The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-31
NEGRO AND PANTHER.
Engaged i'm a Desperate 8nttIe with
Natures Weapons.

Natures Weapons.
A writer in the Chicago Times Herald
relates a story told him by Lamar Fon-
taine of Lyons, Miss We were going
through that most fertile, but wild, and
sparseiy- section of country known
as the Mississippi delta, says the writer.
Passing the plantation which one belonged
to Gen w. s. Hancock, and the colony of
$50 or 200 negroes founded by one of the
former salves of jefferson Davis, he point
ed out the window in the direction OF a
stream glistening ike molten silver in the
moonlight, and said: Just over there.
two years ago, there occurred one of the
toughest fights between negro and pam
Their that ever happened, l will wager"
The train was not moving so swiftly as
to prevent my getting view of the coun-
try-heavily wooded, level and weird in
its loneliness and shadows and one could
readily believe il the habitat of the fierc-
est of animals
THE negro was doing some work for
me" continued Maj. Fontaine, land had
gone some distance from the camp to get
a drink of water. He said that as he lay
down to drink from the stream, having no
drinking vessel with him, he thought he
heard noice in a tree whose branches
spread above him. He gave only a pass
ing glance upward, however, and began
shaking has thirst AS he finished and
started to rise from his recumbent posi-
ton something suddenly fell upon his back
and shoulders with such weight as to mash
him to the earth again The weight also
fell with a humping sound to one side,
but not before cutting several terrible
gashes on his back as though he We're the
victim of some frez.ed negroes dreaded
razor He had had some experience,
and soon realized that he was attacked by
a panther II had evidently sprung from
a considerable distance, and at an angie,
this accounting for the breaking Of its
hold, though its claws and teeth had en-
tered his flesh
The negro was a powerful fellow, and,
like his race when mad knew no more
about fear than the Great ure attacking
him. He hadn't even knife about him.
but, Notwithstanding, he jumped upright,
and faced the panther, which with blaz-
ing eyes and crouching form, was prepar-
ing for another plunge. He stod facing
it for perhaps a dozen seconds when the
panther leaped directly at his throat
The negro, standing with one foot little
behind the other to serve as q brace threw
forward his left arm. This saved his
throat, as it was closed on by the animal.
resist yell of anguish which was heard
by me at the camp. With his right hand
he grasped the animal by the throat in the
hope of choking it to death; but this not
accomplishing his purpose, as soon as he
had hoped, he pressed il close as he could
against his breast, and fell forward, mold
ing it so as to receive his weight
when l heard the fellows yell / gath
cred my gun and a large butcher knife
in the camp and started forward to help
him. / reached him while he and his
fierce antagonist were struggling on the
ground for the mastery. About half the
body of the panther was from under the
darby, while its head was still fastened
underneath | buried the knife two or
three times in the exposed portion, and IL
was not long before it gradually relaxed
its struggles and Strengthened out, done
for / think the negro would have finally
triumphed. but this is by no means GER
tain, as he was terribly weakened when /
reached him. If he had formed an idea
that all the blood on the spot was his own
! am sure he would have given up-for If
there is one thing that can demoralize
a negro, strange to say. it is the sight
of his own gore. He was several weeks
recovering. as something like blood poi
soning set in. The panther was about the
largest ] have ever seem