Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-04-24
KILLING A CATAMOUNT.
LUKE FAulKNER'S TERRIBLE BAT
TIE WITH A WILDCAT.

The Brute Took Possession of the House.
The Negro Man Who Was Going to
"smarsh UNI but Didn't LuIse-s subse-
quent Fondness for Large Knives.
Who is that gentleman with the large
gray whiskers?
This is the question often asked of an
old, well known blacksmith in Berrien
county, now nearing on to ripe old
age.
| 1t is Luke Faulkner, the man who had
such a terrible encounter with cata-
mount some thirty years ago. don't
suppose you would find one-haf dozen
men in Berrien county that would have
had half the courage that this man did
possess at the time | write Of
The facts and circumstances of the
case are about as follows:
You will recoIlect that thirty or thirty
five years ago Berrien county was very
thinly settled, and consequently wild
animals were more numerous than they
are now. It is true there are now in
these days of George Mes and Shade
Dorminy's occasionally catamount. but
they are not to be compared to the cata-
mount of thirty years ago
SIZE THOUGHT 1T WAS THE DOG.
But to the subject in hand Luke had
not long been married He lived on a
little clearing near the ten mile creek
famous for the number of wild cats,
catamounts, etc, that roamed its banks
and swamps in quest of fish or a stray
litter of young pigs.
The day on which this episode took
place was mill day with Luke, and as
the mill was some distance off it was a
pretty big day. trip, and if the mill hap
pened to be crowded it took till in the
night to accomplish the trip And it SO
happened that the mill was crowded.
No one was left with Mrs. Faulkner
for the day as no danger was apprehend-
ed during the day time, and Luke in
structed her that if perchance he was gone
till after dark she should go down al
shutdown to neighbours house, little
way distant on the road to the MILL sc
that she should be ready when her hus
band came back from the mill.
The day wore heavily away, as it does
to all young wives when first left tC
themselves, until the sun seemed to stand
still But finally the shades of evening
began to lengthen, and many an anxiou:
glance was cast up the road to see if Luke
was yet coming.
No Lukel
The fuel was prepared for the night
the supper cooked, all preparations
were made for the night and Mrs. Faulk
ner was sitting by a slow fire knitting
and waiting. Waiting for the one OF
both of two things For the return o.
her husband or for the approach of the
: time when she should go to the neigh
: boris.
1t was now time she should start. Sh'
would knit around once more. Pit-a-pa
- -pit-a-pat. She hears the dog jump tn
: fence and come walking in the piazza
= and she turns to look, expecting to Sc
her husband driving up the lane.
= What was her fear and surprise whe
. instead of the dog, a great big, ugl
= catamount walked in. eyed things cat
:. tiously for moment during which tim
: she was afraid to move) and turned an
: walked under the bed and lay down o
! pile of seed cotton.
Can you imagine her feelings? Cent
g easing up from her chair and out at tn
;, door she fairly flew to the neighbor
= house already mentioned 1t was dii
- tant only about half mile, and the dii
lance was made in quick time
This man was the owner of a slave
"a large heavy fellow, whom she though
It she would get to go and run the cat of
If But mo, sahl Me to 'fraid of dat wa
i mint Can't go"
Ie In an hour OF SO Luke returned frol
a the mill. stopped and called for his wifi
f. according to previous arrangement, an
i. was told the story of the cat
% He'd go Frank would go with him
in he'd take the two dogs along. Ye
81 they'd take them. A large hand lig
in was procured and they started.
Ne Nov, massa, if he jump on me "
,e smash um, and if he jump on you
of smash UNI"
TT THE STRUGGLE IN THE DARK.
it All right. They walked on. The II
- gro kept behind like a cowardly pupp
They walked up to the yard fence al
began to make preparations for de
perate encounter. The negro's heart be
I, a double tattoo all the while Just
- the light was well replenished and {
- vided so that each should have light
case one got put out, and Luke reached
"a his pocket to get his knife, bitfl he fl
-, the weight of big dog right in
,+ breast and face which knocked him ov
~ and put out his light. Oh horrors!
i've could hear the negro's feet packing t
ed grit way off up the road. Comet He h
a., thrown down his light and betook hi
sd self to flight Luke by HIMSELF G
a tainly by himself in the dark and
catamount making desperate strugg
~ to lacerate his flesh with his sharp CLAW
lie which was, however, prevented by
he thick new suit of jeans which he had {
er 1t was a tight hand TO hand fight, he
telling which would gain the ascer
ancy and win the night, as it we
Finally Luke placed his left head on
throat and held such firm grasp Il
the cat lay still with its talons b
W led in his clothing. With his right ha
ell and his teeth he managed to get out a
~ open his knife, and with a sweep
las cash cut its throat from ear to ear, a
on the beast was made to relinquish
I'm hold Lukes clothing was literally tC
in shreds, bat he received no wound
:. a serious nature.