Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-11-13
A GIRL AND DOG KILL A LARGE
I.NII II CAT In gil A LvrSIITRY

The facts became known in Bennington
village Nov. 3 of a thrilling adventure
with a ferocious beast In East SALISBURY,
which will fix the fame of Edna Harring
ton, the 10-year-old daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Sharon Harrington, as one Of Ben
nington county's bravest little heroincs.
The story. simply told in detail, reads
more like fiction of colonial times than
present day facts. One bright morning
last week little Edna, with her boon com
panion and inseparable friend and pro-
tector "Shep'-a thoroughbred shepherd
dog, which seems to possess almost human
Intelligence besides the wonderful in
stincts of It's kind-started out for n stroll
over the mountain near their home in
East SALISBURY. They marched merrlly
along together until they reached the top
of the hill near the Joe Waite place beside
the cemetery. There they struck clear
Ing about q quarter of mile long and
paused to gaze about them. Suddenly
from the woods beyond out sprang huge
wild cat and skunk along in the Chlld'a di-
rection, evidently making for the west
mountain in tho distance. AS 1t came
along the fence 1t cspied the intruders in
its domain. The child hesitated for a mo-
ment but Shop. true to his duty, jumped
at the beast and soon aroused it 70 light
ing fury. Then ensued a desperate strug
gle. Shep was no match for the cat and
quickly found himself the under dog. Lit
tie Edna, seeing the perilous position Of
her pet when the huge animal had him by
the throat. went valiantly to the rescue.
She srtang to the fence. seized a stick
and with all the strength her childish
arms could bring to bear, lay about her
and struck the cat on the head, body and
any place she could find an opening. This
torment worried the beast 50 that it re-
leased its grip upon the dog and spranS
at Edna. The impact nearly knocked her
down, but she managed to defend herself
in a brisk manner until Shep could renew
his attack from the rear. Again the saw
age animal turned its attention to the dog
and again little Edna piled her CLUB Wig
orously. Thus tho two kept UP the fight
until they had laid the wild cat low Shop
was bleeding from many wounds but,
aside from a few scratches. Edna was
unn1ured by the ARRAY. Edna and her
pet then returned home and she related
the adventure to her parents. The latter
were inclined to be incredulous until thelr
| little daughter volunteered to return to
the scene and produce her proof. This she
| finally did and some of the family follow
! cd her a short time afterwards. Ihelr
surprise may be best imagined when they
met Edna in the roadway returning, drag
ging after her the carcass of one of the
/ largest wild cats seen in this section in
many years. The animal measured about
three feet from tip to tip, and had a set
of claws that would strike terror TO the
heart of many an older one than little Ed
ma The beast was skinned ana its pelt
now adorns Mr.. Harriugton's home-a
monument to the daring and prowess of
his little daughter, and to the ttdelity CT
his shepherd dog without whose aid the
child would inevitably have been Killed.
/ Bennington Reformer.