Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-05-16
KILLING A CkTAMOUNT.
LUKE FAULKNER's TERRIBLE BAT
TIE WITH A WILDCAT.

Tie NeSro Wan. VINO Was Going 70
''sular-h 'Um'' bot Didn't-Lnke's subse-
qasn, Fnpdns-. for Large Knives.
Who is that gentleman with the large
gray whiskers?
This is the question often asked Of an
old, well known blacksmith in Berrien
county. now nearing ON to ripe old
age. sN3 tfsftttS
tits Luke Faulkner, the man,who had
such terrible encounter with cata-
mount some thirty years ago. don't
suppose you would find one-half dozen
men in ]errien county that would have
had half the courage that this man did
possess t; the time | write of.
The rarts and circumstances Of the
case Grr i1oG. aj follows:
You viii rccoiirct that thirty or thirty
five years agu l}crrien county was very
thinly sstkSl and consequently wild
aninni, wrt,' rlure numerous than they
are nov. Il il true there are now in
these 4 =, -. George Mes and Shade
Dorln.Iy's occasionally catamount, but
they n"n r. IL 10 compared to the cata-
mount ol lhirty years ago.
80: THuCG::T 1T WAS THE DOG.
But The subject in hand. Luke had
not hong beylI married. He. lived on
little CLEARING near the ten mile creek
famous for the number of wild cats,
catamouEts. etc, that roamed its banks
and swanps in quest of fish or a stray
litter OF young pigs. s+
The day on which this episode took
place was mill day with Luke, and as
the mill was some distance off it was a
pretty big days trip, and if the mill hap
pened 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 her that if perchance he was gone
till after dark she should go down at
sundown to a neighbor's house, 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
| W JOuIlk "INCp NhClt hAot tCAU W
themselves, until the sun seemed to stand
still But finally the shades of evening
began to lengthen, and many an anxious
glance was cast up the road to see if Luke
was yet coming. .e o at ff,t
No Luke!
The fuel was prepared for the night,
the supper cooked, all preparations
were made for the night and Mrs. Faulk-
} ner was sitting by slow fire knitting
and waiting. Waiting for the one or
both of two things. For the return of
her husband or for the approach Of the
time when she should, go to the neigh
boris.
1t was now time she should start She
would knit around once more Pit-a-pat
| -pit-a-pat She hears the dog jump the
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 wher
!, instead of the dog, great big, ugly
: catamount walked in, eyed things eau
3 tiously for moment during which time
she was afraid to move) and turned ant
, walked under the bed and lay down or
! a pile of seed cotton.
Can you imagine her feelings? Gently
easing up from her chair and out at the
, door she fairly few to the neighbor'.
= house already mentioned 1t was dis
tant only about half mile, and the dis
= tance was made in quick time
1 This man was the owner of slave
large, heavy fellow, whom she though
4 she would get to so and run the cat off
+ But mo, sab! Me to 'fraid of dat war
mint Can't CO."
= In an hour or so Luke returned from
the mill, stopped and called for his wife
n according to previous arrangement, ant
was told the story of the cat.
r He'd go. Frank would go with him i
he'd take the two dogs along. Yes
T. they'd take them. A large hand ligh
> was procured and they started.
- = "Now, massa, if he jump on ME yo1
It smash 'um. and if he jump on you
smash 'um."
THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK.
All right. They walked on. The ne
n gro kept behind like cowardly puppy
is They walked up to the yard fence an
IS began to make preparations for des
a perate encounter The negros heart bea
o double tattoo all the while. Just a
t the light was well replenished and di
= vided 40 that each should have light i
. case one got put out, and Luke reached i
his pocket to get his knife, biffl he fel
10 the weight of big dog right in hi
breast and face which knocked him owe
+ and put out his light. Oh horrors! h
o could hear the negro's feet packing tn
n grit way off up the road. Gone! He ha
:. thrown down his light and betook him
= - self to fight. Luke by himself? Ce1
tainly by himself in the dark and bi
,s catamount making desperate struggle
= to lacerate his flesh with his sharp claws
] which was, however, prevented by
!. thick new suit of jeans which he had or
n 1t was tight hand to hand fight, har
y telling which would gain the ascend
: ancy and win the night, as it were
, Finally Luke placed his left hand on hi
!, throat and held such firm grasp tha
at the cat lay still with its talons bul
led in his clothing, With his right han
s. and his teeth lie managed to get out an
open his, knife, and with sweepin
y cash cut its throat from ear to ear, an
3. the beast was made to relinquish hi
hold. Luke's clothing was literally tor
In shreds,- but he received no wound {