The Somerset reporter., 1889-04-25
KILLING 4 GAlAMUENT.
LUKE fAULkNER'S TERRIBLE BAT
TILE WITH A WILDCAT.

gray whiskers?
This is the question often asked of an
old, well known blacksmith in Berrien
county, now nearing on to n ripe old
age
Ii is nuke Faulkner. the man who had
such terrible encounter with cata-
mount some thirty years ago. don't
suppose you would find one-haf dozen
men in Bcrrien county that would have
had 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 rccollect that thirty or thirty
five years ago Berrien county WAS very
thinly settled and consequently wild
animals were more numerous than they
are nov. 1t is true there are now in
these days Of George Mes and Shade
Dorminy's occasionally catamount, but
they are not to he compared to the cata
mount of thirty years ago.
SHE THOUGHT 1T WAS THE DOG.
But to the subject in hand Luke bad
not long been married He lived on II
little clearing near the ten mile creek
famous for the number Of wild cats
catamounts. etc, that roamed its banks
and swamps in quest of fish or stray
litter of young pigs
The day on which this episode took
place was mill day with Luke, and as
the mill WAS solno distance OFF it was Il
pretty big DAYS trip, and if the mill hap
peled 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 left with Mrs. Faulkner
for the day as no danger was apprehend
ed during the day time, and Luke in
structed herthat if perchance he was gone
till after dark she should go down at
shutdown to ncighbor's house, IA 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 10
themselves. until the sun seemed to stand
still. But finally the shades of evening
began to lengthen, and many AN anxious
glance was east up the road to sec If Luke
was yet coming.
No Luke.
The fuel was prepared for the night.
the supper cooked, all preparations
were made for the night and Mrs. Faux
ner was sitting by slow fire knitting
and waiting Waiting for the one 81
both of two things. For the return o;
her husband or for the approach of TIN
time when she should go to the neigh
boris.
1t was now time she should start. Sho
would knit around once more. Pit-a-pa,
-pit-a-pat She hears the dog jump thu
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. n great big, ugl,
catamount walked in eyed things eau
liously for moment during which time
she was afraid to move and turned and
walked under the bed and lay down on
a pie os s,.ea eetio.
Can You imagine her feelings? Gently
easing up from her chair and out mt the
door she fairly flew to the neighbor's
house already mentioned. 1t was dis
tant only about half mile, and the dis
tance was made in quick time.
This man was the owner of slave,
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 GO
In 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 60 Frank would go with him #
he'd take the two dogs along. Yes,
they'd take them A large hand light
was procured and they started.
Nov, nlassa, if he jump on me you
smash 'um, and if he jump on you
smash 'um."
THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK.
All right. They walked on. The ne.
gro kept behind like cowardly puppy
They walked up to the yard fence and
began to make preparations for n des
perate encounter. The negro's heart beat
double tattoo all the while. Just as
the light was well replenished and d
vided so that each should have light in
case one got put out, and Luke reached in
lis pocket to ret his knife. biff! he felt
the weight of big dog right in his
breast and face which knocked him oveI
and put out his light. Oh horrors he
could hear the Negroes feet packing the
grit way off up the road. Gone lie had
thrown down his light and bctook him
self to flight Luke by himself? Ger
tainly by himself in the dark and big
catamount making desperate struggles
to lacerate his flesh with his sharp claws
which was, however, prevented by
thick new suit Of jeans which he had on
1t was 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 firm grasp that
the cat lay still with its talons bur
and his teeth he managed To get out and
open his knife, and with sweeping
cash cut its throat from ear to ear. and
the beast was made 10 rclinqush his
hold. Lukcs clothing WAS literally torn
in shreds, but he received no wound oi
u serious nature
When lio returned for his wife he
found the negro cuddled up in the cor
her having genuine dog ague. Luke
did not say much to him, for he knew
that w;s the very thing the negro would
do when they started. When asked why
lie did not stand his ground he replied
ivy. Mass Luke. my legs jes gin to
wiggle, and soon was back here won
derin' where Id dig yer grade"
Luke got to making pocket knives
after that, and to this day carries on,
that is Il sight to behold, il is SO large. !
don't blame him. do your Valdosta (Ga.
Times.
The Colored Brother Lionized in Germany.
Berlin is less cosmopolitan than almost
any other of the large cities of the world
1t is comparatively seldom that one secs
strange costumes and strange people, as
is daily the case in New York, Paris and
London. 1t is not II great while since
the street gamins would follow an Eng !
lishman or American, whose dress diff |
fered somewhat from the ordinary, and |
cry at the top of their voices, Eng |
landerr or "Yankce!' Although that
has changed somewhat in the course OF |
time, the novelty has not vet worn off |
A colored man clad in respectable gar
ments who appears in Berlin is almost
lionized. There is no race prejudice |
III VIC SoH''aiy' ne 10 tHe equdl Vi all
and people speak of the handsome
brunette" and the frauleins saddle
Pegasus in his honor.
have seen hundreds Of promenader4
stop before the Cafe EUR Opera and gaze
for minutes at the colored man who acts
as porter to the establishment. His |
presence draws numerous people to the
restaurant who would otherwise pass il |
by. The big fellow appreciates his posi-
ton now, has become proud. and shows
hio vs,bito t1otb IL, an, ;lao |