Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-02-28
FOUGHT WITH A PANTHER.
The error of Westchester's Woods Has
Been KILLED at Last.

The error of Westchester's Woods Has
Been Killed at Last.
An immense panther, which has been
prov ling about Westchester county. be-
tween Bedford village and Katonah,
during the past month, has been killed
at last The animal has terrorzed the
people over Il large extent of country.
Children refused to go to school alone,
and had to be escorted to and from their
homes by adults Even the latter did
not feel altogether secure. and when
ever the trees rustled they thought the
panther was near. Some even declared
that they had seen the dreaded animal
glariI at them through the bushes.
Not il day passed in which some
farmer did not miss part of his live
stock. The farmers boy would sally
forth in the morning to give the occu-
pants of the pig pen their breakfast, only
to discover, by the bloody fragments scat
tered around. that the panther had paid
them visit. Many hochs of sheep
were greatly reduced i'll size, and the
fat geese, turkeys, ard chickens which
mysteriously disappeared We're almost
innumerablr.
The brute did not, however, seem to
have been satisfied with such small
game, for in several instances he at
tackled full grown cattle during the
night, and next morning the owner
would be dismayed at finding their
mangled carcasses in the field. Sew
eral persons, hearing unusual noises
around their barns or poultry houses
during the night, have crcpt out, gun in
hand, after the marauder and in one or
two cases obtained glimpse of the
panther as he glided noiselessly away in
the darkness.
This condition of affairs was becom-
ing well nigh intolerable, and several
parties of hunters endeavored to capture
tie decimator of their herds. Their in
tended victim, however, knew the
woods better than they did, and always
managed to elude them. 1t remained
for farmer George Green to settle the
matter.
He was taking stroll around his
farm when he espied a large, strange
looking animal tearing at the carcass of
a h"ifer short distance off. 1t was one
of Mr.. Green's heifers, which the beast
had just killed. The farmer, remembers
ing that he owned five large mastiffs,
lost no time in calling them to the scene.
Tie panther lett his feast on seeing
them approach and headed for the
woods. The dogs pursued, and after u
long Chase cornered their prey Thus
brought to bay, the big beast showed
lis teeth and faced his pursuers The
entire pack of dogs rushed upon him.
They had not calculated however, on
their opponents immense fighting
powers.
The struggle that ensued was a terrible
one. Tie panther inflicted some terrible
wounds on his foes and before he gave
up the mangled odies of two of them
we're stretched on the ground. lie was
greatly weakened, however, by the teeth
Of the dogs He managed, however, to
get away to the woods, with the blood
dripping both from pursuer and pur-
sued. The panther was chased to the
estate of John Jay, where it took refuge.
While the dogs kept watch Mr.. Green
procured his gun and taking careful
aim he shot the panther dead. On be-
ing weighed subsequently it was found
to tip the scales at 375 pounds New
York Star.