The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1903-02-17
Burton Z. Clay Is Painfully Injured
While Rundng in the Ale
gheny Mountains.
life SAVED BY A TIMELY shot.

Mrs. J. B. Clay, of 315 Collins street,
Canton, had thrilling encounter with
wild cat near Big Bend, Pa, on Feb
r,rary IL. The Information reached
the News-Democrat. through letter
from j. Z. Clay, an uncle Of the woung
man, who with companion rescued
Burton from the animal.
Big Bend Is in Venango county, one
of the widest and most inaccessible
sections of the Allegheny mountains.
Young Clay was visiting his uncle and
being fond of hunting, a fox hunt was
arranged for his entertainment, as the
game laws do not permit the shoot
ing of any other kind of game at this
season of the year.
OFF FOR DAYS HUNT.
Burton and his uncle and Dr. b. ia
cobs, with pack of hounds started
out on the morning Of February II
ben. upon a days sport in the noun
taias. They trapped several hours
over the mountain sides, through rocky
gulches, struggling through the tan
gled laurell, before the dogs struck q
trail.
All at once one of the hounds gave
tongue It was one of the most relia-
BILE dogs in the pack and the hunters
knew that game had been scented
Hardly had the echoes of the sound
died away than the other hounds
Joined in the music For time the
trail was cold and the progress of the
dogs slow, hut in few moments the
following was continuous and 1t was
evident that the quarry had been
jumped and the trail was hot.
HUNTERS SEPARATED.
It was decided that each hunter
should locate himself at point where
the fox would be likely to cross so as
to have better chance at getting a
shot. Young Clay started out across
the mountain side, while the others
scattyed in other directions Tho doc
tor shad expressed some doubts as to
tho animal being fox that the dogs
were running, as the running was con-
tinuous ad the tongueing of the dogs
souded vicious. Little attention was
paid to this, however, and after trav-
cling some distance the. hunters To-
Gated themselves.
In short time the hounds turned
and came toward young Clay The
dogs were running fast and making
Die mountain ring with their music.
All at once The character of their bel
lowing changed. They were barking
shorE and quick, and at once it dawned
upon Burton that whatever the dogs
were chasing had been treed.
saS TOOK FIRST SHOT.
Under great excitement he tore
through the underbrush anxious to
roach the place where the dogs were
keeping up continuous racket. He
finally reached them and found the
entire pack tearing frantically about
the foot of large tree upon which
the leaves had clupg thus late into the
winter. He was armed with shot gun
loaded with heavk shot and without
moments hesitation he took aim and
fired.
From the tree came bloodcurdlns
yell and through the air came the fly
ing form of huge wildcat. 1t struck
the ground with a crash and the dogs
sprung upon it. A few swipes with its
sharp claws and the dogs ran howl
ing into the brush. Frantic with rage
and frenzied with the burning shot
Jo N x,tldo for ntb m,
victim. :.
THE ATTACK.
Sighting the. young hunter 1t spranp
at him with, wild cry. Burton was
game and stood his ground He fired
= second load at the vicious beast
but in the excitement missed, He then
clubbed his gun and attempted to beat
Oft the cat, but 1t sprang through his
guard and fastened Upon him. usinr
its teeth and claws with fearful ef-
feet.
At this junctrire the other hunters
arrived They too had heard the dogs
barking "up" and hurried to the scene
They ran to the rescue and well d.
rected shot laid the big cat lifeless al
the feet of the struggling boy.
An examination showed that the
hunter had received severe scratches
and several bites from the frenzied
animal. but nothing serious is antic'
ipated. He was not hurt so bad but
that he could rejoice over the securing
of 80 rare an animal and he declared
that he would willingly go through
the experience again In order to be In
at the death of so vicious beast.
The wildcat was a large one, brin'
die In color and had short stumpy
tail They are almost extinct in tha
section. M t ex