Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-03-03

to move a trifle to the right so that a
better shot could be had
After tearing at the unfortunate COW
until she sank lifeless TO the ground the
panther-for panther the animal prov
ed to be-ate its I'LL of the quiyering
flesh and then slowly turned toward
the house As the great cat saw the
boy. kneeling in the doorway and
trembling with excitement and fear,
It gave a snarl and crouched low NOV
ing its tail rapidly from side to side,
its ewes shining like living Goals in
the dark.
With murmuered prayer, Johnnie
took q quick aim and pulled the trig-
ser. The animal gave a leap in the
air toward the boy, uttered a savage
scream of rage. which echoed far and
wide and fell back dead with a bullet
in It's BRAIN IL was some minutes be-
ore Johnnie dared approach the fallen
creature. and when he did he was more
than asJouished to find arounds its
neck q broad leather strap. which had
evidently been placed there by human
hands
While Johnnie was wondering what
it all meant, and how the strap came
there. Mr.. and Mrs. Blakeley drove
mp. The mother was too frightened
TO speak. as she gazed al the dead
panther and thought OF the danger in
which her boy had been placed The
rather after making a critical examin-
alton OF the animal and the collar
round It's neck, at once set out for the
home OF his nearest neighbOr.
On his return he announced that the
mystery OF the panther would probably
DE cleared up on the morrow. as party
intended 10 make a search for the lair
of the animal and to find it if it were
CD be found Little Johnnie pleaded
10 be- allowed 20 accompany the party,
0u- could mol gain consent. as his moth
er entered firm and emphatic protest.
Tn the early morning hounds were Sc
cured and a small party of the settlers
took mp the trail of the panther. 1t
led 90 the ledge of rocks on the Brule
River. where the animal had success
fully hidden SO many times when pur-
sued by The hunters. This time the
hounds kept the scent and il was found
that the home of the creature had been
in a cave almost hidden from sight,
which could only be reached by leap
ing over a 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
nos ,rils. Almost TOO much astonished
TO speak. the men slowly advanced and
al LASS came TO the fire. Near 10 was
seated q half-breed Indian. tondllng
Two small panther cubs, evidently the
Young of the female which had been
killed the day before by Johnnie
Blakeley.
The Indian jumped to his feet as the
men. with their rifles at their SnOul-
ders. approached. and made dash
for the opening of the cave. He never
reached IL. for q rifle was discharged.
probably accidentally, IN the excite
ment of the moment. and the half
breed fell on his face. blood pouring
from terrible wound i'm his chest.
Everything possible was done for the
sufferer. but il was seen that he was
morraIly wounded AS he was placed
jenderly near the fire on pile of furs
be gasled painfully once or twice and
then spoke He had come into the
ueishborhoOd the previous ial he said,
bringing with him the female panther.
which he had captured and tanned in
Michigan.
In this cave be had lived alone, with
only his savage pet for companion.
Here the cubs mad been born and he
was endea.oring TO train them as he
had trained their mOther-tO kill and
bring 10 them whatever came in their
path. Human bones were found in
the cave but when the half-breed's
body was taken to the settlement,
along with the cubs. no mention of
these bones was made by the men,
who had decided that no good would
come from it.
The body was given a decent burial;
the cubs were killed after being on
exhibition for a few days. and the re
ward of $50 was paid to Johnnie Blake
ley who is now a business man in a
Wisconsin city and who highly prizes
an Old-tashioned muzzZle loading rifle
and a tattered panther skin rug, which
occupy positions of honor in his home.
Twas he who related 10 me the story
as here given. Nothing was ever learn
ed concerning the identity of the half
breed although inquiries were made.
and it is more than probable that he
had been more or less crazy. had rails
ed the old panther from a cub and had
wandered from Michigan over into Wis
consin, as he said.-Chicago News.