The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1892-06-09
A BAD SCARE,
The Feelings of n Man Who Encounte eret
Panther.


the Central park menaQeric, "but [
have creeping sensation Of fear.
brought about by a fright which one Of
these bruteS gave me in the wilds of
the Adirondacks one night some time
ago.
There were five of us in all, camping
III the woods near the Indian pass. It
was about as wild section of country
as could be found in any part of the
mountains, and the most beautiful
scenery | ever expected to- see. We all
took our turn at doing the camp drudr-
cry, which consisted of cooking, wash
ing pots and kettles and keeping the
fire going 1t was mean work, but it
had to be done. ! had been doing
camp duty all that day, while the rest
of the boys We're off hunting or fishing.
When evening came took the little
tin. pail and started down the mountain
to little farm house about mile
away. II grows dark sooner in the
mountains than on the level and by the
time had reached the farm house the
twilight had changed to night. and IA
bright full moon was just rising over
the top of neighboring peak. The
road or path to the camp had been cut
through the forest some years before bv
party of prospcctors who imagined
they had struck rich vein of iron ore,
but for some reason they had aban-
doncd the place and only huge hole
in the mountain side and a tumble.
down log shanty were left tn Give c,.
dcnce that the place had once been
visited by white man.
The path up the mountain was
lighted here. and there with bright
patches of moonlight, and the shadows
between them were black and threaten
ing. Everything around me was as
still as death. | could hear my
own breathing, and the ,rcuu of
my footsteps was the only sound
which broke the silence which brood
ed. thick and heavy, over every
thing around and about me. Every
time | entered one of the blacl, shai
ows feeling Of nervous apprehension
would come over me. which grew worse
as advanced BY the time | got half
way up the mountain my surroundings
had worked upon my imagination uutii
every tree and rock seemed alive and
cNpcctant or listening for something
which was to come. And it did come.
An awful yell, half human and half un.
earthly. like the cry of terrified child,
pierced the still night air and sent the
cold chilIn in Icap-frog gam!,oi, up and
my spinal column, 1t was the most un-
earthly sound | ever heard. and has
haunted me more or less ever since.
ut seemed To come from n clump of
pine trees just in front of me. and
scared me so badly that | stood frozen
to the SPOT cuuldn', move II muscle
Tor minute. though it seemed an etcr-
nifty. My heart pounded my ribs until
could plainly hear the beats / grew
faint and cold. ] knew nstinctivcIv
what it was. stood there on lonely
mountain alone and mt night, with
mountain panther on my trail ready to I
spring upon me at any moment. [.
hadn't even II iacl-inifc To defend my
self with, \ Thousand thoughts rushed /,
into my head and out again. tried to /
think of the many ways and means by ,
which the bruser-heroes of the dime
novels | had surrcptitiouslv read man. /,
aged to get out of similar difficulties. /
but none OF them seemed applicable to /
just the peculiar situation was in aS
that moment. There was always some .
element in their favor which was total .
ly wanting in mine. If ii had been day /
light would have felt easier. could |
have seen the brute at least and might
have had chance to dodge. But no: il
was dark as Egypt. don't know why
did it, hut | stopped down and felt
around on the ground until nv hand
struck a loose stone. and throw it into
the black shadow in front Of me. That
gave me the Scf-posscSsion 7
needed, for | felt II rclict from the.
rightfully-ncrvouS tension to which I
had been subjected moment before.
Il heard Il crashing, ,scrambling sound,
accompanied witha suppressed snarlng
yrowl, and "A long yellow streak flashed
icroas the light spot Just beyond the
lark shadow. Our old eat at home had
taught me a lesson in cat ethics which
aln satisfied served me IL good turn AT
hat time. The brute was trying to get
behind me and make his spring from
he rear A eat never likes to face n
nan when he springs, and felt that il
could keep him in front of me ho
would delay his attack until my shouts
,ould he heard by the boys at the camp,
| little further up the mountain, and
rive them warning of my danger.
Il moved on. gathering stones and
ticks at every open spot on the path
where | could see, and kept up Il contin-
IONS racket and shouting ! saw the
PANTHER several times leap across the
oath and always in front of me.
inally reached the little clearing where
he camp was pitched, and found the
'oys preparing, in half-scared way, to
ome to my rescue.
"When ] reached the fire and knew
hat ! was safe, ! lost no time IN
ainting away in the most approved
tyle. Well, we didn't sleep any that
light, but at the first break of daylight
We gathered up our traps and started
own the mountain to the farm house
nd told our story. They had heard
he yell of the night before, and were
lready making preparations to hunt ,
he brute.
'We refused pressing invitation to
DIN the hunting party, We had had ,
nough Of cats and preferred to stay ;;
where we were. Toward the close of
he afternoon we heard the report Of u
lhe several times. and just at dusk VIC
aw the men returning with something
tretched on a pole slung upon the ,
houlders of two of them.
at was the eat which had pursued me ,
he night before, and he was an ugly