Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-02-28

seven hundred colored people founded
by one of the former slaves of Jeffer-
son Davis, he pointed out the window
in the direction of stream glistening
like molten silver in the moonlight,
and said: ''Just over there, two years
ago, there occurred one of the tough
est fights between a coloreG man and
a panther that ever happened, will
wager" The train was not moving SO
swiftly as to prevent my getting view
of the country-heavily wooded, level
and weird in its loneliness and shadows,
and one could readily believe it the
habitat of the fiercest of animals.
'"The colored man was doing some
work for me-" continued Major Fon-
taine, "and had gone some distance
from the camp,to get 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
noise in a tree whose branches
spread Just above him. He gave only
passing glance upward, however,
and began shaking his thirst. As he
finished and started to rise from his
recumbect position something sudden
ly fell upon his back and shoulders
with such weight as to mash him to
the earth again. The weight also fell
with humping sound to one side,
buf not before cutting several terrible
gashes ON his back. He had had some
experience, aud soon realized that he
was attacked by panther. 1t had
evidently sprung from considerable
distance and at an angle, this account
ing for the breakingo of itshold, though
its claws and teeth had entered his
flesh
1.-The man was powerful fellow,
and, like his race when mad, knew no
more about fear than the creature at
tacking him. He hadn't even knife
about him, but Notwithstanding he
jumped upright and faced the panther,
which, with blazing eyes and crouch
ing form, was preparing for another
plunge. He stood facing it for per-
haps a dozen seconds, when the
panther leaped directly at his throat.
The colored man, standing with one foot
little behind the other to serve as
brace, threw forward his left arm.
This saved his throat, as it was closed
on by the animal. The pain was SO
acute that he could not restrain a veil
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 it
close as he could against his breast
and fell forward, holding it so as to
receive his weight.
''When L heard the fellows yell I
gathered my gun and large butcher
knife in the camp and started forward
to help him. 1 reached him while he
and his fierce antagonist were strug-
Cling on the ground for the mastery.
About half the body of the panther
was from under the man, while its head
was still fastened underneath. / buried
the knife two or three times in the ex-
posedportion, and it was not long before
it gradually relaxed its struggles and
Strengthened out, done for. L think the
colored man would have finally tri-
umphed, but this is by no means GER
tain, as he was terribly weakened
when I reached him. If he had
formed an idea that all the blood on
that spot was his own L am sure he
would have given up--for if there is
one thing that can demoralize colored
man, strange to say, tits the sight of his
own gore. He was several weeks re-
covering, as something like blood poi
son set in. The panther was about
the largest I have ever scent"