The San Francisco call., 1899-11-19
RHthIessly Slaughter Poultry.
Kill Give Stock and Sven
9Hack JRuman Beings.

y EAUTIF1-I picturesque and usu-
ally altogether charming Marin
N County is however. at the present
IA ] time passing through a most un-
- pleasing experience. A plague OF
psnthers'' has descended upon her. and
those OF her residents who 1--we al a dis
tance from towns are beginning 20 feel
nervous over the tales that are told OF
the numbers and boldness % these ordi-
rarlly rarely Seen animals.
Various reasons are given by those who
should know Tor the present surprising
and unwelcome appearance OF these four
footed providers. one IS that the hunting
of deer with hounds. which has been IN
dulged IN 10 n great extent. has fright
ened tho pan'hers from their usual abid-
ing places and Hilod them with n courage
born % desperation Another Is that the
fierce forest Grcs which have burned over
large areas ir Sonorna County and de-
Etroyed not n 'ittlc - Marin's wealth of
oak and redwood have either crernated or
driven away the smaller animals uDon
which these larger ones have boon wont
20 subsist. and have made q necessary for
them % range farther aaeld and attack
domestic creatures IN order 20 supply
themselves with food.
The exploit which first brought thr fact
OF their unusual daring into public notice
was n successful raid made by two of
them upon the Hog Island sea Hons. This
adventurous pair forsook all The tradl-
lions OF their kind and deliberately swan
from the mainland 20 the island which is
situated Just at the entrance 81 T0males
Bay. there 20 attack. without any provo
cation whatever the champion OF the
herd Of water monsters that Tor years had
basked In uncisturbed happiness upon the
Fun-warrned rocks.
Lewis johnson ~ the island and Samuel
Short ~ Touales witnessed this sanEuin-
nry conflict which terminated in the death
of The sea l'on and partially avenged his
demise by shooting one of the victorious
argressors. while the other. apparently
fatally wounded in the hattie between the
sea and land forces managed 70 make nis
escape 90 the mainland.
soon after th's boy named Garcia went
out 20 look after a bunch 81 ponies which
were IN an enclosure near Chileno Valley.
and as he approached them he saw what
Re thought 10 be a big yellow dog running
around among them. apparently engaged
in worrying" one ~ the younger colts
Spurring up his own hroncho. the boy
CALAMITY hastened 20 the colt assistance
but as he reached tho spot he discovered
70 his surprise that thecreature which was
doing The Mischief was not a dog AZ all.
but w,cked-looking. cat-llke beast such
rs r. had never seen before. Il is quite
probable H.at II young Garcia had known
Just what this curious animal really was
he might have been frightened enough 20
beat "A retreat and leave the enemy IN pos
session Ignorance 81 natural history
however. lent him courage sufficient 10
enter into battle with the invader. al
though he had no weapon at hand except
a heavy stock whip.
The panther. having already tasted
blood. was IN no humor 20 retire without
trying conclusions with this disturber of
his plans fcr securing n good supper. and
drawing back a little crouched for a
Fprrc. Naturally enough the pony. un-
oersta-dirc The position or affairs far bet
ter than lid his bovish rider. tried 10 bolt.
but twisting the lash ~ his whip lightly
around 'he handle tho boy forced him past
The beast az A wild gallop. and bending.
lndian-fasl-o1. as he went by struck it
terrific blow with an his strength
straight across the eyes. and then another
and another, keeping the pony rapidly cir
cling around it al The while. until half
blinded and whining with pain. IL beat a
rapid and iuElorl1us retreat
later two az the species. a male and \
female. appeared ~ Dutaro's ranch. near
Point san Pedro. and made their presence
known by apprOpriating 70 their own use
yearling calf Of the dairyman's choicest
stock. The two acted in most harmonious
concert and pounced upon and killed the
poor CALI as easily and quickly as a hun
cry domestic cat would dispose Of a mouse
sporting about IN the open.