The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-07
a FIGHT WITH A WILDCAT.
Adventure of John MuIhare in tho
CatSIxiIIs
From the New York Times.

From the New York Times.
Phoenicia, n. Y.-John Mulhare of this
place is in bed suffering from injuries he
received in fight with a wildcat After
a fierce struggle he managed to kill the
beast, but not until his clothes had been
torn III shreds and he had been lacerated
terribly by the sharp claws of the ami
NAL. Wildcats have been more numerous
in the Catskill Mountains this year than
IN d number of years past, and they have
been more than usually brave. attacking
travellers and hunters at frequent inter-
walls
:. 1t was last Saturday that Mulhare, who
IS a Well-known guide and hunter of the
Catskllis, started out from his home. in
the little hamlet of Chichesters about two
miles distant from this village, for the
dEoWeu purpose of visiting his traps
which were set within a radius of FIVE or
SIX miles from his home
lfudglng along through the dense for
est, through the light snow, which. Ill
terlng through the leaf-stripped branches
OF the trees during the snow-storm Of the
nlght before had made a snow-white car
pet on the ground, he soon reached his
nrst traps, and was disappointed to find
no game entangled in the tolls On he
t tieS th again, the chill wind that whis-
tied through the trees causing him to
shlVer with the cold and to button his
rough old hunting jacket closer and thrnst
ms mlttened hands further into his peck
The shadows began to deepen IN tbe
WOODS. 1t was nearing twilight. The
iif Soo ,5, Msrs very stu No sound of animal
ne could be heard. The sun was Setting
JUST as Mulhare emerged from the now
almost dark woods into little clearing
ana az lts Iast rays flooded the white waste
% mountain landscape with a sudden
glory as 1t gracefully dipped from sight
penlnd the towering mountain peak
,,,d ne 1 nanie again plunged into the
oWs; the night was fast coming. Hurried-
~ making his way through the forest. the
aunteT nnaily came to his last traps, and
was pleased to find that he had been for
Lunate enough to secure three rabbits
Inese ne dlsentangled from the traps. and
.yInS thelr hlnd legs together with a
piece Oh string he strung the rabbits on
a stick which he cut from a tree near-hv
so SO mat they might be easier to carry
ward. 70 iiOiiie-
In his haste he tripped over a Tough
,'Jo w M u. crossed the path and he meas
uTSu MS run length on the ground
Ills foot was caught in the root in such
d manner when he fell that his ankle
was badly sprained. and upon frvfnr 10
rise from his recumbent position he
round, TO his dismay, he was unable 10
get up. BY, dint of hard work and with
great deal of pain, he at last managed
to crawl from the thicket into a SOM
what open spot in the woods. when he
leaned up against the trunk of a fallen
faint. vas Ne'J
Selling some snow in his hands. he rub-
Dea IL on his face in the hope that the
cora applicatlon would cause his blood 10
circulate more freely and rapidlV. cnd
mat In that way he would be kent from
daldnt IN His ankle panied him terribly.
ana ne inought that his agony was near
unnearable. Soon he began TO rally ana
leeI much better, and he decided that he
would again make an effort to rise.
Just then he heard a hoarse scream.
similar to the agonized cry of little
child. Mulhare knew it was the cry of "A
Wuucat. Many times he had heard that
ters. 0S0 H""t
Mulhare shivered with fright. Alone in
the forest, several miles from the nearest
human habltation, he well knew that his
cries for assistance would not be likely to
ne heard; but, nevertheless, such was his
plight as be was armed with only his
hunting knife and was unable to rise TO
ms teet or escape, that he shreked for
help several times.
Again a mournful snarish cry was
heard echolng through the wood, the ami
mai apparently having advanced nearer
70 him than when its cry had been heard
In the deep gloom the hunter could see
nothing. lie shrank back against the |
tree IN great alright, and at almost the |
same instant large, taWny-colored 2 nj
maj leaped at him from behind.
The single snarl Of rage that the beast
uttered was the hunters only warning OF |
time 10 duck his head when the huge |
body Of the wildcat shot over his form |
with as much force as II il had been |
thrown from a catapult.
In moment Mulhare had drawn hts |
knife. and just in time, too, for the wild |
cat, wild with rage, had turned on him. |
straight at the unfortunate man flew the /
cat, striking him on the shoulder with rs |
sharp claws, the impact Of the animal |
stretching the man at full length on the |
snowy ground.
Mulhare shrieked with horror. He |
thought he would be killed instantly He |
managed TO aim blow at the animal with /
his hunting knife, but succeeded only In |
piercing his neck of the cat slightly.
Again and again did the desperate man /
deal the cat furious blows With his knife |
The blood flowed freely from wounds on |
went on. Mulhare was almost blinded nv /
the blood which coursed down his cheeks /
from the wounds In his head and which i
dripDcd over his eyelashes
Suddenly both man and beast rolled over |
sideways on the ground. In an instant the |
hunter was on top Of the huge aud fero-
cious cat. This was his opportunity and /
he seized IL without the loss Of "A second |
We plunged his knife IN the animals vi. |
tails; the warm life blood gushed forth.
and with a piercing cry the cat .essayed /
TO rise, in It's struggles throwing The nun
ter OIL iis bocy.
Then the animal leaped high into the air
and when II fell to the ground II was life
less
Had the struggle lasted a minute longer
u " probable Mulhare would have been |
killed himself As II was he was utterly /
exhausted and almost frozen TO death be-
fore he was found by his brother who,