Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1893-02-08
ARGUS
A Willy PANTHER.

The leopard of India, properly
the panther, is "a cold-blooded, vim
dictive, treacherous, cunning brute.
In comparison with him the tiger
is amiable.
Some years ago, certain district
in Central India was so demoraliz-
ed by the ravages of man-eating
panther that the government raised
the reward for his head from ten
rupees to one hundred.
The authorities saw that this
man-eater must be killed or the dis
trict over which he ranged, about
seventy miles in circumference,
would become deserted. From one
village he had carried off no less
than forty people within three years.
No one knew where he might be
found; one night man was found
dead, with the four deep holes i'll his
throat, the man-eater's work. The
same night, the dead bodies of two
other men, living respectively, ten
or fifteen miles from the first vic
tim, were discovered with the fatal
mark.
He would kill for killings sake,
for his victims would often be found
untouched, except in the throat,
where the fatal mark of the dread
ed man-eater was left. He would
carry off children in broad daylight.
Yet he was so cautious that even
when he had seized his prey the
slightest noise would make him drop
it and seek safety in flight. So de-
moralized were the bravest of the
native hunters that they refused to
go after him.
Wild pigs and deer ravaged the
growing crops by night, for no one
dared to watch in the fields. Even
the sleeper in his cot in the midst
of village had been struck dead by
the beast.
One poor man, who looked to his
growing crops to pay some money
he had narrowed, had watched for
several nights his fields. All had
gone well, until one morning at day
break he came into the hut and
laid down by the fire to sleep.
Suddenly his watchful wife heard
a rustling in the bushes near the
house. She awoke her husband,
only to be laughed at as foolish
woman frightened at the wind
stirring the leaves. He turned over
and went to sleep again.
The anxious woman watched.
Half an hour passed, when the
dreaded panther burst into the room
and seized the sleeping husband by
the throat. She sprang to his aid,
shrieking loudly.
The panther dropped his victim,
sprung into the bushes and disap-
peared. Her husband was dead.
A government laborer, "a brave
young man, passing through one of
the villages i'll the man-eater's
range, stayed all night.
At dusk every one retired within
doors, and watch was set at each
hut. The young man, laughing at
their fears refused to retire from
the veranda of the head mans
house.
"Why! Icould slice the panther"
he said, ''in two with my sword as
easily as could a lemon. Besides,
it is too hot to go into the house."
The inmates heard him moving
about and smoking his pipe until
midnight. At two in the morning
they heard him shrek.
Rushing out they found him dead.
The four marks in his throat told
that the panther had stealthily
waited his time.
English sportmen tried in vain
to kill this dreaded man-eater.
Goats and ponies were tied out
night after night as bats, while
hidden near by, the hunters waited.
But in vain.
The dead body of man was
placed near one of his haunts. But
the suspicious brute always made
sure by the deep breathing Of his
victim that he was alone and sound
asleep before he made the fatal
spring.
The figure Of a man was made
and laid in a bed under tree.
About it cooking utensils were
scattered, as though a traveller had
encamped for the night. A goat
muzzled to prevent its bleating,
was placed near by in box, so that
its breathing might lead the pan
Their to suppose that the figure was
a sleeping man.