The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1893-08-02
ATTACKED BY A PANTHER
WITH ONLY BIRDsHOT AND A
KNIFE FOR DEFENSE.
The Desperate Encounter of Tom
Tower, in Which He Was Bitten
and Torn Almost to Pieces.

Tom Tower, a young rancher of Muir
eta, Cal, is slowly recovering from
wounds received in single-handed en-
counter with full grown panther some
days ago, the memory of which still
haunts his hours both sleeping and wax.
ing and the scars from which be will
carry to his grave. A few mornings ago
Tower, in company with friend, started
for forenoon's hunt in the foothills.
A fter time the two become separated
and the friend meeting with Indifferent
success, returned to the ranch Tower
continued his way deeper into the foot
hills, and while going through dense
growth OF mesquite and manzanita on
his way to the summit Of "hog back, "he
suddenly entered little clearing few
yards in extent As he did so huge
panther arose with growl from its liar
in the center of the clearing. For an
instant Tower was paralyzed with fright
Then he rapidly took stock OF his situa-
ton, keeping his eyes on the huge beast
that was crouching with its yellow belly
to the ground, lashing the short sage
with its long, flexible tail, its short ears
nattened to its head, snarling, showing
its terrible
LONG, WHITE FANGs
and the long body swaying, preparatory
for resistless leap. There was no way
for Tower to escape. The brute would
be on him in another moment, and there
was no possible help within miles. There
was nothing to do but fight. But what
were his chances? His weapons con.
sisted of double-barreled shotgun
loaded with fine shot, short, stout
bladed knife, two good arms, a strong,
athletic frame and an abundance of
clear, true grit. But what OF his antag-
onist that would be upon him in an
other instant? A sinewy, supple, power
ful body paws that could crush the
skull of an OK, jaws that could bite
through his thigh with one crunch, AID
thick, tawny hide that would afford
successful resistance to those pitiful
small shot. While taking this inventory
Tower had never removed his gaze from
those great yellow eyes glazing at him
from the ground, not five yard distant.
His only hope was to blind the brute
with the shot He had been standing
motionless, fearing that the slightest
movement might precipitate that terri
BILE leap. But now the silence was brok
en- by sharp click Of the cooked gun,
and with quick downward movement
OF his left hand
lie LoosENED THE KNIFE
in his belt; then braced himself for the
catapult. 1t was not long delayed. With
the first movement by Tower the panther
had crouched lower, its body trembling
more violently, and now it sprang into
the air with cry between roar and
scream. AS it left the ground Tower
fired the right barrel full into the beasts
front and then jumped nimbly to one
side. The brute screamed again while
vet in the air and as it struck the ground
tore at its head with its paws and bit at
that sharp singing pain in its breast.
Tower had only time to step back three |
or four PAGES when the maddened animal
sprang again and again met the full force
OF the second load of shot fired by that
steady hand, and again did Tower leap |
to one side, and at the same moment
throwing open the breech of his gun and
reaching to his belt for more cartridges. |
But the panther did not delay the third |
leap. II had hardly touched the ground |
when it was up, and this time reached
its fangs with crunching snarl deep |
into his left shoulder. Down they went |
locked in deadly embrace, in fight for |
life in that secluded spot on the side OF a |
lonely mountain, and witnessed only by |
the robins sitting motionless in mute |
surprise on the bushes.
AS THE TWO WENT DOWN
Tower grasped his short knife, as the |
fangs OF his antagonist met in his shout |
der, drove it to the haft in the animals |
side. With a scream Of pain the panther |
released its hold only to seize him again. |
Over and over they rolled, the panther
tearing at Towers limbs and vitals with |
its cruel claws and crushing his arm and |
shoulder with its powerful jaws. Tower |
managed to keep his right arm free, and
piled it rapidly. Again and again did he |
drive the knife to the hilt in the animals |
neck and side, the hot blood gushing
over him at every stroke. AS the after
noon waned and Tower did not return,
his friend at the ranch became anxious |
and with three OF the men started on
search for his absent comrade Going |
first TO the place where they had sepa-
rated, the searchers took up the trail and
had no difficulty in following it, his foot
prints being plainly distinguished in the
soil. After tramp Of two hours they
forced their way through thicket and
found in little opening an explanation
OF their friends absence. There he lay, |
face downward in the dirt, his clothing
almost torn from his body or pasted to
the flesh by great clots of dried blood
that had poured from deep, gaping
wounds few feet away, on a plot OF
blood-soaked ground, lay full-grown
panther, dead, with short-bladed knife
driven TO the halt behind the left fore
shoulder. Taking in the situation in an
instant, the rescuers ran TO Tower sup
posing OF course. that he was dead. bat
they were overjoyed TO find that there
was still enough blood left in his veins to
create pulse. 1t took those men OF the
mountains but few moments TO con-
struct litter OF boughs, and placing
Towers almost lifeless body upon IL they
carried him down the mountain TO the
ranch Medical aid was nrOmntlv slim-