Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-01-14
THE HUNT
THE PUNAS STILL At LARGE BUT UNDER
GUARD.
They Have Been hailed to Their Den and the
Month Oft Is Secured by Logs and Stones.
More Men and Hounds Clawei and
Chawed-Will Be Captured To-Day.

dotted here and there by clumps OF trees
and dense gTOwthS OF brush and small
streams, and the banks Of these small
water-cOurSes are lined In moSt places
with dense thiCkets, and small pools or
lakes are numerous over the face or this
vast tract of wild land.
Almost in the centre OF this swamp
is an island, surrounded on all sides by
streams Of various sizes, all OF which
flow into the lake at the east end. IL
was on this island that the trail was lost
last night, and there the fighting oc-
CURED to-day.
IL was Q o'clock before a scent could
be discovered. Most Of the hunters had
gone east and west around the base Of
the hill, not thinking IL worth their
while to hunt the ridge, as the pumas
had never been known TO cross this
large stream, which was never seen COW
cred with ice, and which is very deep in
places.
A few yeEtured across on raft OF
logs that had been constructed for the
occasion, while Joseph Cox, Nick Sny-
der and Sam FOltz started dowa the
bank of the stream TO beat the thicketS
on that side while those that had
crossed were to parallel them on the
other bank. The hunters were spread
nut a distance Of twenty-five or thirty
roads, while their hounds worked be-
tween them. Snyder, who was nearest
the water, had gone but short dis
lance when his dogs began 70 growl ana
dart into a clump OF brush TO his right.
II was soon known that one OF the
pumas had been started. The tight be-
tween the hounds and the pumas was
making the snow fY, and the frequent
yeIps Of pain uttered by the hounds and
the savage grOWis OF the puma as they
tore at each other made Snyder hurry TO
the scene, and he, too, was soon mixed
up ia the tight.
He dare not shoot for fear Of killing
his own dogs, and grabbing up a
club dealt the puma several
heavy blows across the back.
The two dogs were soon be-
yond the power Of helping their master,
who was now set upon by the savage
beast. Being on his guard, he managed
to keep the beast of Of him for short
time, but his blows only seemed TO en-
rage the puma, which made sudden
spring and caught Snyder on the
shoulder, sinking his teeth deep into
the flesh, and its great weight bore the
unlucky hunter backward, and both
went rolling into the stream.
Snyder caught the animal by the
throat and tried to save himself, but
the puma was master Of the situation,
and was fast drowning Snyder, who was
down and unable 70 rise. Sam toltZ,
who was armed with shotgun loaded
with heavy shot, fired at the beast, not
knowing that his companion was slowly
but surely being killed. The shot took
effect in the side OF the puma, and it re-
leased its hold OF the unconscious man
and made one or two bounds and was
upor Foltz, who again fired, checking
FOR an instant the onslaught
OF the infuriated beast, and he tried 20
run another cartridge In his gun, but
was unable TO do so before the puma had
him by the breast.
Foltz had on a heavy overcoat, and
this was torn 70 ShredS In few sec
onds, the brute sinking its long and
shining teeth again and again into the
unfortunate man, whose cries for help
were heard by the hunters on both
sides OF the creek, who at once sounded
the alarm and fastened 10 the rescue Of
the imperiled men. Snyder was hshet
ont OF the creek, and il was with the
greatest difficulty that he could be
brought back 70 life. The hounds had
attacked their lOng-SOught enemy, and
the appearance and noise made by IN g
approaching hunters caused the puma
10 beat a haSty retreat, which he did,
with several hounds close on It's trail,
which they followed for a quarter OF
mile and then lost, the puma taking TO
the water and throwing the hounds OIL
its trail. The greatest excitement now
prevailed, Is word had been re-
ceived that the other puma had been
heard from near North Creek.
William Miller, of this city, nursery
man, while passing along the main roGd
saw the animal coming toward him, and
made a hasty retreat for barn that
stood near the roadside, and was almost
out OF the beasts reach when be was
seized by the legs and his clothes aud
boots cut into strips. Miller at last
managed 10 get out OF the beasts reach,
where he was found a short time alter
by Nose Coats and Frank Easton, who
both fired at the animal, one OF the
shots striking the beast, which uttered
yell and made for the hunters, who
again fired, but were too hard pressed
TO take aim, and at the second vOlley
disappeared I'm the woods. The puma
made for the SWampS, where IL succeed
ed in eludiug its pursuers for hours.
When again seen they were both to-
cether, and had succeeded in killing
sheep on the farm Of John Markley and
were eating. They had dragged the
carcass into q larRe tree top, and when
discovered had nearly devoured their
prey. They were fired upon and ran,
and the chase was kept up for hours,
when the hunted beasts again made for
the swamp, and just before dark were
discovered in the widest part OF the
large island, where they seemed to have
no fear of pursuit from their enemies on
the opposite side Of the creek.
As soon as a crossing could be effected
the hunters crossed, and the dogs tratled
the animals 10 the side OF the hill next
10 the water, where the trail
was lost. The hunters at
once began en- investigation
and found q hole under the brush that
led into a cavity in the earth large
enough 10 admit the pUmaS TO pass
through, but which was so screened by
brush as not 70 be visible ten teet away,
This solved the mystery OF the sud
dem disappearance OF the animals. The
hole was covered with logs by the
hunters. who built big FIRE and Poke
Rop0hman ard Frank Rampe we're de-
+oilsd 10 watch this place while dill
s,ont search could be made to ind an
o+t,t ~ there was one. They