala. This
arrangement suited us admirably, as we
as soon az l could get away to Matheran,
delightful hill resort. with fine. bracing
air, situated in the Ghauts, and which
| affords an agreeable relief during the hot
season to a large number of jaded Bombay
officials. On my arrival at Belle Vista,
| found that some other of SIS friends
had unexpectedly asked to be put up, and
were indeed occupying the spare room of
the bungalow. therefore insisted that no
change should be made in the family
arrangeme is on my account. At my
earnest solicitation / was allowed
to have my way, and take
up my quarters in cool, inviting tent
erected about thirty yards from the house,
! and which | found mine host was using as
| work of few minutes, and these were
quickly replaced by the necessary furniture
| of bed room. ! soon found everything
arranged to my mind, and congratulated
myself upon having secured the coolest and
most delightful sleeping apartment in the
place. The lookout from the door was cue
Of exceptional beauty. The moon shone
out clear and soft over the whole landscape
| before me.
| Having done great deal that day | was
| very tired, so | soon prepared for bed. My
little fox terrier Fidget, my only compan-
ion, took up her usual place at the foot of
my bed. crept under the mosquito cur
| taius and sank into sound sleep. In about
an hour was awakened by the growing
and barking of Fidget. | looked sleepllY
up, and thought saw an animal of some
kind standing at the foot of my bed.
reused myself little, clapped my hands
and made a noise. This made tne beast
hurry away. turned over, and was ouce
more fast asleep. was not, however per-
mitted to enjoy this very long; my faithful
little Fidget soon set up fiercer bark than
before. | started up and shouted,
and ! soon had the satisfaction of seeing
what now thought to be either wild cat
or pie-dog stink out through the chnk
| left in the tent. | must have been very
sleepy, as | never for a moment thought
that was in any danger, and again lay
dog was on the watch, and for the third
time / was awakened and startled by her
| loud barking. This time | became wide
awake directly, and by the light of the
moon I caught sight of big animal stand
| ing 10 the doorway of my tent l had no
| longer any doubt as to midnight visitor; it
| was a large panther. Its eyes were flash
ing fire, and it was flashing its long tail
| furiously to and fro, as if it really meant
| mischief. In a moment more it seemed on
| the point of making spring at me, and
could no longer doubt that it was bent
on making meal on my dog or myself
in no way, however, lost my presence Of
mind, as l commenced shouting with all
my might, which caused the beast to beat
| a retreat. He walked slowly toward e
| open door, by which he had entered, but
| only to walk around the outside of the tent
and enter by another opening, which
brought him somewhat nearer to the bed.
[ stretched out my hand and clutched at
my candles and matches and quickly struck a
| light. This, together with my shout. ng and
the dogs barking, startle the animal, and
| he again disappeared. | also took in my
travelling clock, thinking that if the worst
came to the worst | could at least give the
creature good blow.
looked at the time to see if it was near
day, and found to my horror that it was
| only quarter to 2. | felt my hair would
turn gray if l sat all nj ght shouting at a
| panther every five minutes; besides be
| seemed so unusually daring | was not GER
tain that he would stand such trifiing any
| longer, so felt courage was required, and
| l must either get help or do something to
pass the rest Of the night in safety; but the
worst was l had to come out of my
| protective curtains to do so, for tent is
such deadener of sound | knew no one
| could hear me from there. SO out jumped,
securing Fidget we'll under the curtains, and
| ran to the brightest door way, and screamed
| first for one and then the other at the top
of my voice. l put my hand to my mouth;
l called in every way | could think, but not
a soul heard me. The servants were too
far away, and the SIS, whose room
looked on my side, we're too fast asleep,
| with their windows shut. So | made up
my mind | could stay there no longer, as
any minute l felt the beast might
return. SO / made dash for my
dressing gown, slipped into my
slippers, tucke my dog undsr nv arm and
ran for my life. Unfortu lately could not
tell where the animal was, and the dark
| shrubbery, With trees overhead, looked just
the place for him to hide; but mad to take
my chanc IS, and [ felt | lsd mora in max
ing run than staying where l was. I
shall never forget that run. | ran as f
fifty bulls were behind me- leaving my
slippers on the path. and, tn milling up tie
steps, l ran into the veranda painting. l
rushed to the door, which was locked
from the re t Of the house, and,
knocking loudly, called out "Mr.
s., there is a panther in my tent" You
can imagine the commotio every one was
about in a few seconds; the gentlemen all
seized their guns, and ran out to see if there
was any chance Of a shot. and l was made
great fuss of; every one said what won
derful escape had had. Tney saw no more
of the panther, but the next morning we
heard that he made for the house of an
other friend some distance off, and there he
attempted to carry off a big English
bulldog, which he found asleep in
the inner veranda. Fortunately the
cries of the dog brought the servants
to the rescue, but not before its throat and
face had been frghtfully mauled. My
friends are all of the opinion that the mos
quito curtains saved my life. The beast
was evidently very hungry, and was at one
moment preparing to spring upon us, but
| he was puzzled at my surroundings, aud
probably took them for some kind OF trap.
But never for a moment lost my presence
of mind; this aud the watchtulnes7 Of my
little dog enabled me to beat a safe retreat,
and escape the jaws Of my midnight
visitor.
The Virtues of Hot Water.
From the NeU York Tribune.