The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-05
MEETING A PANTHER AT NIGHT
4 Terrifying Encounter i n a Mountain
Path in the Adirondack.

4 Terrifying Encounter n a MOuntain
Path in the A~dirondacks
II never see a panther said q man al
he Central park nnenagerie, to a New York
tribune reporter, but l have a creeping
sensation Of fear, brought about by q
fright which one of these brutes gave me in
the wilds OF the A~dirondaoks one night
some years ago.
There were five of us in all camping in
the woods near the Indian pass. 1t was
about as wild & section of country as could
be found in any part of the mountains, and
the most beautiful scenery I ever expected
to see. We all took our turn at doing the
camp drudgery, which consisted OF cook
ing, washing pots and kettles and keeping
the fire going. 1t was mean work, but had
to be done. I had been doing camp duty
al that day, while the rest of the boys were
of hunting or fishing.
when evening came | took the little tin
pail and started down the mountain to a
little farm house about a mile away. 1t
grows darker sooner in the mountains than
on the level, and by the time | had reachsd
the farm house the twilight had changed to
night, and q bright full moon was just ris-
ing over the top Of q ~neighboring peak.
The road or path to the camp had been cut
through the forest some years before by a
party of prospecters who imagined they had
struck a rich vein Of iron ore, but for soma
reason they had abandoned the place and
only a huge hole IN the mountain side and
a tumble-down log shanty were left to give
evidence that the place had once been WIS.,
lted by a white man.
1.-THE path up the mountain was lighted
here and there with bright patches of
moonlight and the shadows between then
were black and threatening. Everything
ArODni ma waE aQ Gti11 ea InotL 1o-li
hear my " breathing, and the tread of
my footsteps was the only sound which
broke the silence which Droodsd thick and
heavy over everything around and about
me. Every time I entered ono OF the black
shadows a feeling of nervous apprehension
would coma over me, which grew woras as
] advanced. By the time l had got half
way up the my surroundings had
worked upon my imagination until eyerv
tree and rock seemed alive and expectant
or listening for something which was to
come. And it did come. An awful yell,
halt human and half .unearthly, like the
cry of O terrified child, pierced the still
night air and sent the cold cbills in leap
frog gambols up and down my spinal col
unn. II was the most unearthly sound
ever heard, and has haunted me moro or
less ever since.
1T seemed TO come from a clump of pine
trees just in front of me and scared me- go
badly that | stood frozen to the SPOT. I
couldn't movs a muscle for a minute,
though 1t seemed an eternity. Nv heart
pounded my ribs until | could plainly hear
the beats. l grew faint and cold. | know
1nstlnctiyely what it was. I stood there on
a lonely mountain alone and at night. with
q mountain panther on my trail ready to
spring upon me at any moment. | hadn't
oven g lack-knife TO defend myself with.
A thousand thoughts rushed into nv head
and out again. | tried to think of the
many ways and means by which the bruiser-
heroes of the dime novels | had surreptiti-
ously read managed to get out of similar
difficulties, but none of them seemed an
plicable to just the peculiar situation
was in at this moment. There was always
some element in their favor which was
totally wanting in mine. II it had been
daylight | would have felt easier. | could
have seen the brute at least and might have
had q chance to dodge. But no; it was dark
as Egypt. l don't know why | did it. but |
stopped down and felt around on the
ground until my land struck a loose stone,
ana l threw it into the black shadow in
front of me. The movement gave me the
self-possession | needed, for l felt relief
from the %frightful nervous tension to which
l had been subjected a moment before.
Il heard r crashing, scrambling sound
accompanied with II suppressed gnaFling
Rrowl and a long yellow streak flashed
across the light spot just beyond the dark
shadow. Our old cat at home had taught
me a lesson in cat ethics which / am satis-
he'd served me a good turn at that time.
4he brnse was trying to get behind me and