Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-10-24
Tahe PantEaer'S
j. .,.R eve nSe.


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 a 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 n skillful general. confident Of
his strong position, seemed determined
to hold it, The party retreated a little
and stood Mt bay for a while and con
suited what should be done.
Myers urged the chief, whose rifle
was loaded. to march close 10 the pan
Their and shoot him. promising support
If the shot failed. but the chief de-
clined. All the Indians likewise re-
fused a duty almost sure TO bring
death.
At last Myers, in a burst Of anger
and Impotence, called them all set OF
towards and, snatching the loaded rifle
from the hands of the chief, to the
amazement Of the whole party, march
cd deliberately toward the panther
The Indians kept al cautious distance
t. watch the result of the fearful bat
tie. Myers walked steadily up 10 with
in about two rods Of the panther, keep
ing his eyes fixed upon him, while the
eyes Of the panther flashed fire aud his
heavy groNi bet0kened at once the
power and irmness Of the animal. At
about two rods distance Myers leveled
his rifle. took deliberate aim and fired.
The shot inflicted heavy wound, but
not fatal one, ana 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 n little with
two or three heavy blows, but the rifle
broke, and tile animal grappled him
apparently with his full power The
Indians at once gave Myers up for
dead and only thought of making
timely retreat for themselves.
Fearful was the struggle between
Myers aud the panther, hut the animal
had tile hest Of ii mt 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 Al liberty. had drawn a long knife.
As soon as they came to the ground,
his right arm being free. he made a
desperate plunge at the ytals OF the
animal and. as good luck would have
IT, reached his heart, The loud shrieks
Of the panther showed that it was y
death wound. He quyerpd convulsiye-
~, shook his victim with a spasmodic
leap and plunge. then loosened his bold
and fell powerless by his side. Myers.
whose wounds were severe but not
mortal. rose % Ills feet. bleeding and
much exhausted Int with life and
strength to give grand whoop which
conveyed the news Of his victory to his
trembling Indian friends
They now came up Ia him with shout
Ing and JOY aud SO fun Of admiration
that they were almost ready to worship
him. They dressed and bound M his
wounds and were now ready to pursue
their journey home without the least
impeachment. Before crossing the river.
however. Myers cut off the head OF the
panther. which he took home with him
and fastened il up by the side of his
cabin door, where ii remained for
years. a memorial of deed that ex-
cited the admiration Of the Indians ia
all that region From that time forth
they gave Myers that name and always
called him the Panther
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 ana scalping knife ana shoulder
ed his loaded rifle and NJ open mid
day silently and alone bent his steps
toward the Indian encampment With
a fearless and firm tread he marched
directly into the midst Of tie assembly.
elevated his rifle ut the head Of the
principal chief present and shot him
dead on the spot. He then deliberately
severed the head from the trunk. and
holding il mp by the hair before the
awe stricken multitude. lie exclaimed.
"You have murdered my brother-in-
law. his Wlfe ana their little ones, and
now ! have murdered your chief am
now even with YOU But now mind.
every one II YOU that is found here 10
morrow morning At sunrise is dead
Indian"
Believing their chief aad fallen a vie
tim TO some unseen power, they were
stupehed with terror and looked on
without even a Thought Of resistance.
Myers bore on the head in triumph 70
his cabin, where lie Ms welcomed by
his anxious friends alLlost as one re-
turning from the dead. The next morn
Ing not an Indian was to be found any
where IN the vicinity. Their camps
were deserted ana ther left forever
their aueieu, haunts AMI their dead.
aud that part Of The stat. was not mo-
Tested rs them afterwaru