The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1895-01-31
FURY OF THE WILDCAT.
Row It Resulted In tho Death OF Two Cooni


Row It Resulted In tho Death OF Two Coons
and Greyhound.
While passing through the forest on
Oak hill, near Scranton, Pa, just after
daybreak recently, a woodchopper of
White Oak run spied large wildcat
stealing along with his teeth set in the
nose end of sleeps head. He hadn't
gone five rods when two coons headed
him off and began to beg. The wild
cat snarled, dashed between them and
kept straight on, and the coons tagged
along on each side and coaXed like do
nestle cats begging from their owner.
Near big Eastwood tree the coons
laid hold Of the ears OF the head and
brought the wildcat up standing. He
growled and yanked and struck right
and left, but failed to reach the coons.
The head was in his way, and the coons
seemed to know that he would be IN
able to injure them SO long as he hung
on to it. One of the coons presently
hoped over him and started to work
at the coveted morsel with its mate.
The change of tactics greatly enraged
| the wildcat, and dropping the head he
4 sprang at the coons. They let go the
second the wildcat did. and one Of them
got out of the way The other turned
upon its back for fight, and the wild
cat killed it in jjiitfy. No sooner had
the wildcat tackled one coon the other
seized the Sleeps head ANA climbed mp
the Eastwood. The wildcat wheeled
from his victim just in time to spot the
robber, and up the tree he flew, sizzin g
and splitting. A moment before he
reached the crotch the coon dropped
the head into a hole in the
trunk and shot in after it.
The wildcat followed, popped ont
shortly with his claws full of hair,
came screaming down the tree and
started to tear at the dead coon. Pretty
soon he made off with the coon's tail,
and the woodchopper stole up and be-
headed him with his ak. Then he cut
down the Eastwood and killed two
coons in the hollow trunk. One Of them
was threc-legged, lean old coon, evil
| IDENTIFY the mother of the Others and it
was plain to be seen that the persist
ence of the young coons was due to the
fact that their mother was starving
and that they were bound to obtain
something for her to eat.
Razor, a greyhound belonging TO
Eleazer Eastman, Of Kitchens creek
cot in the habit of following the bark
peelers to the helnlccll woods. One
noon while the men were eating in the
shade near their work the greyhound
suddenly dropped a bone he was gnnw-
ING and started off through the woods
at the speed of a race horse. 1t was
clear that he had got sight OF some
thing that he wanted to nab. In less
than two minutes Razor came bound
ing toward the camp with wildcat
kitten in his mouth He had it by the
back and the little thing was mewlng
piteously and struggling in vain to
get free. The kittens mother came
thrashing and wauling through the
underground Il few seconds later, and
the workmcn jumped up and tried to
drive the greyhound away. Razor re-
fused to bulge until the wildcat had
almost reached him. when he legs ed it
for the clearing at speed that left the
raging mother far in the rear Razor
came stealing back to camp within
fifteen minutes. His trsks were set in
the side of the dead kitten. He dropped
it at the feet of Mr.. Eastman, Tapped
some water from spring, and went to
gnawing his bone again. Before the
week was out Razor stole another kit
ten from the wildcat and ran toward
the workmen with it between his
teeth. The mother was after him
again, but the greyhound needed her
not Success in getting away with the
first kitten had made him reckless, and
he stopped and faced straightabout be-
fore he reached the woodsinen. Mr..
Eastman called to the greyhound and
shouted to him 20 get out of the way
+ but Razor held the @ailirg kitten in
his laws and didn't stir. The mother
of the kitten was only q few yards
away, and two Of the pcolers rushed at
the foolhardy greyhound and yelled
Razor remained motionless from fear OF
wonder or courage. they couldn't tel!
which, and before they could get neal
enough to strike him the screaming
| wildcat sprang a dozen feet or more
drove a claw deep into each of the
greyhound;s shoulders and lillGd hin
in twinkl;ng. The kitten was also
dead and one Of the peelers crushed
the Wildcats skull with spud.--N. Y
Sun.