St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-05
MOST EXCITING HUNT.
Struggle of Men and Dogs With a
Panther in the Wilds of Ar
kansas.
A Terrible Encounter in the Cane
brakes That Meant Life and
Death.

Thirty years ago Arkansas was aptly
called 1.-The Hunters Paradise" espe-
cially the luxurious valleys, which fol-
low the sinuous sweep of Red and Little
rivers, as they roll their continent
waters toward the vast reservoir of the
Mississippi, says the st. Louis Republic.
There is tangled jungle in the
forks of these two rivers called the
Devils Den. 1t is, or was, an almost
lmpenetrable caneDrake. Tall canes,
thirty feet high, reared their plumy
heads, festooned and entangled with
wild grape and rattan vines.
1t was dark here, even at blaze of
noon, land these green ana shady covertS
were the home Of innumerable species
| of wild animals. Here wild hogs. led
| by gaunt and bristly bears, fed on the
| sweet acornS and pecans; here the bear
| reared her cubs, and the brindled wild
| cat made her secret lair.
| 1t was in January. The air was clear,
| cold and criSp-just the weather for a
bear hunt. l had a full pack of trained
bear dogs, and they, as we'll as myself
were eager for chase.
l had a friend who lived about one
iullC llOnl IuC OCYll y DcU, 81 L COil-
cluded to spend the night with him,
and start out on our hunt in the early
morning. | rode over to Morris cabin
and made all the necessary arrange
ments. Morris kept "bach," as he
styled it,and cooked our supper of sweet
potatoes. johnny cake and venison
steak, with delicious coffee, made In a
quart oyster can, and drank out of tin
cups. We went to bed early, and all
was still. save the mysterious sounds
which Longfellow would call the
''voiceS of the night" We were just
falling asleep when we heard, not far
distant. the weird and blood-curdling
scream of a panther.
This might be called one of ''volces of
the night" which was neither musical
nor reaSSuring.
When one hears for the first time the
scream of panther he is sure that it is
the cry of woman in distress.
We had an early breakfast and started
on our hunt just as the sun was gliding
the tops OF the giant WalnutS and cotton
woods. We rode for several hours, yet
our dogs had not scented any game. The
day had grown warm and pleasant, and
Morris suggested that as we had started
no game we should look for bee-trees.
The cypress brake through which we
riding is the home of the wild bee. Eve
seen many giant cypress cut down,
the hollow trunk completely filled with
the whiteSt and most delicious honey. l
remember cutting bee tree, and I'M
bedded in the fragrant honey we found
a wild ducks nest containing twelve
eggs in a state of perfect preservation.
While we were looking for bee trees
the dogs were busily hunting for nobler
game. In every pack of bear dogs there
must be one called 'start dog" You
can always rely on him. He will never
open unless he scents the kind of game
you are hunting. His influence over the
pack equals that of the most astute pol
itician over his party. My start dog was
named Buck, and his energy was won
derful.
We had seen nothing of Buck for sew
eral hours, while the rest of the pack
were tagging along with us. | knew
Buck was searching in the cane for
bear.
We were walking slowly among the
dry cypress leaves. when l suddenly
heard Bucks deep, sonorous bay. Every
dog pricked up his ears, and such
race you never saw. They knew as
we'll as l that big game was on hand.
1t was also race between Morris and
myself to see who would get the first
shot, the rule among hunters being that
whoever draws the first blood gets the
hide.
The dogs had all come to bay some
time before we could reach the scene, as
our progress through the jungle was
very slow. When we reached them
they were barking around the base of a
huge ash tree eight feet in diameter.
Looking upward we beheld, stretched
in supple beauty on a limb that grew
horizontally from the tree, the largest
paather | ever saw.
He was terrible looking creature as
he crouched, lashing his tail angrily
from side to side, and glaring fiercely at
us with eyes like luminous balls of yell
low fire.
Morris carried rifle and 1 had a
doublebarreled shotgun. We had no
breechaaders in those days.
Morris was splendid shot usually,
but on this occasion whether his nerves
were unsteady or he was In too much
haste to take good aim, [ know not his
shot only grazed the panther's shoulder,
engaging him SO that he leaped from the
tree, when he was Instantly covered by
the dogs.
A hunter and his dogs are very much
attached to each other, and will risk
their lives, when in danger, to save
their cOmrade. Dogs are the best. Of
comrades and the truest friends.
saw that evesy one Of my faithful
dogs would be killed in ten minutes, so
| made rush for the spot, but Morris
caught me and chung to me with all his
strength, imploring ME:
For Gods sake. don't go there! You
shan't go; your life wouldn't be worth
a CENT?
My blood was up,and. being stronger
man than Morris, l threw him down,
broke loose from him and rushed 10 the
fray.
Up to this time the panther had been
fighting on his feet, but perhaps feeling
that the dogs were too many for him, he
suddenly threw himself on his back, cat
fashion, and prepared to do execution
those long, sharp claws would disem-
bowel dog quick as a wink.
knew it was now or never if wanted
ran up to the panther, pushed the muz-
shoulder and fired. He never moved
passed over him and he lay still.
the same spot, and his heart was blown
to pieces.
Our beauty, from tip 10 tip, measured
nine feet eight inches.
None of the dogs were killed, but
many were badly manned. and bore the
marks of the panther's claws the rest