Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-01-23


moved back to the doorway. Resin
the heavy rife across chair there, h
silently waited for the marauder
move a triae to the right, 80 that
better shot could be had
After tearing at the unfortunate COY
until she sank lfe&Os 10 the groun
the panther-for panther the ANNA
proved to be-ate its Ill Of the culver
ing flesh and then slowly turned to
ward the house. AS the great cat say
the boy, kneellng In the doorway ant
trembling with excitement and fear
IL gave q snarl and crouched low, NOV
ing Its tail rapidly from side to side
Its eyes shining like living Goals In thu
dark.
With murmured prayer, Johnnie
took quick aim and pulled the trigger
The animal gave a leap into the all
toward the boy, uttered q savage
scream Of rage, which echoed far and
wide, and fell back dead, with a bullet
In Its brain. 1t was some minutes be-
fore Johnnie dared approach The fallen
creature and when he did he was more
than astonished to find around It's mech
a broad, leather strap, which had EVIL
IDENTIFY been placed there by humaL
hands.
While Johnnie was wondering what
II all meant and how the strap came
there, Mr.. and Mrs. Blakely drove up
The mother was too frightened tc
speak, as she gazed at the dead panther
and thought Of the danger in which her
boy had been placed. The father after
making q critical examination Of tho
animal and the collar around Its mech
at once set out for the home OF his near
est nolghbor,
On his return he announced that the
mystery Of the panther would probably
be cleared up on the morrow, as
party intended to make search fol-
the lair of the animal and find If 1t were
to be found. Little Johnnie pleaded to
be allowed to accompany the party, but
could not gain consent, as his mother
entered firm and emphatic protest.
In the early morning hounds were
secured and n small party Of the set
tiers took up the trail of the panther
1t led to the ledge Of rocks on the Brule
river, where the animal had successful
ly hidden so many times when pur-
sued by the hunters. This time the
hounds kept the scent and it was found
that the home Of the creature had been
in a cave almost hidden from sight, !
which could only be reached by leaping
over deep cut in the rocks
AS the party entered the den, which |
ran back into the rocks for some dis
lance the smell Of smoke greeted their
nostrils. Almost too much astOnished
to speak, the men slowly advanced and
at last came to the fire. Near 1t was
seated half-breed Indian, fondling two
small panther cubs, evidently the young
Of the female which had been killed the
day before by Johnnie Blakely.
The Indian jumped to his feet as the
men, with their rifles at their shoulders,
approached, and made a dash for the
opening Of the cave. He never reached
it, for rifle was discharged, probably
in the excitement Of the
moment, and the half-breed fell on his
face, blood pouring from terrible
wound in his chest.
Everything possible was done for the
sufferer, but it was seen that he was
wounded. AS he was placed
near the fire on a pile of furs
he gasped painfully once or twice anG
then spoke. He had come into the
the previous fall, he said
with him the female panther,
which he had captured and tanned in
In this cave he had lived alone, with
only his savage pet for companion,
Here the cubs had been born and he
was endeavoring to train them as he
had trained their mother-to kill and
bring to him whatever came in her
Dullls IluluIn bOlSo WSlO LOulu III IuS
cave, but when the half-breed's body
was taken to the settlement, along with
he cubs, no mention Of these bones was
made by the men, who decided that no
good could come from it.
The body was given a decent burial;
he cubs were killed after being on ex-
libition for few days, and the reward
If $50 was paid to Johnnie Blakely,
Who is now business man in a Wis
,onsin city and who higly prizes an
muzzle-loading rifle and
| tattered panther-skin rug, which oc-
,upy positions Of honor in his home.
Twas he who related to me the story
Is here given. Nothing was ever learned
the identity of the half.
,reed, although inquiries were made,
md it is more than probable that he
lad been more or less crazy, had raised
he old panther from cub and had
wandered from Michigan over into Wis
onsin, as he said.