Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-07-07
PRICE ONE CENT


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Stella. Fort Bend county, Tex. CORE
spondence of the Globe Democrat. Mike
Donovan, a track walker employed by the
Southern Pacific Railroad, and in charge
of the section here, was recently attacked
by large panther. and only with much
difficulty succeeded in killing the beast.
Donovan, armed only with hatchet aud
wrench, was engaged in his daily inspec-
tlon OF the track, and had reached part
hordered on one side by dense thicket
of post oaks, when his attention was at
tr cted by a rustling in the surrounding
underground. The next moment he was
startled by the panther hurting itself upon
him. The attack was SO unexpected that
the man staggered and fell under the
creatures weight, but managed 10 deal it
a blow with his hatchet, which, without
wounding il severely. caused il 10 spring
from his body with hoarse cry Dono-
van had only time TO scramble to his feet,
however, before the panther returned to
the attack, screaming fearfully. He met
1t with uplifted hatchet, and cut ii deeply
about the head and shoulders, but the in.
furiated creature, though bathed in blood,
OAhN tAAC AtANAt ANNCA tAt htS
animosity, and sprang upon It's foe with
such force as to again fell him 10 the
earth, when it endeavored 20 fix upon his
throat Unfortunately for the man, tho
panther's assault had knocked the hatchet
from his grasp as he fell, leaving him
with bare hands to grapple with the snarl-
ing. maddened animal tearing at him
with distended claws, and suffocating
him with its fetid breath as its gaping
mouth strained at his throat 1t was only
by the exertion of his utmost strength
that he was able TO retain his grasp ON
the panther's throat, and so prevent il
from getting at his own, but new
horror confronted him as they struggled
madly over the pebble strewn roadbed.
The panther had thrown him across the
track, and. in spite of his frantic efforts
to throw it off, held him with his back
across the rail.
The shrill whistle Of the afternoon
train here warned him Of the approach
of horrible death, and, literally sick
with terror, he exerted himself with a
strength born of desperation, and sue
ceeded for a moment in so crushing the
panther's throat that the beast, gasping
for breath, relinquished his hold suffi-
GENTLY to enable him 10 roll 90 one side
and off the track. Before he could rise,
however, the panther fell ON him again,
and as they closed in their deadly em-
brace the long train swept by. Donovan
says that so close We're they 30 the track
that the heat of the engine scorched them
as it passed. He screamed Justify for
help, but supposes that the noise of the
train prevented his cries from being
heard. The panther appeared frightened
out of its senses by the thunder of the
locomotive, and springing mp from Dom
ovan's body made for the woods, scream
ing at every Jump. The Irishman here
was enabled 10 recover his footing, aud
seized his wrench that lay near. then
running TO an adjacent tree. hraced him
self against it, awaiting the return OF the
panther, which, on seeing the train dis
appear. advanced toward him as un.
dS.anted as at first. Donovan raised the
heavy wrench as it reached him, and
brought it down with full force ON the
panther's head. The blow sent the crea-
tlre reeling 10 one side. The man, with
another blow, succeeded in knocking
it over, and stunning it, when, running
for his hatchet, he dispatched the animal
by nearly severing the head from the
body. Donovan was badly scratched
about the limbs and breast, and very
much exhausted by his fearful struggle,
but otherwise uninjured. The panther
was large one, of the species known as
a -
still inhamed gunshot wound, given prob
ably by some hunter, and which had evil
IDENTIFY run the animal mad.