The Elbert County tribune., 1899-11-09
FIGHT TO A FINISH.
BETWEEN PANTHER AND A
BEAR IN ARIZONA FOREST.
Frantic to Rescue Her Stolen Cub the
she-Bear Preoiptated Furious
Rattle That Resuited in Her Awful
Death.

''The sportsman who has a hankerlng
for exciting hunting" said an Arizona
man, after listening to the story
of a friend who had had
several thrilling encounters with
tigers In India, may have plen-
ty of 1t anywhere among the
mountains of eastern Arizona. Pan
thers like those one reads about In
tales Of frontier life are still to be met
In all their pristine ugllness and
strength. recall u very narrow es-
cape which l and another cowboy
named Burke had two years ago in
one of the forests OF that state. We
were returning to camp. after an abb
sence OF several days. with a large
herd of cattle, and late in the after
noon we missed two steers 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. where
thousands OF panthers were known to
abound. we allowed the cattle to go
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 underground OF
bushes, when we thought we heard a
noise resembling that made by the
'hoofs of steer In walking through
bushes. As we got little nearer TO
the bushes where we had heard the
noise. Burke, who was a little ahead of
me. suddenly refined up his horse. He
must have heard something that
startled him, for he waved me back
and then cooked his gun. A moment
later big panther came In view. car
rying a squaliing cub bear in Its
mouth. 1t carried the cub as cat
would mouse, and as 1t did not ap-
pear to notice our presence. Burke
took his gun from his shoulder. and
we both sat there looking and Won
dering what the wild beast would do
with its prey.
Our interest was still more excited
when. a few moments later. the wall
ing mother bear made its jpearance.
She was evidently afraid tackle the
panther, and that beast appeared to
know II. But presently the panther
put the cub on the ground, as IL TO
get a better hold on Its neck. when
the bear plunged at the panther and
caught II round the body Just In front
OF the hind legs. Like fash the
panther flung the cub into the air
yanked itself loose and. turning
quickly. Jumped at the bear. The bear
knocked the panther to one side, and
second stroke OF It's paw sent the
big cat flying in the bushes. But al
this stage Of the fight the cub squealed
onee more. and the mother bear SEEM
ing tn forget everything but her young
one rushed to its rescue. She had not
however. taken more than three OF
four steps when the panther sprnns az
her throat again. Its aim was true for
/, settled the claws OF its fore feet
In the bears shoulder and its teeth In
ber neck. The bear now struggled
hard to shake the panther OF. but she
couldn't do II. Soon the panther tore
tha hears entrails out with its hind
claws: then 1t leaped away and went
10 smelling after the cub. which naa
| crawled over 10 AHS - 80
we had been watching the battle
"on came the panther. shining along
tho ground for the cub. which had re-
,-eated @ until It was within ten feet o,
ma Then the panther paused. ano
Tor the first time turned its attention
~ ne Its attitude was one OF den-
srcs II crouched and curled It's lips
nm in a hideous snarl. and Burke re,
si,,,nr the danger we were In. raised
Sls winchester and fired. But his am
was too high. and the savage peas.
snrang for my back. tearing my Goa.
la,o sbreds and leaving the marks OF
,,s M claws on my shoulder. Once again
,hs nanther was about to jump ior me-
hut This time Burke put nuiist IN
vital spot. and the panther tel as.- v
% .eWo didn't stop to look around any y, J
Longer that day for our steers, put ~ ~
, ions ,fternoon another cowboy pc
,nnc,ng TO our camp ran across ,ns,, mn
"sma,ns in a gorge about han n,Is
r,rav srorn where we had shot the pan,
ave- ave Tbcv had been killed and party
tn Seyoured by panthers-"
suspicious-
Aice-What makes you think M
| ,,,.,ns means business7 Bertha-h'
Affanf