Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-24
CRY OF THE WILD CAT.


Hunter Who Proves Positively That the
Panther Screams.
From Forest and Stream.
As the result OF twenty-seven wears ohserva-
ton and, it might be said, intimate acausin;-
ance with the panther in all the western terri
tories, can say most positively that it can. snd
occasionally does, cry, scream, howl OF yowl
whichever the observer may prefer, and that
there is no more startling, blood-curdling
sound than its voice heard close Al hand in the
silent woods after dark, when they are most
given to crying.
My acquaintance with the cougar began at
the mouth OF the Columbia river in 1861
had killed three elk and was. with one COM
panion. packing out the first back load about
dusk to the canoe, In which we had left our
arms. We heard stealthy steps following us
but few feet behind. which we thought was
the noise Of rabbits in the dense sal-lsl brush
We were soon undeceived. however when the
most weird and mournful cry rang out long and
prolonged, causing us TO make a hasty rush 10 the
canoe, into which we piled and rushed from the
shore. Although we expected TO pack out the
rest of that night We concluded not to do so.
In the morning we found two quarters eaten
and the rest mauled through the dirt and brush
which everywhere bore the marks OF their re-
markedly large feet and claw.
In 1870 l established a camp in the wild part
of the Medicine Bow mountains Wyoming
which was my home for over two years during
which time we depended entirely upon large
game for fresh meat, OF which We always had
an abundance hanging in camp. The second
night of its occupation the mules gave notice
that something was proving around. which We
thought TO be wolves. After everything Was
quiet there arose the old familiar call OF my
tswny acquaintance, waking everybody and
causing the mules to snort and plunge.
Our canlD WAS infested with these anirpals We
never knew how many we're around but were
certain Of two. who fearlessly entered camp on
dark nights for the refuse OF the cook house.
and kept up such fearful screaming that the
men complained they could not sleep and re-
quested permission to put out poison to get rid
ofthem. sat up many nights to get a shot,
often crawling steaithily toward their voices.
only to hear them soon after in an opposite
direction. One night when the moon
was bright 1 heard the call and
saw the cougar distinctly outlined
on ridge at the distance of about seventy-tive
yards. 1t apparently the size of a large
Newfoundland dog and was switching it's sides
with its long taiE | waited until 1t called again,
then fired and missed. Twice We saw one
plainly just before sunset on prominent rock
overlooking camp, and each time our attention
was first called by Its voice. | endeavored I'M
successfully to catch them in beaver traps. and
spent days hunting them in the mountains
without ever getting fair shot.
On one occasion while hunting several miles
from camp We killed number of elk which we
spent the afternoon packing out in reach of a
wagon and then laid down covered with blood
Pin cottonwood grove to sleep the sleep Of
tired, but happy hunters. We heard FAINT
rustling In the dark evidently not more than
fifteen feet from our heads. which we agreed
was skunk or marten. when again the voice
of this night prowlcr arose. raising at the same
! time our HAIR until we could get hold of the
rifles. On this occasion | heard for the first
time spit catike sound which sometimes
(perhaps always follows the loud cry
but which can only be heard when close to the
animal.
In the morning we found about one-third of
our meat eaten, one-quarter, hanging eight
feet nigh, had been pulled down and carried
about sixty yards. Although our meet was not
200 yards from We heard not a sound during
the night in that direction. We had evidently
been trailed TO cur resting place before they
touched it,
The disturbance in camp from these animals
finally became so great that gave permission
TO put out poison. and although We could find
but one half-grown one we never again heard
their voices. much to nv regret
To me the cry has always seemed like moo
WOO o o-woo, long drawn out with a rising in
fection. followed by falling and sometimes
Terminated by VOW, which then has an unmis-
taxable catIlke sound