The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-24

fail them, become doubly ferocious, and
viii tackle anything that will satisfy their
hunger. They are 1.-THE, powerful beasts,
whose cimeter-like claws and huge fangs
are capable Of awful execution in the rip
ping, tearing, slasning Inc Bill sald ne
was out hunting one day last week, look
ing for bear. he finally, along IN the al
ternOOn, struck the "spOor, OF one, and
was following up the trail II led him
eventually. 10 a small open space. per-
haps 60 feet in diameter. in the midst OF
heavy pine and spruce portion OF the for
est. The trail was clear and distinct
leading straight across the glade and as
appearing on the opposite SIDE. tor some
time, Bill said, he had thought the iran
had been getting hot, and ne mad pro
ceeded with the utmost caution ana quiet
ness Before crossing the open space ne
had paused for a few moments 70 recon-
hotter. Suddenly a sound smote MS ears.
He soon made il out 10 he the passage OF
some heavy body through the forest uh-
dergrOWth. Not knowing "hat lhlsnts %
coming he cooked his rifle and awaited
DEVELOPMENTS. In a few moments a great
putting, grunting and scfampilns adli ,yI.
ed the approach OF some wiz AlIls-N''
of the woods g. -.
The next instant there burst from the
opposite side of the clearing a DIE D Iqe
bear the identical one, Bill thlnhs' Ia
he had been trailing, and which had tuAh
ed squarely in its trail. .lts EYES
bullying with terror, and II was Jun Jun 4
ing along at a rapid gait. Bill raised nis
rifle to shoot the moment the bear mace
its appearance, but the next instant -
lowered 1t and lodged behind tree. 1sish t
at the heels, and, in fact, not twenty LeSS
in the rear of the bear, was a cIeatul
which Bill in an instant recognized as
the furred snake. Its jaws were open, lts
eyes flashing and II was running IsP
idly its head six feet in the air. IL would
certainly have overtaken the pear IN a
few seconds had not something happehSu.
Just as 1t swung into the open space w w
horror-stricken Bill said he heard the
spring-back of a tree-bough Hghtened OI
a. heavy load, and there flashed foTtn
through the air the biggest male pailtIeI
he ever saw. He had been lying on long,
over-hanging limb, and had not been seen
by Bill, who regards it as proYldenti,aI
that he did not cross the slaas, as ne
probably would have been the big car
victim. He thinks the panther, halt-fam-
ished by hunger, was awaiting some prey
when the bear burst into view, ana then
he sprang for it. At any rate, II that was
the panther's intention, he missed his
mark and alighted fairly and squarely on
the back of the snake. That both crea-
lures were surprised goes without say
ing. Both had got something not bargain
ed for, but both were instinct with devil
ish disposition to fight. So at it they
went almost before the painting, terror
stricken bear had disappeared from view.
Literally speaking, the hair flew. Inc
northern tiger seemed to realize thaI ne
seemed to warn him to avoid the deadly
crushing folds of his reptile antagonist
When he first struck the snake II was al
point about ten feet from its head. Al
great patches of hair and hide from the
| reptile. Quick as thought the latter swung
its big head around and It's jaws closed
with a snap on the panthers hide. IL
| tore away several mOuthfuPs, exposing
the quivering flesh This diverted the PAN
| ther and he ceased clawing the reptile
| back and broke away and made a snap at
| its head. The snake was too quick Tor nm,
| however, and its jaws in turn closed on
| the muzzle of the panther. When the lat
/ ter finally tore loose his face was running
| blood, but he was mad with fury and pain.
| Springing again at the snake he bit big
| piece of fur and flesh out of its body he
| then sprang back with Incredible quick
ness, but at that instant the powerful tail
/ of the snake swung around, struck the
/ huge cat fair on one side and knocked MN
fully ten feet. Back sprang the panther,
/ however, and again both creatures closed
/ in a grapple, the cat growing and Splttlng
/ and the snake kissing. The snow was soon
/ dyed crimson hue.
| throw its coils about it's antagonist, but
| the latter had succeeded in avoiding them.
| Finally, however, the uncovered monster
succeeded in throwing a coil about the
/ panther. Just at that moment, as luck
| would have it, its tail struck the base OF a
| small tree, which it instantly utilized as
a fucrum, and from that moment the fate
| of the panther was sealed, although II
fought desperately, biting and clawing
until the end came. The snake eXertlng It's
| powerful concentrating force, frightened
Its deadly coil rapidly and soon Bill heard
| a sickening crushing of bone and smeW.
| The panther, in its dying agony, gave vent
| to fearful animal yell, and in a few mo-
| ments it was a crushed, limp, mass. After
holding 1t in its fearful embrace few mo-
ments, the snake, apparently satisfied, re-
! Taxed its death-coil.
The combat had lasted scarce ten min
utes, and during that time, Bill says, he
was fairly glued to his tracks with horror
He seemed unable to move. Now that ii
was over he appeared suddenly to come to
himself and to realize his own danger
Taking last look at the snake, which was
making what appeared to be preparations
to swallow the panther, Bill, with a eau
ton doubled by extreme terror, com
menced to worm his way from the danger
Gus neighborhood. He finally succeeded In
getting at a safe distance from the scene
of the combat, and then he made a straight
streak for the lumber camp.
Tho GRAY Horse Lives Longest