Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-12-14
FIGHT WITH A PANTHER.
An Old Arkansan's Thrilling Ex-
perience.
The Dangers Of Pioneer Life in the South
west -Hand-to -Hand Encounter with
n Magnificent Bruto-Tho No
billty OF q Dog.

inc most exciting adventure j ever
experienced, said Uncle Billy Clardy,
land the narrowest escape from death,
happened right here In Arkansas on
the spot where my house now stands.
not quite two miles from the city OF
Texarhana. That was in 1888. while
Arkansas was still territory. | was a
young fellow then, but active and mus
cular. You can all brag about your
athletics, Indian clubs and dumb bells,
but could have whipped any two Of
you with one hand tied behind me.
at was in 49, This country was n
wilderness then. There were only n few
towns, and they sparsely settled My
parents lived in Camden, which was
then called Ecore Febre, or center Of
trade. This was just short time be-
fore Van Buren, was elected president,
aud the whole country was suffering
from financial panic. Even the gov
eminent could not pay its debts.
had friend living where Washington,
Ark, now stands and he wrote 10 me
in glowing terms of the rich black
land and fertile proiries around him, of
which / could take my choice, home
stead the land, and in few years be
rich man.
AS / had a sweetheart back in old
Georgia who had agreed to marry me as
soon as l had home TO offer her,
jumped at my friends suggestions
81 arose early next morning, packed
n change Of clothes in my saddlebags
with supply of dried venison and
bread, cleaned and loaded my gun,
strapped good, sharp Ratchet TO my
sa ldle-wlth which to blaze trees on
my way-called my Two faithful dogs
and started away on my lonely
journey.
"Oue of my dogs was a deerhound,
the Other was a mixture of bulldog and
mastiff, large and powerful. pure grit
all through, ready TO grapple with any
thing from rattlesnalSe to buffalo.
Brave old Porter Had II not been for
him | would never have located my
pleasant home, with its sparkling
springs and smiling acres of fertile
land.
1.-THE distance was almost sevcnty.fve
miles and | travelled brislily she first
day, intending to go more leisurely and
inspect the land Us | neared my friends
plantation, with view of locating
near him. never met Il soul or passed
Il single house during my first days
ride through the silent forests, which
were full of all kinds of game-wild
turkeys, deer, ca.amounts, quail and
grouse, with now and again slxullSing
wolf, which passed snarling by.
camped near pretty creek, with my
horse staked on the juicy grass and my
two dogs sleeping at my feet
~ was awakened early next morn
ing by turkey gobbling few feet
away. lpeered cautiously among the
bushes and soon found them | sent n
shot in their midst, killing one and
wounding another. which, in trying
TO escape, caused me TO lose my pouch
OF ammunition, which loss came near
proving fatal TO me.
II pursued my lonely journey, be-
coming more delighted as | rode along
with the country through which
passed, and keeping n sharp lookout
for good building spot, near spring,
us felt that could find no better land
or prettier scenery than that. About
four o'clock in the afternoon 1 rode
into n strip Of woods that fairly capti-
waited me with its beauty. 1t was a
gently rolling plateau, which sloped to
lovely creek fringed with dropping
willows and alders. There was scarce
ly any underground; groves of walnut,
gum and hickory trees. the growth of
centuries, reared their heads and sifted
the sunlight through their leaves on
the grassy sward below; wild plums,
crabapples and grapes stepped the air
with perfume; ut the base Of giant
maple tIickled the sparkling water of
spring. Springing from my horse
und tying him TO the branch of tree,
hastened to the spring and lsneeling
took long draught from its fern
fringed, pebbly fount 1t was as cool
Us though it flowed from the snow
capped peaks OF Mount Olympus, and |
shouted aloud in my joy, though none
but the dogs could hear.
"As 1t was getting late | concluded
to camp there, so that | could select
and locate the ground, which would
enter when | reached Washington.
luy Hat on my back on the ground with
my head pillowed on my clasped hands,
my soul lulled into serenity by the
silent beauty of the scene.
Il was aroused from my reveries by
hearing my horse snorting and rear
ing and Juggling frantically at his
bride, as though he were mad with
fear. ] also noticed that the dogs,
which were lying painting near the
spring, had jumped up and with bris-
ties erect and low growls seemed to
scent danger in the air,
u thought perhaps wolf was
skullsing around, and, Selling my
musket, which held my only load of
ammunition, as had lost my pouch in
the race after the turkey ] fastened to
my horse, looking cautiously through
the woods ! could see or hear Moth
ing, but before could reach my horse
he snapped his bride and galloped
madly away, the turkeys tapping up
and down, and adding new terrors TO
his fright
" started after my horse, calling TO
the dogs, who still seemed cowed and
frig htencd. Finally the hound came to
my call, but he came shrinkingly and
undcr protest, Us It were, while Porter
the mastii2, refused To bulge. The
hound sliulkcd after mo with dropping
ears and tall looking just as a dog does
when expecting u severe boating am
not coward, but ~ confess my heart
beat faster in the face OF this unseen
danger and, still calling my dogs, |
beat hasty retreat,
Il had gone hundred yards perhapa
H. 4 Al 4