Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-09-26
THE Panther'S
J. ...R ev G nSe.

Old Myers, the Panther, was a man
Of iron constitution, Of great power Of
bone and muscle and an indomitable
courage that knew no mixture Of fear.
He settled in Illinois when that region
was inhabited by Indians and soon took
a leading part among them. One day
when on a hunting excursion with
them n river lay in their way which
must be crossed at a single point.
When they arrived at this point they
suddenly came upon huge panther,
which had taken possession OF the pass,
and like a skillful general, confident OF
his strong position, seemed determined
to hold it. The party retreated little
and stood at bay for a while and con-
suited what should be done.
Myers urged the chief, whose rifle
was loaded, to march close to the pan
ther and shoot him, promising support
IL the shot failed, but the chief de-
clined All the Indians likewise re-
fused duty almost sure to bring
death.
At last Myers, in burst of anger
and impatience, called them all set Oh
towards and, snatching the loaded rifle
from the hands Of the chief, to the
amazement Of the whole party, march
| ed deliberately toward the panther.
| The Indians kept at a cautious distance
| to watch the result of the fearful bat
tie. Myers walked steadily up to with
| in about two rods of the panther, keep
! ing his eyes fixed upon him, while the
| ewes Of the panther flashed fire and his
| heavy grOwl betokened at once the
power and firmness Of the animal. AT
about two rods distance Myers leYeled
| his rife, took deliberate aim and fired.
! The shot inflicted a heavy wound, but
not a fatal one, and the furious animal,
maddened with the pain, made two
! leaps before he reached his assailant.
! Myers met him with the butt end OF
his rifle and staggered him little with
two or three heavy blows, but the rife
broke, and the animal grappled him
apparently with his full power. The
Indians at once gave Myers up for
dead and only thought Of making q
timely retreat for themselves.
Fearful was the struggle between
| Myers and the panther, but the animal
had the best of 1t at first, for they
| soon came to the ground, Myers under
meath, suffering under the joint opera
ton Of sharp claws and teeth applied
by the most powerful muscles. In fall
ing. however Myers, whose right hand
was at liberty, had drawn long knife.
As soon as they came to the ground.
his right arm being free, he made a
desperate plunge at the vitals OF the
animal and as good luck would have
1t, reached his heart. The loud shrieks
Of the panther showed that 1t was a
death wound. He quivered cOnvulsive-
ly, shook his victim with a spasmodic
leap and plunge, then loosened his hold
and fell powerless by his side. Myers,
whose wounds were severe, but not
mortal, rose to his feet bleeding and
much exhausted, but with life and
strength to give a grand whoop which
conveyed the news of his victory to his
trembling Indian friends.
They now came up to him with shout
ing and joy and so full of admiration
that they were almost ready to worship
him. They dressed and bound up bis
wounds and were now ready to pursue
their journey home without the least
impedIment. Before crossing the river
however Myers cut off the head of the
panther, which he took home with him
and fastened 1t up by the side Of his
cabin door, where it remained fol
years, a memorial of a deed that eX'
cited the admiration Of the Indians il
all that region. From that time forth
t8fEed dHf Hif 4tKKsrf 4tKKs fa5fHftGAfa. a5fHft GAfame anH "'"a ''
The Black Hawk war broke out, and
the Indians murdered Myers brother.
in-law. wife and three children. Myers
without word girded on his toma,
hawk and scalping knife and shoulder
ed his loaded rife and at open mid
day silently and alone bent his steps
toward the Indian encampment With
q fearless and firm tread he marched
directly into the midst Of the assembl
elevated his rife at the head Of tie
principal chief present and shot him
dead on the spot. He then deliberately
| severed lue ueuu from Ile IIuuh, duu
holding it up by the hair before the
awe stricken multitude, he exclaimed:
"You have murdered my brother-in-
law, his wife and their little ones, and
now | have murdered your chief. | am
now even with you. But now mind,
every one of you that Is found here to-
morrow morning at sunrise is a dead
Indian"
Believing their chief had fallen vic
tim to some unseen power, they were
stupefied with terror and looked on
without even a thought Of resistance.
Myers bore off the head in triumph to
his cabin, where he was welcomed by
his anxious friends almost as one re-
turning from the dead. The next morn
Ing not an Indian was to be found any
where I'm the vicinity. Their camps
were deserted, and they left forever
their ancient haunts and their dead,
and that part Of the state was not mo-
| Tested by them afterward.