The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-12-28
AN HEROIC MOTHER.
Row Sho BravoIy Saved Hor Chlld from
tho Jaws of Panther.

hoW oho bravoly Sayod Hor Chitd from
tho Jaws of n Panther.
Mrs. Frances Darlyng. OF Fora Pierre.
Fla, is native OF Kansas. but her ex-
ploits here with tho gun and rod have
proved that she is we'll fitted for frontier
life. Sho is great Gsherwoman. and
equally proficient with the gun. A few
weeks ago she killed big panther
here, under most exciting oiroum-
stances. Near their house flows Q
small crock, and near 1t is fixed the
wash house: Rig trees surround and
hang over 1t, making it cool and de-
lightful in the hottest day. On this
da7 Mrs. Darlyng's servant girl was do.
ing tho weeks washing there and with
her was Mrs. Darlyng's youngest 6augh-
ter, a baby of two years.
The mother was at the house doing
some work, when all at onee she hoard
O terrible scream from the oolored girl,
followed by shrill cries from her baby
Snatching up Winchester that hung
up beside the door, tho alarmed mother
darted toward the crock. As sho reaohed
1T she hoard loud cry or unearthly
yell, that she recognized too we'll Is tho
tones OF an enraged panther.
Tho sceno that she beheld as she
emerged upon the creeks bank will
never be effacod from her memory.
Seated under a long, low, branching
limb OF water oak was her ohild,
looking up into the tree and crying
piteously. Tho servant girl was lying
down near by, her head buried
in her apron, almost dead with
fright. The mothor's quick ego glanced
up in tho tree, and there encountered
the fierce eyes and snarling face of a
huge panther, that crouched low on i is
belly on the limb cycling the child be-
low, ever and anon licking its chops at
the prospective feast before 1T
Tho mothers nerves grew as stool, at
the peril of her beloved child, and she
raised the gun TO her shoulder, and with
steady aim pulled the trigger. a hor-
ribo scream followed the shot, and a
long yellow body shot swiftly down
ward. The huge beast had lcaped tho
moment she had fired, but tho rifle ball
had changed its course, so that it
alishtcd several feet from tho child.
1t landed on the ground, rolled over
several times and then rose up and
| faced tho undauntcd woman, its yellow
fangs showing as it snarled and yollcd
with rage and pain.
Slowly advancing toward the heroic
mother, the big cat snarlcd necessarily
and its tail switched from side to side,
it's rage increasing all the while. When
within 4 dozen feet it gathered itself
together and sprang upon the woman.
She pulled the trigger, but the cartridge
failed to explode. Stunned for mo-
ment at this mischance, tho brave
woman mover for an instant lost her
wits Springing forward she graspcd
tn big dippor used for drinking water.
and standing beside tho big kettle TINT
was filled with boiling water. she ladled
1T out freely and dashed il in tho face of
her ferocious assailant. This weakened
tho cat. and it fell back. rolling over
and over in its agony, as tho water was
scalding hot
Mrs. Darlying continued to dash o.
the OF water and finally the panther,
with a baflied cry OF pain and rage
hastily scrambled up q low sreo mar
by. Then woman's pluck showed its III.
Reaching for her rifle, she examined
tho cartridges carefully. and taking
good aim at the yellow. furry body amid
the leaves above her, fired throe shots
as rapidly as possible. The panther
tumbled down in hurry, and with one
long waul gave up tho ghost
Drs. Darlyng olaspod hor child to her
bosom, and ran swiftly to tho house,
where she fell in faint on the door
stop. Her husband, an hour later. On
his return from the post-office, found
hor just sitting up, the baby patting her
mothers checks and saying: me NAM
ma dood-she 1T big kitty" The
panther was skinned, and its pelt now
adorns Mrs. Darlyng's cosy little sit
ting-room as a reminder Of the bravery
that saved her child's lifo-St Louis
Globe Democrat