The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-06
CARRIED OFF BY A JAGUAR
An Episode of Life on the Texas
Frontier.
Rescue. by Her Sister. of n Child
Carried Into the Forest by Spot
ted Panther-Tnken by the Beast
Into the Forks Of II Tree.

MARBLE FALLS, Tex, March 16.-The
little town of Buffalo, on the Colorado
/ River, in western Texas, was thrown iato
a fever OF the widest excitement on last
Saturday by the news that spotted pan
! Their or jaguar had carried little Sallie
Skates off into the forest crowd at
| once assembled and mounted upon their
best ponies they galloped out TO Mr..
| Skates ranch to hear the truth of the
| strange affair and assist in rescuing the
child. They found the little girl in bed
suffering from several wounds, but for
tunately not fatally injured.
The little girl, who is about four years
old, had been seized by a very large panth-
er while playing in the yard, and carried
| up into the forks of large oak tree, not
I more than twenty steps from the farmers
| front gate. Mr.. Skates knew that a pair
of these ferocious animals were prowling
about in the vicinity Of his ranch, for he
had frequently heard them roaring at
night but it had never occurred to him
that they were likely to become bold
enough to approach his house and attack
his family.
1t is supposed that the panther was
watching for an opportunity to capture
a pet lamb that often followed the little
girl about the yard. The child was play
ing near the front gate, which is only
about ten steps from the door of the house.
public road passes the gate and beyond
the road there is an extensive forest OF
large trees. A small creek runs for short
distance almost parallel with the road, just
in the edge of the woods. The shy beast,
in approaching the house, had taken adj
vantage o. the banks of the stream. He
had doubtless been watching the child and
the lamb from his cover for some time
Mrs. Skates had gone to potato patch a
short distance from the house, when she
heard he little girl screaming for help
There was but one member of the family |
near enough to be OF any assistance.
Miss Lucky Skates. a young lady about !
seventeen years old, was seated near a 1
window and when she heard her little sis !
ter's alarming cries she ran to the front |
door just in time to catch a glimpse of the |
spotted terror as it sprang over the yard !
.Ance. She did not see the child. but fear |
ing that some horrible thing had happened |
she ran to the gate, shouting for help al |
the top Of her voice. She could hear the |
childs pitiful screams, but she did not see |
her for several moments.
When she finally discovered the position |
of her unfortunate little sister she was |
seized with such feelings Of horror and dis |
tress that she could hardly move. The |
bold, ravenous beast had carried the |
screaming child into the forks of a large |
oak that stood on the banks of the creek, |
not more than twenty steps from the yard
gate, and there it sat with its sharp claws
fastened IN the little girls clothing, while |
it glared with eyes that fairly emitted |
flames Of fury at the young lady who was |
making so much noise Without the least
hesitation or thought as 10 the danger of
the act the brave girl seized an axe lying |
at the wood pile near the gate and ran
TO the root of the tree. With Shrek that
would have CONCEALED the blood of a less
courageous girl, the pa;ther dropped his
prey and began to descend toward his as
sailant, snarling and gnashing his teeth.
IT all happened in a moment" says
tbs remarkably brave young lady. Il
saw the monster approaching or appar
emily falling down the tree, with glazing
eyes and his hair all turned the wrong
way, and l raised the AK. The next thing
l saw was his white fangs and his ugly
head almost in my face. He was just
ready to spring upon me, but had the AK
already drawn over my shoulder, and with
all my strength l drove the blade into his
skull. He dropped quivering in heap on
the ground dragging the axe out OF my
hands and his blood spurted into my face.
II knew at a glance that ! had killed
him, and / hurriedly turned about to look
for my little sister. Fortunately she had
fallen into the water, which had protected
her fall though not deep enough to drown
her. | soon had her in my arms"
Mr.. Skates happened to return TO his
home Just his courageous daughter was
coming out of the water. When he saw
the monster jaguar lying dead with the
axe fastened in Its skull and heard what
had happened, he says that he was so
badly frightened that he could hear his
heart beat. and he was actually afraid
that b. would fall dead
Although the little girls flesh was badly
lacerated and her body slightly bruised
from the fall she was not seriously in
jured- The panther or jaguar. for there
is a difference of opinion as to the name
OF the beast, was one of the largest ever
killed in the Western country. II meas
ured nine feet eight inches from the tip OF
its nose TO the end Of its tail.
The citizens of Buffalo and Marble Falls
have In a commendable spirit declared
Miss Lucy Skates brave little heroine
whose fearless conduct is worthy Of more
than cursory notice in country news
paper. A famous old voyager and trap
per has dressed the panther's skin and
It into a beautiful robe for
Miss Lucy and the young men of Marble
Falls gave a grand ball in her honor,
where she was crowned the queen panther
slayer of Texas.-Pittsburg Despatch.
| I