The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-28
BRYAN In A PANTHER HUNT
RIDES A BUCKIN0 BRONCO AND
BLOWS A BIO TIN HORN

Thousands Admired Him as He and HoEE
Rode About tho Streets of Austin-An
Accom- modnting Panther Captured Alive
and Given ms n Trophy to the Colonel.
AUSTIN. Tex. Dec. 27.-The great panther
and Mexican lion hunt which has been ar
ranged In honor OF Col. William Jennings
Bryan by his Texas admirers took place to-day.
The country along tho Colorado River south OF
here ia rough and many pnnthers and Mexican
lions make 1t their rendezvous. These
animals have been PLAYING havoc
with tho farmer livestock and II was decided
TO make an effort to eIterminate them. Over
two hundred men participated In the hunt to-
day. The crowd was composed Of state on
ciala. business men and expert cowboys from
various parts OF the state.
The start was to be made from this city ct
$50 A. NJ. An hour before that time COL
Bryan and ex-Gov. Hogg mounted on broncos
rode up and down the principal streets OF the
town, Bryan was dressed In corduroy clothes
and som brero. and In one hand he carried a
big tin horn which he blew contin uously.
causing big crowds TO gather on the sidewalks
to see him pass by. The bronco did not take
kindly to the noise which ts rider was max
ing and It had several bucking spells that gave
the crowds much amusement.
mounted on a giant horse and was In high
spirits when the start was made. The hunters
rode across the rough country for ten miles
before the real sport began. The hounds
struck the scent OF panther near farm
house where the animal had killed AMI de-
voured q calf last night Bryan WIS on ha'.d
and no sooner had the dogs given
tongue than the free silver orator gave
his hrouco the rein and was on
arter them. He led the chase for about a
mile when his horse suddenly broke through a
heavy underground. and before brought under
control tho som brero and part OF the riders
clothing had been left behind. At this critical
point q cowboy came to ths rescue and the
wild career OF the bronco was checked.
Bryan resumed tho chase and kept CLOSE up
with the hounds for several miles.
| The chase lasted about two hours. The PAN
| thor led the hounds several hundred yards and
| finally sought refuge In a tree. When the
| hunters arrived at the spot council was held
| to determine what was the best course TO pur-
sue Bryan urged that the animal should be
| captured alive II possible. Bill Redd an old
| frontierSman. agreed to this View OF the matter
, and volunteered to rope the animal ~ some one
would get II out OF the tree. Before this
arrangement could be made the panther
| Jumped from the tree aliehtine In the pack o
| hounds anc killing two OF them at one blow oil
| his forepaw. Redd bounded on his horse and
before the panther could get away he had him
in the tolls Of his rope. which was thrown with
great dexterty. The panther struggled des'
| perately. hut was soon brought under control
| Redd then addressed the crowd and pre-.
| scented Bryan with the live panther as trophy
| OF the hunt. Bryan responded briefly. saying
that he appreciated the nift and would try &c
keepit The animal was brought into town
and will b. shipred to Lincoln. Neb. by Bryan
! and kept at his homo there The animal 4.
about years old and 10 one OF the largest evel
| seen in this part OF the State.
The hunting party routed q large Mexican
| lion but the hounds lost the scent AMI the
animal escaped. Bryan was delighted with the
chase. although he will probably DO laid up fol
few days from the effects OF the motions OF thu
wiry br onco which he rode.