The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-05-15
Close Quarter win . Cat.mount.

IL was q nne animal that wore it-aS big
aud plucky catamount as I ever saw"
Thus Colonel Bob Davenport spoke to
the writer recently. Colonel Bob yields
the palm as nimrod to no man, and his
trophies as such are the wonder and de-
light of all the hunters in the vicinity.
There is quite a little story attached
to the skin, and if you'd like to hear IL,
mere goes. In the early spring of 81, I
and Henry Bitteredge-a fellow who
used to keep store at Martins Cross
roads-were spending a week on the
Colorado, fishing and hunting. One
afternoon Bitteredge rode over to Hart
vile for his mail. and, though he ought
to have gotten back by nightfall, dark
came without bringing him. Thinking
nothing OF this, however, / went to bed
in the little cabin, or rather shed, made
of tree branches and daubed with mud,
which we were camping in, and slept
soundly till was awakened by some
thing with soft, moist nose snuffing
in my face. / opened my ewes and was
about to spring up when q sudden snarl
and snap caused me to give it up. The
moon was shining brightly outside, and
just enough of her light stole in through
the chinks to show me long, 1.-THE
body standing over mine, and the pecu-
liar catly odor, which distinguishes the
feline race from the puss atyour hearth
stone to the Bengal tiger, told me to
what family my visitor belonged.
made q cautious movement seeking for
my gun which had placed near me on
going to bed, but the shining yellow
eyes detected the gesture, and again
growl warned me that prudence was
the better part OF valor, and | resolved
to lie still and wait developments.
''The snuffing nose went up and down
my face as if its owner was tracing out
my features one by one, and tickling
me dreadfully. till l felt as though l
must laugh or 60 raving mad, but if
even WINGED the low prolonged growl
subdued me once more. At last the
thing grew insufferable, and with
suddenness that made my willy foe re-
coil in surprise for moment, jumped
to my feet, making wild dash at my
gun. had just grasped it when the
catamount whirled itself upon me,
knocking the weapon from my hand
and telling me to the ground. Before
it could seize me, though, had scram-
bled up again and secured the gun, and
with this backed up against the wall OF
the cabin awaiting its next attack. On
it came, but as it made the spring 1
fired, hitting it, as was evidenced by
the terrific scream it gave, though the
dim uncertain light or my excitement
prevented my wounding it in any vital
point, as had hoped to do. As i'll
luck would nave it, there had been but
one charge in my gun, and, far from be-
ing any better off for my shot, had only
Infatuated the creature without disabl-
ing it, as far as | could ascertain. II
wasn't an enviable situation, was it,
face to face with wounded catamount,
fairly maddened with pain and confined
IN the narrow space of a 10x10 cabin?
And besides my weaponless condition Z
was also laLoring under the disadyan-
tage OF being able to only dimly see my
foe, which could yet distinguish me 81
plainly as if it had been daylight.
However, l had made up my mind
to sell my life as dearly as possible, SO
bracing myself as we'll as 1 could on the
smooth, dirt floor, l swung my gun
about my head, and as the catamount
rushed upon me, met it with a blow
that would have broken human be-
ing's skull, and, as IL was, sent the AMI.
NAL reeling back. Seeing this, tneJe
a break for the door, feeling as Ii the
close quarters l was in with the beast
added to the horrors of the thing. The
cabin was situated In the center OF q
small cleared space, not far from the
river, and my idea was to make for the
stream, and wade out into it, where
was confident the catamount would not
follow. To climb tree would have
been folly, since the animal could do
that as well as I. l had already reach
ed the rivers bank when / heard nv
enemy coming, and started to run, but
soon gave that up, and the beast cover.
ed three feet to my one, so wheeled
about, and as it reached me gave il
another whack about the head with all
the strength I was capable OF. The
blow knocked the animal 0ver fcr a
moment, but broke my sui, short off,
and as the catamount, screaming with
rage, flung it's huge carcass across me,
/ gave myself up for lost.
II fell heavily, and must have struck
my head on stone, for consciousness
forsook me immediately. When l re-
covered I found myself greatly Cypress
ed by the weight on my chest, for the
catamount lay fat upon me, breathing
hard, as if exhausted, and making no
effort to hurt me. Day had broken as
I lay insensible, and was growing
stronger every minute; so. emboldened
by this and the quiescence OF the
animal, made an attempt to throw it
off, but the beast, growing terrifically,
fixed its teeth in my arm, only releasing
inc after some minutes of perfect quiet
on my part AS we lay so, I heard a
sound that was indeed music in my ears
it was the beat of a horses hoofs COM
ing at trot through the woods. In
another minute or two Bitteredge rode
up TO the cabin and dismounted. He
entered for moment, then issued from
it, calling me, but when attempted TO
answer him the catamount seized my
arm again with a vicious snap that
nearly broke the bone. Bitteredge
looked about him, evidently much per-
picked by my absence, then perceiving
the catamount, which, still covering
me, reared itself at his approach, tetch-
ed his gun. Bot here q difficulty
struck us both, for while he was good
shot, it was sti1l dangerous TO shoot at
the catamount while it stood so directly
over me. The creature seemed to real
ize its advantage and made no move
toward Bitteredge, though he continued
to approach it, until within a few feet
Of US. had begun to think it actually
meant to allow him to place the muzzle
to its head, when. it suddenly, and ire
mendous force, spraug toward Bitter
edge. He erouched just in time to es-
cape its onslaught and over his head it
shot and nearly ten feet beyond. In all