The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1906-09-27
PknTHERS IN
RIVER JUMGLEs.
Boys XIII One Cub, Capture Two
and Allow q Fourth to Escape.
PARENT CATS WERE NOT AT
HOME.

amount OF hunting that has been en-
gagged In In the jungles Of the Marias
des Cygnes River In recent years,
that beasts OF prey as formidable as
panthers should yet exist In the river
bottoms wishin radius OF four
miles OF Rich Hill, yet the assertion
that such is the case Is indisputable,
as the living evidence exists.
On last Saturday three Bates
county boys not only discovered
four such "varmints," but killed one
OF them In their first impulse, cap
tured two and permitted another to
escape. These animals were panther
cubs that had Just attained the play.
full ego OF their existence and were as
yet perfectly harmless.
The circumstances relating to this
discovery and capture were as fol.
lows-The story being furnished the
Review by Mrs. Ruth Bomar, grand
mother OF the boys who effected the
cspture-s lady yet in middle life
and q bright and sensible woman:
Mr.. ]. B Lipe owns q farm just
northeast Of the Rich Hill water
pumping station, which, owing to
high water he vacated some time
| ago and moved to Summit. an ad-
joining township. On last Saturday
bis three sons, Archie, Clifford and
Earl-aged 1s, Is and 10 years re,
spectively-:came back to the farm
TO hunt squirrels and catch a mess
Of ash. The boys being reared on
the place we're familiar with almost
every square foot Of ground, and
having been away from the farm for
some time, took great delight In Co.
ing over as much ground aspossible.
In their tour Of the place they
heard sounds proceed from q large
tree with q hollow place formed by
the breaking Of q limb and subse-
quent decay. Anticipating nest ol
coons or young opposums. the elder
of the boys climbed up to investi'
gate. On reaching the aperture the
paw Of one OF the cubs was playfully
thrust out, and he was both startled
and surprised, but discovering only
kittens he retained his nerve and
hauled out four young panthers
from their nest and dropped them to
the ground below. The brothers
captured two OF the cubs, secured
their legs with twine and put them
into q gunny sack, third was killed
and the other Of the four got away
l ss already stated.
The boys who are all thorough
woodsmen realised that 1t woult
not be healthy for them should ths
parents Of the cubs (which we're ao
\ sent from their domicile while thi'
0 occurred) make their appearance
: hence putting their captives into tn
wagon in which they came, they 10 8
no time in making their own escape
The father Of the boys and other
. who have had large experience !
=" voodcrait, ss hunters and trapperl
declare there is no doubt about th
captives taken BY the Lips bro ther'
and that they are nothing less tha
genuine panthers, which In forms
y DAYS were abundant IN these wood
8 But Il has been srare thing In rscen
:, years that one has been seen.
u It was suggested BY the Rsvie'
T. that the boys exhibit g.
y specimens Of ''Batsa soo1tf y
, stock" atths ButlsfiAlf n1tz 4eatl
D. for the satisiactioa q tgel
is orally who Win visit tha1 tatid
N and especially for the inspection On
4 qualification Of those old-hmsrs VII
have NO doubt seen many Others u
them In the past, but not perhaps
the last:quarter Ola century \
: doubt the boys could BE- induced
b. do this, on invitation BY the secr
,dl tary or other Official Of the lair 9
10 ISOLATION.
a The Review would also suggest
= sbe hunters Of The Rich Hill 81
,dlCIub shat they organise 9 panth
hunt ct ones; vhils the trail = g
= 8 ~. - n ~ -