Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1900-11-29
COURAGEOUS OLD MAIDS.
Two west virginia spinsters Battle
with and Conquer n Pair
of Catamountn.

OF
Away up near the head OF Eagle
creek. almost in the heart Of the Flat
Top mountain region, in West Vir-
ginia, two ole maids, Misses Lucy and
Samantha Hearst, live in a itile one
story log cabin, miles from the nearest
neirhbor. They have lived alone since
the death OF their father, Alexander
Hearst, about ten years ago, seeming
ly happy and content with their lot In
life. The women are 80 and AZ years
old, respectively. As that delightful
old gentleman, Judge Campbell, Of
Monroe county, puts it, they are Gods
Rentiewomen. They take great dr.
light in raising large numbers OF tur-
keys, chickens, and other poultry,
which they sell as occasion demands
to the lumber camps scattered about
tile dense forests Of Mcdowell and ad-
joining counties, for which they re-
ceive enough money TO keep them in
groceries and other articles.
Some time ago "varmints" began TO
raid the chicken house and. turkey
pens Of the old maids, destroying and
carrying off dozens Of chickens or tur-
keys in q night The providers they
soon ascertoined were two big cata-
mounts and their progeny of half
grown ones. The women tracked the
wildcats by the aid OF their dogs 10
clif OF rocks about three miles fur
ther up the creek, but they did not get
a shot at them on either Of the dozen
or more occasions they pursued them.
A few nights ago Lucy Hearst aroused
her sister with the remark that them
pesky cat'mounts are in our henhouSe
again, S'manthy." That was enough
for Samantha. and in a few minutes
the two women. Lucy, armed with a
long pitehfJrk and her sister with a
light AK, ran to the henhouse, in which
terrible racket was taking place.
Lucy bad brought with her an old
IA shioned perforated tin lantern,
which, as soon as Samantha opened
the chicken house door, she set down
on the floor In the corner farthest
away from the door the woman saw
two pairs of yellow. glistening eyes
and caught a glimpse of the gray coats
Of the intruders.
"Cat'mounts, two Of 'em; now, you
get ready with your AK. S'manthy,
while 1 stir 'em out with the fork"
said Lucy.
"All right, I'm ready" replied sa-
manth but the wild cats didn't wait
10 be stirred out" They both gave a
scream and sprang at the women.
Luckily one OF the cats struck a hen
roost in her spring and was thrown
backward, or the women would have
Jared badly. Asit was the biggest cat
amount landed close enough to seize
Samantha's skirt in her claws, but a
downward sweep Of the short AK and a
plunge of the long-pronged pitehfork
made him let 60 and retreat with
out having done any damage except 10
the dress OF Miss Samantha, which was
torn. The catamount which had
struck the roosting pole was now on
her feet, and with hiss and a scream
she tried II again, springing squarely
at the throat Of lucy Hearst. Quick
as the wildcat was the mountain wom-
an was quicker, She jammed one end
OF the long handle against the ground
and with the right hand turned the
pronged end toward the oncoming
wildcat, and held II firmly and steady
as a Mexican tiger, and, like the
tigrero, she caught the brute fairly In
the chest. The long prongs were sharY
and the force OF the spring added IA
the weight Of the cat, forced the point
ed steel clear through the wildcatS
10 "a hn ..
tie. While Lucy was trying to hold
the wildcat down by recovering the
pole of the fork Samantha was slash.
| ing at the infuriated brute with heI
AK. She had dealt Il one blow, which
missing its head, laid its shoulder
wide open, and was preparing 10 give
Il another when the larger catamount
having somewhat recovered from hiI
rough handling, again made an at
tack. As before, the attack was pre-
teded with a yell and a hiss. The cat
Jumped, but a wound he had received
prevented him from springing for
ward, and 10 this diversion SamanthI
doubtless owed her safety, for inSie at
OF lighting, as the catamount intend
ed. on the woman's shoulders h'
missed and struck several feet TO tho
left, landing in a nest on the top Of al
old hen, which few out with a fright
ened caekle. confusing the cat lonl
enough for the woman 1, get In blow
with her AK, which split the wild
cats head wide open, killing II almos
instantly. Meanwhile the old female
cat which had been perforated will
the pitchfork and chopped so severe
" with the ak, made O.se more at
tempt 10 attack. Before Lucy wa
ware Of the cats movement, in tn
sems-darkness Of the henhouse, the lat
tar ca lght her by the sleeve OF he
dress and tore great strips, tearing be
left arm from the elbow 10 wrist. Tn
cat failed 20 get a hold with the teeth
! but would have done so a second late
but for Lucy 'ssister, who, seeing Lucy
plight, whirled the light AK over he
head aud struck the eatamount jus
behind the shoulders, severing its YeT
tebrae.
That ended the hght Both cata
mounts were dead and the women e
eaped with a badly torn arm on IN
part OF Lucy add two ruined dressel
a dozen chickens we're lying dead o.
the floor by the side OF the catamounti
The next day. with the aid Of coupl
Of timber cutters, q raid was made o
the elf OF rocks and the catamountl
den was found. -Four half-grOwn cats
mounts and Ave kittens were killed
entirely wipIng ont the catamouni
Of that region, Lucy and samantb
Hearst are now the herolnes Of Fla
7op mountain.