The Weekly Tallahasseean., 1901-04-25
FIGHTING A WILDCAT
AN ADVENTURE THAT MADE ONE
MAN SHY OF THAT KIND OF BEAST.

He Il willing Ito Go a Long Way
Around to Avoid FerOcIOus AMI
mails, Even though Science Says
They VIII Flee at Mans Approach.
'T have read In the papers certain
scientific assertions that no wild ami
NAL will voluntarily attack or pursue
a human being, ibut that, on the con-
tTNry, the fiercest of them, as tradition
and the tales Of WOOdSmen classify
them, will make haste to escape the
possible sight of man, unless, in deS-
perate cases, hunger may urge it to ap-
proach him, it's most dreaded foe, such
cases being extremely rare" said a
matter of fact and veraciOus New York
business man.
eff that is so, II had a little expert
ence once with wild animal that must
have been the m@St desperately hungry
beast that ever tonged for food. The
occurrence was IN northwestern Penn
Sylyania, where one winter | had some
business that called me ten miles from
the county town to one of the back
woods districts. 1T was late in the aft
ernOOn when started on my return to
the village. Thelway was over a lone
ly, narrow, crooked mountain road, Dor
dered by deep wpods much of the dis
lance. Toward dusk, as was round.
ing a short turn in the road. my horse.
which had a COOL deal of spirit. SHE'D
suddenly and Sprang forward on a
furious run.
"At the same Instant an animal with
glaring eyes pumped down from some
where and landed in the sleigh at my
feet. 1t had evidently leaped from a
tree at the horse.ithe quick movements
Of which nervous animal had defeated
that purpose, and the attacking animal
had alighted with it's fore feet on the
robe that lay across my lap. 1t glared
furiOusly at me, with its face not more
than two feet away. as it chung to the
robe with its sharp claws, growing
fercely. / had never seen a wildcat
but l knew instantly and instinctively
that had one to deal with here, and
it seemed to be q very large and saw
age one at that. had no weapon, but
fortunately the whip that stood in it's
socket on the dashboard was loaded at
the butt.
''Clinging to the reins with my left
hand-the horse was running away-I
quickly drew the whip from the socket |
and struck the wildcat on the head |
with the heavy butt. That caused the |
animal to loosen its hold on the robe |
and drop into the snow at the side of !
the sleigh. but the agile and furious |
beast was up in the fraction OF q sec
and and with one bound sprang on the |
back OF the sleigh, which had a low
body.
Although the horse was running
madly away along the narrow and
crooked road, throwing the sleigh from
side to side and threatening it con-
Stantiy with destruction against some
rock or stump. was obliged to drop
the reins and leave the result of the
runaway to chance. for the wildcat
was struggling desperately to gain q
loothold Ill the sleigh and fight me at
close quarters. knew that If the
sleigh should happen to- come into COL
llSlon with any obstacle heavy enough
70 wreck 1t | would be no match for
the catamOunt. now wrought to the Mt.
most ferocity, fighting it on the slim
ping snow. even if were unharmed Inv
Inc collision, SO strained every nerve
10 conquer the determined beast while
sun possessed the advantage of foot.
bold in the sleigh.
Once thought 1t was all up with
me- for as the sleigh was carried
abruptly round short turn in the road
Oy the speeding horse one runner
STRUCK a stone or root, and the sleigh
'areened and ran Of least so feet on the
'ther runner alone. l mechanically
-nreW the weigh, Of my body toward
ne upper side Of the sleigh. all the
lime raining rapi1 blows on the head
u the wildcat with the butt of the
mp anu IorceC leigh down to its
'alance on both n IS again. A few
more blows after = II, and | was 70.
Oiced 10 see the determined and tens
'ious beast first loosen one claw. hang
or a second or so by the other. while it
RED to seize the top of the back of tbe
Neigh again with it's teeth. and then
umDie to the road and lie motionIpss
n the snow. \
dropped back on the seat linn
md weak aud too much unnerved to
make the least effort to obtain control
u the run2""" which was still r,,sb