The Elbert County tribune., 1899-07-06

The Sportsman who has Q hankerine
for exciting hunting" said an Arizona
man. after listening to the story
Of friend who had had
several thrilling encounters with
tigers in India, may have plen-
ty Of II anywhere among the
mountains Of eastern Arizona PAN
thers like those one reads about In
tales Of frontier life arc still to be met
In ali their pristine usiiness and
strength. I recall . very narrow e.
cape which and another cowboy
named Burke had two years ago in
one OF the forests OF that state. We
were RETURNING 70 camp. Aflas an -ah-
ssnceT OF several days. win . large
herd Of cattle. and late In the after
noon We missed two stsers which had
evidently entered and strayed away In
the forest along the edge Of which our
journey homeward lay. Not Wishing
to lose the animals IN the forest, whore
Thousands Of panthers were known to
abound. We allowed the cattle TO 80
on ahead. and, urging our horses on.
went In search Of the beasts.
I'VE had not gone very far into the
thick Of the forest, which was In places
covered with heavy undergrowth Of
bushes. when We thought we heard .
noise resembling that made By the
hoofs of q steer In walking through
bushes. Al We sot . little nearer to
the bushes where We had heard the
noise. Burke, who wss little ahead OF
me. suddenly refined up his horss. He
must have heard something that
startled him, for he waved me back
and then cooked his qua. A moment
later . big panther eaxne IN view. car
rying q sQuaifins cub bsaS In it,
mouth. II carried the cub - . cat
would . mouse, and - II did not ap-
pear to notice our presence, Burke
took his gun from his shoulder. and
we both sat there looking and won
dsring what the Wild beast would do
with its prey.
"our interest was stiIi more excited
whom, q few moments later. the wall
Ing mother bear made IL appearance.
She was evidently afraid tackle the
panther. and that beass appearsd TO
know Il. But presently the panther
put the cub on the ground. - II to
rot q better hold on IT. neck. when
the bear plunged Ut the panther and
caught II round the body Just In front
of the hind leeS. Like hash the
panther iung the cub into the air.
ranked itself loose and. turning
quickly. Jumped at the bear. The bear
Knocked the panther 70 one sads. and
a second stroke Of its paw sent the
big cat flying In the bushes- But q
this stage Of the fight the cub sQueaicd
once more. and the mother bear. SEEM
ing TO forget everything but her young
ana. rushed To It's rescue. She had not,
however. taken more than three or
souy ateps whom the panther sprang at
her throat again. Its aim was true. for
N settled the claws OF Its foro feet
| In the bears shoulder and Its teeth In
her neck. The bear now struggled
hard to shake the panther on but she
couldn't do II Boon the panther tore
the bears entsaiis out with its hind
Claws: then It leaped away and went
~ smelling after the cub. which had
rsvled over to the tree near where
We had been watching the battle.
"ou came the panther. SHINING along
the ground for the cub. which had re-
treated until It was within ten feet OF
MS. Then the panther paused. and
for the nrst time turned its attention
10 us. Its attitude was one OF den
snee. II crouched and curied It's lips
mn in a hideous snari. and Burke. re-
siixins the danger We were In. raised
b,s winchester and nred. But his am
was too high. and the savage oeas.
sprsns for my back. tearing my Goa.
into shreds and leaving the mark o.
its claws on my shoulder. Once asain
The panther was about to jump fof ms'
but this time Burke put bullet N =
vital spot, and the panther feii ceaa
I'VE didn't stop TO look around any
longer that day for our ssssrs. put sns
nsIt afternoon another cowboy oe-
ionring to our camp ran across tnI ~
rsmains in a gorge about half : mne
.v.y from where We had shot ne p.n,
tS.r. % They had been killed and party
S.voured by panthers."
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