Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-09
HUNTING A PANTHER.
Two Philadelphians Have a Lively
Experience in TiOga County.
THEIR FAITHFUL DOG KILLED,
And They Afterward Spend a Night In
Seeking Their Revenge.
A BEAR GATHERED IN INCIDENTALLY

Messrs. Clinton and Farney, of Philadel-
phia, had an adventure in the early part Of
last month that they are not likely to for
get, according to the Philadelphia Times.
1t happened on the upper waters OF Pine
creek, Tioga county. They had been ex-
amining tract of land for coal indications,
and were in the woods for three days. On
the third night of their tramping they had
expected to reach the cabin of hunter
named Simpson, on Buck Mountain, but il
! began to grow dark and they had to camp
out. They found an old "lean-to" built by
the lumbermen, and here they resolved to
stay till morning.
The only provisions they had with them
were hard bread and fitch, which they
cooked over the Goals in army style. After
supper the fire was replenished, bed Of
hemlock boughs made, and, tired out by
their days tramp, they lay down to rest, re-
lying on the dog to give them warning Of
danger in the night. The dog was splen-
did animal belonging to Mr.. Farney. a
cross between a foxhound and Newfound-
land, perfectly fearless and accustomed to
mountain game.
THEIR GUARDIAN SLAIN.
About 1 o'clock in the morning they
were awakened by the yells Of their guar
dian. One seized the shotgun, loaded with
heavy buck, and the other armed himself
with light ak. The night was very dark,
| and they were guided only by the noise.
Thirty yards away they saw a large animal
spring into the pines. Mr.. Clinton fired,
but without effect, and a. ter a search they
al l..,- L.. = IL
and neck broken.
The beast that killed him had evidently
| sprung on his back, and must have been
large as the dog was powerful enough to
| kill a timber wolf Both men knew the
mountains well, and had no doubt that it
was the work OF a very large panther. Next
morning they covered the body of their
favorite with heavy logs and started for
| Simpsons cabin. On reaching this the
| hunter at once proposed that they should
| have hunt after the marauders.
WENT LOADED FOR BEAR.
Farney was provided with an old army
musket, smoothbore, loaded with slugs;
| Clinton had his double barrels and buck
| shot, and the hunter rifle almost six feet
long. He was followed by his three big
bear dogs. When they reached the camp
where the panther was last seen, rope was
made fast to the body of the dog. All
hands laid hold and they started off through
| the woods.
This is called drag" and is used in
wolf hunting. One of these animals will
follow such a trail for miles, and at some
point on the route the hunter conceals him
self and brings down the game as it runs
| past. After mile and half had been
covered, Simpson came to the place he had
selected. Here in an open space at the foot
! of the mountain was 4 spring and large
| birch tree, and to one OF the long springy
! branches the body Of the dog was suspended.
1t was too far from the ground for any ami
imal to spring and the limb too slender to
support the weight of a panther.
| WAITED FOR NIGHTFALL.
"Now, men, well come here tonight. No
use hunting painter in daylight. Mebbe
we'll kill deer on the way home" After
an hours still-hunt the dogs struck trail,
and went off at full speed. That's no DEER"
said Simpson, "bear sure" and in 20 min
utes it was evident the dogs had caught
their game. In thicket of wild plum trees
with his back against a low beech stood
halt-grown bear, striking at the dogs, who
| kept him from getting away by seizing him
I from behind whenever he turned. A bullet
FROM the hunters rifle ended the fight. The
body was lashed to a couple of poles and by
noon the cabin was reached and a mighty
dinner OF fresh bear steaks eaten.
! About midnight they started for their de-
coy. The moon was in the last quarter aud
gave but faint light, but the hunter took
bis way through the pines with as much
| certainty as if they were a country road.
do you bear that?" said he, as a long cry
come from the woods. "They have got
scent of the drag and we must get the wind
| of 'em."
| FOUND IN A TREE.
This took the party almost mile out Of
| their way, but was necessary, as the scent Of
panther is especially keen. The moon was
now clear OF the clouds, and they could see
the beech trees plainly. All hands concealed
themselves in the brush, the dogs quivering
with excitement, when, after half an hours
watch, they heard the low cry repeated from
the mountain side.
J Clinton said: There's something on the
tree Lcok at the branches shaking! Let's
| make a rush." In an instant they were
under the beech. Clinton caught sight of a
| long gray animal crouched against the trunk
! near the top and fired. That's fetched
him." said Simpson and he took sight over
his rifle and pulled the trigger, and with a
| long howl the beast came crashing through
| the branches. When it reached the ground
the dogs flew on it at once. Although shot
through the head and foreshoulder broken,
| it clawed up the dogs cruelty; but thrust
| from the hunters knife finished it.
THEY CAPTURED THE CUB.
It was she panther, full five feet long
from the nose to the end of the body-one OF
the largest that had ever been killed in
Northern Pennsylvania. The paws when
spread were as big as the hand of large
man and the claws full three inches long.
| This brute no doubt had killed the dog.
In the meantime the dogs had left and all
at once were heard yelling loudly. "They
! have treed another" said Simpson, aud a
| rush was made through the brush; down
| hill over rocks and fallen tree trunks the
route lay and finally brought up at the foot
of big water oak that stood in the swamp.
The hounds were giving tongue and leap
ing up the trunk. Mr.. Farney went up the
hillside and suddenly raised his gun and
fired. There was roar like cannon and
he lay flat on his back with very sore
shoulder from the overcharge in his blum
derbuss. But it did its work. The cat
could be seen hanging bv both feet to a
branch and it took three more discharges to
! bring it down. 1t was the cub and almost
half grown, but big enough to make very
ugly fight Simpson went to work there
and then to skins the game, and taking the
hides they got home by daylight. Mr.Clin-
ton bought botn skin and left them with the
hunter to tan Indian fashion, and these he
proposes to keep as mementoes.
Pedestrianism and the Toilet.