New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-03
THE LAST PANTHER.
AN ANCIENT MEMORY OF SULLIVAN COUNTY.

ARE STILL RECALLED IN TRADITION
THE CREATURES CRY AT NIGHT
HARDWOOD Park N. Y, March 90 (speciaD.-So tar
as known. the last Of the panhers which once were
plentiful In this part OF the country was killed Ia
1920 by negro who. flushed with victory ana
painting with pride, received from the hands OF tho
admrng authorities, In the presence OK his friends,
filled with sympathetic Joy at his good fortune, ths
municent reward Of S15. In the old days entangled'
dsoriered and intricate sullivan County was the homo
Of dozens OF these animals. They, Of course, were
accounted to be formidable and more dangerous
than any of the other animals OF the swamps ana
ridges. They frequently made depredations upon
the cattle and sheep and sometimes attacked men.
The settlers are said TO have believed mat tho
panthers would sometimes initiate the cries OF children
and thus lure victims away from the houses and to tho
woods. But, although the memories OF the old In.
habitans brise with tales OF battles with partners,
the tales contain no specific accounts Of the panthers
siren voice. They tell how individuals returning home
late on moonlcss nights ran several miles In great
haste and cold Precipitation upon hearing that WIZ
weld cry ring out II woman were being mnruerco
by red-handcd villain with knife. But, either
because of good great speed, none OF these
men seems to have been caught. 1t is evident
too that they spoke truly, for these hard worKine
Industrious mountaineers would never run four miles
simply to receive nothing at the end but sOulfuI
welcome and chance to tell thrilling story Ana, In
their gentle innocence and gileessness, they have noe
the OF the actor Of lurid drama, VINO
rushes upon the stage from point six feet from the
edge of the wing and sinking down. panngy cries thas
he has been pursued eighteen miles by band OF
Indians. SO II is apparent that travelling by nighs
was a dangerous practice in sullivan County.
There were many stout-hearted and quick shooting
hunters In the region who used to like nothing better
| than "brush with painter But it was difficult
to get a good dog TO follow the track. Most dogs.
upon smelling panther trail would shrivel up ana
quake mayhap howl In distressing manner.
Bnt there were few sullivan County dogs who, con-
dent Of their ability would not hesitate TO worry
the rereatng form OF man. eating tiger. These dogs
were n premium, although even they, when ap-
preaching the panther, would give q mournful tone
| TO their howl.
Nelson Croker, long since dead, IS said to have
| seen seven panhers at once feat which probably
surpasses the widest dream OF the most able and
| proficient delrium-tremens expert in the country.
| Croker hunting In Painter swamp one day
when he discovered the tracks OF number OF panthers
His dog was good one, and briskly followed the
trail. At noon, the hunter sat down on log TO eas
his luncheon AS he slowly put the last morsel In his
mouth there was a chorus Of bowls from the sur
rounding bushes, and he seven panther3 In rapid
| succession. He fired at and killed 1t, vile his
dog was soundly thrashed by another. Crocker
quickly decided that the he emerged from the
| swamp the better he retreated, preceded by
very willing dog. The next day he went back 70
| skin his game and recover his hat, which he had
lost. After shooting second panther he and his
| dog were again forced TO retreat by a THRU THIS
time to accelerate his speed. he forced to throw
away his rifle. Having safely arrived on high ground,
he decided to return for his weapon. lie recovered
| It. and after a three handed fight In which he lost
part OF his dog he killed third panther. He sknneo
| all three and proceeded ioyously homeward
Cyrus Dodge, down the dim vista Of rural history,
| follows close with six panthers the shade OF Nelson
Croker. At Long Pond he saw six panthers at once
| He on.
| to his waist, shot four of them.
| An old authority on hunting claims that man by
the name Of Gavin Bush the prince OF panther
| killers. Bush Il cear-headcd, nervous-lmbed,
muscular hunter who was as good for his inches as
| any man in the county. lie had a dog that was
nearly as famous as himself lie had many adventures
with the animals and killed large number OF them.
| II IS said that once, when he and friend were
hunting together, they shot and wounded panther
| which took refuge in the top OF tall tree. BUSH
| remarked TO his panon I'm going to nave sons
| fun with that beast lie then cut a pole ana
climbed trf-, close TO the one In which the panther
| crouched Straddling limb. and tvlning his legs
10 preserve his balance the hunter poked the woundeo
| animal in the ribs UNTIL enraged and furious, 1t fell
| TO the ground In Intellectual attempt TO spring
upon its assailant. There 1t was dispatched BY ths
| other man. on that hunt OF two days they Aine"
| five panthers.
| Upon one occasion a wounded animal sprang at the
hunters dog. Bush's gun was empty, but he stood
By his valoIous and faithful canine friend lie aimed
| a blow at the panthers head with a Ratchet mo
animal lodged and caught the handle In lis teeth IL
wrenched the mplcmen; from the hunters hand with
the utmost ease and then dropped II 10 fight the dog
| which had begun n noisy attack In the rear While the
panther was initiating the dog Bush loaded his gun
| and shot II through the head. He always carried
crooked finger, which made by the panthers teeth
when II grasped the Ratchet handle.
The people around Monticello were disturbed by two
| i'm hicl uSpd In
night and cry like children. They sent for Bush and
| his famous "pamter-dog.' The hunter chased and
overlook the animals In n swamp and killed them both.
! score or so OF hunters from Callcoon chased o
huge panther into its den in ledge of rocks. They
closed up the entrance to the lair and departed, re-
| turning on the next day with reinforcements and
determination 10 kill the dread beast. II had retreated
| TO a dark inner recess. Alter council OF war, IN
which every gentleman OF the company told the others
how 10 hunt panthers they decided TO place lighted
candle where the rays would CLEAN down rneb barrel.
This was done and man ventured in until he per-
ceiyed the Inevitable fiery cyebals.' Then he pulled
| trigger The report was followed by hOwls from the
wounded animal which caused n retreat OF the entire
army. That which a moment before had been tho
scene OF a well planned campaign turned 20 one OF the
widest confusion and disorder. Four hundred yards
nom the scene OF the attack the little band rallied,
and Il was then perceived that nearly every member
had been wounded Bruised snns lacerated feet and
skinned elbows were plentiful result OF the wild
charge over rocks and logs and through bI.mbles.
ono brave man had bumped his mead on a rock right
where the panther had once walked. slowly they
a:ain approached the den wherein uIked the foe. II
was necessary that caution be taken or they
might be attacked In Overwhelming numbers. They
arrived safely with accident. Another man ven.
ureai in and cracked away at the hery eyebas'
with the sal result Defoie, excepting that the
panther howled less and The army did not retreat quite
30 tar 4 third followed aud with his bullet
pro-, rated the beast upon the floor Of TIE den where
il roarcd family that the army almost refused to
retreat at ALL The leading spirits then grapped with
The question to how 10 get the animal out. II had
rcreated back In the cave that II was possible
,nlv for a boy get To It, A boy volunteered TOOK
OFT his In the presence of his admrng friends,
went In and came ont again. making a remark II
relevant TO the subject aboIt the weather. which
none needed A small lad who had not figured very
highly I'm the retreats owing 10 his short legs and boy.
sh strength proceeded To pile his coat vest and haf
behind a bush. and then sneaked into the cave armed