The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-01
JOKE ON COLONEL BRYAN
NEBRASKA's ORATOR A VICTIM OF
TEXAS HUMORISTS.
Instead Of Hunting Fierce wild
Panther, a Household Pet Was
Turned Loose for Him to Bag.

MINNEAPOLIS, Dec Silt appears that
Col. w. ]. Bryan's recent Austin, Texas.
panther hunt was all a practical joke. and
that the victims of the joke were the
colonel and the panther. The colonel
thought he was hunting, and the panther,
reared as household pet, was grieved by
the apparent ingratitude of a master who
had seemingly but not really decided to
sacrifice him to make a Democratic holi-
day. A well-known Texas Republican who
is now in this city told the story to-day.
His statement Of the harmless character of
the hunt explains the action of the hunters
in going out armed only with lassos.
The explanation certainly does credit TO
the courage of the colonel, who took the
word of his Texas friends that It was quite
the usual thing in that section to hunt
panthers with the lasso. AS the average
citizen of peaceable inclinations would like
to have a gun around on a panther hunt,
even If it was against the rules of the
game, Colonel Bryan is thought to have
exhibited personal hardihood worthy Of
his title. 1t is understood that Colonel
Bryan was not aware of the domestic
training and amiable disposition of a pet
panther, and thought it was a real hunt
of the dangerous kind.
1t seems that in the city of Austin,
whence Colonel Bryan and his retinue Is.
sued to hunt the panther in his lair. there
lives a certain Mr.. johnson, who caught a
panther kitten some two or three years ago
and raised it at his home as IL il were a
house cat. To all intents and purposes it
is such. 1t has roamed the streets of Aus
tin unnoticed by the natives, though it
sometimes frightened visitors. OF course,
when the panther raided their chicken
coops the natives complained, but on the
whole the panther amiable and
thoroughly domesticated that the citizens
rather liked to have him around. The beast
would no more think OF biting scratching
than would a cow 49,
When it was learned that Mr.. Bryan was
coming to town the poor animal was
dragged into the mountains, much against
its will, and shut up in a cave until the
brave hunters should arrive. Then 1t was
driven out of the cave, and with much diff
ficulty was persuaded to become sufficient
~ afraid of the shouting cavalcade to
climb a tree and later was dragged from
his perch with a lasso. When the panther
discovered that he was being led back
to his home in Austin he was as happy as
an oat-hungry horse when it's driver turnr
homeward.
Whether it was Mr.. johnson or Governor
Hogg that put up the sell is not certain,
but all Texas now knows that the injunc-
ton against firearms on the occasion of
the hunt was laid down with special refer
ence to the protection of the life and limbs
of the pet panther, which Mr.. Johnson
would not have hurt for anything.
The poor animal was frightened by it's
experiences in the sham hunt that it has
not dared to venture on the streets of Aus
tin since the day of its fright. It's owner
says, however, that 1T will soon be all
right. He says that he will never let it be
used in a hunt again. but his declaration is
superfiuous, because the Austin Humane
Society has served notice on him that ii
will proceed against him if the inoffensive
beast is again abused as it was the day
Colonel Bryan nearly scared it 10 DEATH