The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1889-11-06
THE WESTERN PUMA,
concerning His Habits
and Enemies.
Ear
-chmen Disdain to Use the Rifle Upon
0am, But Lasso and Strangle Him-A
Western Guides "Reminiscences,


"Most any cur dog, big or little, wi
tree q painter: then while he sits II
there on big limb, watching the dog
oavort around, you can sneak I'D an
sloot him in the head. A lassos tn
fcutest thing to snare painter with O
the run"
The speaker, my guide in the Sout!
west, was one of those men sometime
met with in the backwoods or on tn
frontier, so surfeited with wild life tina
they see little remarkable in their ad
ventures and take every thing in cam
life very much as q matter of course
John possessed that truthfulness tina
comes from Il disposition to look at al
things logically, and | never knew hin
to exaggerate, even when telling snake
stories. He was, and had been all his
days from boyhood, a great hunter
noted as 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 I'M
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
E1th in the great prairie district.
The panther in search of small game
will not unfrequently wander to some
distance from the thickets of mesquite
land black chaparral that in miniature
forests OF often great extent serve him
Tor 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 serpentine
frightening of the coils of rope and
the moose settles gracefully over the
panthers head, while on the instant
the mustang comes TO a quick halt and
the cat Is brought up with a jerk that
tlshtens the rope on his windpipe and
!ugular. A momentary struggle fol-
lows and the horseman wheels about
and gallops off, dragging and stran-
Cling the Inflated feline. Only a blow
back OF the ear is further needed to
settle the panther, and the skin, minus
puliet holes, is worthy trophy of the
Aasso. This seems rather an ignomini-
GUS death for such u 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
ibolas.
But it is well known by all hunters
oil 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,
LOO, that barking dogs are closely
associated with man and it fears them
accordingly, and to that extent that a
small whiffet or terrier will easily tree
IL and keep it there till the hunters an
proach within gunshot. Only on GER
tam occasions will panther stand its
ground against dogs, and then though
sne pack were legion and all fierce
oiooahounds. This is when it is hum
CRY and in possession of some tenntino
meal OF which it is about to nartake
MY guide remembered an Instance ~
which three large hounds were killed
several severely wounded and the rest
OF the pack put to flight by panther
mat had Just killed a calf. But even
at such time, at sight of a man it will
general by make off, sometimes, if posi-.
Ole taking its prey along. 1t seems asif
The animal cowariice is often brourht
about by its disposition to keep out of
row If there is nothing to be gained
" getting into one. As with all car
niVora, the panther has very keen
'cent. Either its fondness for fresh
meat overmasters its cunning or it has
aot learned to scent man specifically,
Or 1t will walk right into the presence
0men concealed if game is hanging
seound. Once John and his brother,
saavlng killed a lot of geese and ducks,
aaa hung them on the limbs of a
.arge wesatch. out of the reach of
Sarmints," and had, unthinkinglv
s,s'naps, spread their blankets for the
aa directly beneath the suspended
Ssa.l. IN the morning, just at day
AA' John Weakened up, feeling some I