The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-21

Raftsmen's Perilous Adventure
with an Angry Panther.

John CARING trapped that panther
back in the north swamp. This stroke
of good luck-as it was regarded ther
-befell the old hunter early in Decem
Der. The news spread rapidly, and a
few days later Mel Drewitt and paid
him visit. His cabin was in lonely
bit of forest half a dozen miles from the
river.
The panther was confined in stout
oaken cage. built for the purpose. II
was then nearly full-grown, and was
unusually plump and fat; its sleek, red.
| dish-yellow fur was beautifully shaded,
and it's thick powerful limbs gave evil
dence Of great strength. 1t was almost
as large as a Newfoundland dog.
| But a more vicious and ill-tempered
beast Mel and had never seen. 1t was
continually pacing up and down its mar
row limits, and whenever we ventured
near the Stats it snarled with rage.
CARING had the reputation of being
taciturn and a little crusty, but on
this occasion he was ,quite talkative,
and gave US lively account of the
beasts capture.
''The crittur amt very good-tem-
pered," he concluded, but reckon I'll
tame him arter while"
"Do you intend to make a pet Of
hIm?" asked Mel
The old trapper eyed US for an in
stant with half-smile lighting up his
grizzled features.
Yes" ne replied, dryly, "I'll teach
him ter foller me round like dog,
He'll be good company in the long win
ter evenings, and venison is SO plenty
that it won't cost much for his keep"
With this jesting remark, CARING
warded off our inquisitive questioning,
though he intimated vaguely that we
''night know more long about spring"
you ought to name your pet" I
suggested as we were about starting
homeward. "'Spitfre would just
suit
$50 it would, lad," laughed the trap
per ''Much obliged for the idee. I'll
call the varmint 'Spit6re. ,"
Well. the winter months went rapid
ly by, and spring began to loom up in
the near future. Mel and l were kept
too busy to visit the lonely cabin, but
we heard from time to time that Spit
fire was thriving in his close quarters
and Was growing more ill-tempered
every day.
About the middle of March arrived
the spring rains and thaws, and down
from the hills poured the torrents of
melted snow. The ice broke on the
river and was whirled away. The West
branch became raging, yellow flood,
and forest trees, far up on the banks,
were Tapped by the swirling eddies.
When the flood had subsidized little,
the scene of activity was transferred
from the lumber camp to the river.
The first raft was quickly built into
sections and bound together with hick-
ory withes. 1t was of medium size and
contained selected pine planks. It's
destination was Columbia. town on
the lower Susquehanna, within forty or
fifty miles of Chesapeake bay. This
was as promising trip as Mel or l
could have desired, for the distance was
all of two hundred and fifty miles.
The raft was fitted with two
Sweeps" as the gigantic steering-oars
are called. Near the stern was small
cabin. containing hunks and cook
stove. 1t had sort of an annex at one
side, in which were stored potatoes and
slabs of maple-sugar. These belonged
to the raftsmen, and were to be sold or
traded off at stopping places along the
way.
Three of Mr.. Drewitt's most tried and
trusty men comprised the crew. Hack
ett and Fosdyke were gaunt, sinewy
fellows, a little gruff outwardly, but
sterling at heart. They were about
fifty years old. Grubb was a stout,
man, with pleasant, good
humored face. He had plenty of
strength in his plump arms, but his
chief qualification was cooking. He was
ten years younger than his comrades.
One sunny morning, early in April,
Mel and [ stood aboard the raft, wait
ing for the rnooring lines to be cast off
Grubb and Fosdyke were ashore, talk
ing to little knot of lumbe-men who
had temporarily stopped work on Sec
ond raft. Mr.. Drewitt stood near by,
EiNAhN buIhSbe iHdl uCt1OuS.
Il wish they would hurry" ex-
claimed Mel, impatiently. "Hullol
Look there!'' he added.
A queer-looking vehicle, drawn bv
two mules. had just emerged from the
forest and was moving down the
rugged road to the river With the
utmost surprise, we recognized Spit
fires cage mounted on four wheels.
John CARING was perched on top. driv-
ing. We hurried over the plank to
shore, and a moment later the team
pulled up at the waters edge.
Say, Drewitt" cried the trapper, as |
he jumped to the ground. Il want YOU |
to 90 me favor. l never knowed till !
the other day that your raft was ready |
to start. Will you let your men take
this varmint down to Columbia. and |
ship it from there to New York by |
freight? The railroad amt handy !
here, YOU know, ar, besides. the |
journey would be too long. It won't /
be SO hard on the crittur if he starts |
from Columbia I've made arrange |
ments by letter fur disposin' OF him.
The cage is ready marked"
He pointed to a card tackled on the |
side, which bore in scrawiing charac- |
ters the following address:
.-..,.
CARR VANDEERFrE