Evening journal., 1902-10-11
MAS ATTACKED
BY A WILDCAT
An Adventure That Made
One Man Shy of That
Sort Of Beast

Il have read IN the papers certain
scientific assertions that no wild ami
nal win voluntarily attack or pursue
a human being, but that, on the con
trary, the fercest Of them, as tradition
and the tales of woodsmen classify
them, viii 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 Zoe, such
cases being extremely rare" said n
matter of fact and veracious New York
business man.
IF that is so, l had a little expert
ence once with a wild animal that must
have been the most desperately hungry
beast that ever longed for food. The
occurrence was in northwestern Penn
sylyania. where one winter 1 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. The way was over lone
! ~, narrow, crooked mountain road, bor-
dered by deep woods much Of the dis
| tance. Toward dusk. as | was round
ing a short turn in the road, my horse,
which had a good deal Of spirit, shied
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. Ii had evidently leaped from a
tree ut the horse. the 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 It's sharp claws, growing
forcely. had never seen 4 wildcat,
but | knew Instantly and instinctively
that had Cne to deal with here, and
It seemed to be u very large and saw
age one at that. had no weapon, but
fortunately the whip that stood in its
socket ON the dashboard was loaded at
the butt.
"Clinging to the reins with my left
hand-the horse was running away
quickly drew the whip from the socke
and struck the wildcat on the head
y with the heavy butt That caused Tho
animal to loosen its hold on the rob'
and drop into the snow at the side o.
the sleigh. but the agile and furious
: beast was up il the fraction of 4 sec
: and and with one bound sprang on tn
o back OF the sleigh. which had loY
+. body.
: Although the horse was running
madly away along the narrow an'
i crooked road. throwing the sleigh iron
!. side 10 side and threatening it con
II stantly with destruction against som
X rock or stump. ! was obliged 10 dro
y the reins and leave the result Of tli
runaway TO chance. for the wildca
n was struggling desperately TO gain
10 foothold in the sleigh and fight me @
IS close quarters knew thHt II th
N sleigh should happen 10 come INTO co
a llslon with any obstacle heavy enoug
10 10 wreck il / wonld be no match fC
In the catamount. now wrought to tie u
II most ferocity. lighting il on the Sill
NJ ping snow. even if were unharmed h
Il. the collision. so strained every nery
TO conquer the determined beast Will
no 1 still possessed the advantage of FOO
10 hold in the sleigh.
"Once thought It was ali up wit
"a me. for as the sleigh was carrie
90 abruptly rouad a short turn in the roa
n by the speeding horse one runnl
,a struck a stone or 4 root. and the sleig
~ careened and ran OF least so feet on Il
4, other runner alone mechanical
al threw the weight Of my body towal
~ the upper side of the sleigh. all Il
ee time rsl.llu- oE.l .loMs Oll .--s -.e.
",
We g.. s.s.s -. /. p ~. -. -. l 3 {.
90 t - - =. -. - =. 49, ., 49,, -