The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-02-01
THE AMERICAN PANTHER.
He Roamed over Maine In the
Fortles.
A Fourth Of July Raid In oxford
County.
Children, Men and Cattle Pursued
by the FrIsky Beast.

~ 49, SO&oes
The late frequent appearance Of panther
or Indian Devil In Northern Aroostook as
announced In late issue of the PRESS. sug-
gests the idea that this may be the survivor
of pair which used to inhabit the Lake
Country some fifty years ago, being occasion
ally seen between the lake and the British
boundary The female Of this pair was killed
by Metaluk. the lone Indian, forty-fve years
ago, after fierce and bloody conflict. the de-
tails Of which we will give later on. After
the death of the female, the mate was not
seen for several years, but young one was
killed during the winter Of 1S43 by some
youngsters who were hunting in the town Of
Sebago near the shore Of the lake.
Andover North Surplus is lit....v borough
six miles from the beautiful village Of An
. dover. Fifty years ago 1t contained some
fifteen families, but death and removals have
since reduced that number to four. The in
| habited part consists Of a rich and fertile in
| tivale some two miles long by half a mile
in breadth intersected by fine trout brook,
and almost completely hemmed In by grand
and lofty mountains. II was the Fourth Of
July 1852 which many of our readers must
remember as the first rainy Fourth since the
famous Declaration which made us a free
and independent people. A celebration was
to be held at Rumford, sixteen miles distant
and the place was entirely deserted with the
exception Of Matthias Morton, an old time
tavern keeper, his wife and an old sailor
named Moses Roberts, Sometime during
the forenoon Mr.. Morton sat by the window
reading. To the westward and across the
highway was cattle pasture which extended
for about half mile up the steep ascent to-
ward the adjacent mountain. A herd OF
cattle we're In the pasture. The rain poured
In torrents driven by strong east wind. To
avoid the force of the storm the herd had re-
Tired behind a sharp bluff which hid them
from view. One pair OF large oxen however
remained feeding near the road. On sud-
den loud cries were heard firm several OF
the herd, as though from fear or distress
These cries were quickly answered by both
oxen, and were followed by stampede up
the ascent at furious rate Morten, whe
was man Of both courage and might armed
himself with a stout cudgel and made haste
to follow, well knowing that the trouble
must arise from the appearance of some wild
animal. But he had an idea that IL might be
a wolf or a she bear with cubs. As ne mount
ed the bluff which overlooked the grass-plot
beyond, he beheld "a scene which foI a mo-
meDt caused a tremor to seize his powerful
frame. The herd, some twenty in number,
WIRE CioScly pdCktu a pcIicCt Tue
small ones in the centre surrounded by the
oxen all with heads pointing outward, while
capering about them like half grown pup
was an animal Of most exquisite beauty,
about four feet In height by five or six In
length. His glossy coat was striped and
variagated In most curious fashion, while
his full round eyes shone like balls Of fire.
His evident object was to seize one OF the
small creatures. But In this he was prevent
ed by the master OK, which, being armed
with q lOno and abarn nair Of harms mazda
furious passes at the ravenous beast, with
frantic and vain attempts to impale him.
At the same time the OK uttered loud and
fearful cries.
but it was all in vain, The animal really
seemed to make derision Of the ox's futile
efforts, by leaping over his back, then diving
under his belly and then retreating for few
rods, to bound toward him again in most
threatening manner, uttering at the same
time the most fearful cries. These cries
were between howl and wall, and were
made no doubt for the purpose Of frightening
the old guardian from his post:
| casionally charging on his adversary as be-
fore. Morton called loudly to Uncle Robert
bring the gun, but the old man, being
Il hearing, paid no heed; Casting his
enic ID the house Morton beheld his wife
ey1 .Owhi quickly ordered her to re-
turn TO tbs Souss as possible aud close
the doors and windows. At last. ming
tired of his vain efforts, the animal sAEned
toward the summit of the mountain and
quickly disappeared. but his terrific screams
were heard for hours until they were lost In
the distance.
About one year after this Gilmore Scribner
young and successful hunter, went to visit
his bear traps in the vicinity Of Bald Pate,
BURBERRY mountain, which at certain seasons
of the year was much frequented Oy bears
and other wild animals. At that time Srib-
ner was destitute Of any weapon except a
large jackknife. When near his destination
he stopped to drink from one Of the numer-
GUS mountain streams. After Stacking his
same animal (no doubt some twenty feet
distant, crouching with cleaning eyes resting
upon Thin, and the long slim tail waving
with that cat like motion seen when the
beasts of this family are about to make q
spring. "What followed" said Scribner,
seemed but horrid dream. But when i
came to myself | was in the highway a full
mile from the scene with my knife open In
my hand" This narrow escape ended his
beaI hunts for that season, and taught him
ever after to not to roam the forest without
some means Of defence.
Nothing more was seen or heard OF the
panther until the summer OF 184S, when he
made his appearance in Roxbury some twelve
miles east of his former haunts. 1t was a
bright moonlight night In the month Of Au-
gust that A. l.. Merrill and wife, newly
welded pair. were sitting by the open win
dow enjoying the beauty Of the scene. They
Of herd of horses, which occupied the
mountain pasture on the east side of the
road, tearing down the steep decent at a
break neck speed. Coming to the gate they
leaped upon 1t without the least hesitation,
smashing it to the ground and passing over
1t to the barnyard. They took refuge In
shed. where they all crowded snugly into
one corner, snorting and exhibiting every
quickly followed and hid themselves under
the barn. Presently fearful scream was
heard, a scream terrible enough to drive
terror to the stoutest heart. Then the 1.-the
and symmetrical form OF large animal could
be plainly discerned in the bright moonlight
approaching the demolished gate at rapid
pace. The frightened man and wife who
had gone out to see what the trouble was,
quickly took refuge in doors where, through
the window, they watched the animals
gambols as he capered backward and forth,
occasionally taking leaps to distance Of
several rods and giving utterance to the
most horrid yells. Merrill, fearing that he
might venture into the yard and kil' some OF
his animals, envelOped himself In a sheet for
the purpose of frightening him away. His
wife, nearly paTalyZed with fear, begged Of
him, even with tears to desist But Merrill
was determined, and venturing TO the door
yard he danced about in his CHASTITY garb
Initiating the screams OF the panther. This
extraordinary performance soon served to
drive the panther from the premises, but his
screams were heard for serveral hours until
they were lost in the distance.
Soon after this, two youngsters, while COM
ing from Richardson's Lake to Andover, a
distance of twelve miles, were followed by
the panther for long distance. He was to
all appearances travelling amid the tres tops,
leaping from branch TO branch as panthers
are often won't to do. But being swift Of
foot the boys outran him and made good
their escape. This was the last ever seen or
heard of the panther in that vicinity.
Whether this Is the self same animal now
seen in the north Is tn our mind amonu the
probabilities. But still, in reality it Is merely
a matter of speculation.
About the year 1910 Stephen Gould, resi-
dence of Otisfeld, went to North Aroostook
where he logged for several winters on the
Sebois stream. While hunting stray cattle
he was followed by panther which he
avoided by climbing tall spruce and hiding
among its branches until the animal passed
by. 1t was leaping from tree to tree in the
usual manner Of painters.
WIN. A. EMERT
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