Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-01-24
SOME WILD ANIMAL B0G|ES.
Nv KENO w. PUTNAM.

The passing of the big game from
the more thickly settled districts has
gradually turned the romance of
sportmanship into an indiscriminate
slaughter of everything that lives by
the young hero worshiper, who
seems to imagine that the destruc-
tion of an inoffensive chipmunk in
some way throws around his own
shoulders the mantle of valor with
which tradition clothes his ancestors.
To round out these encounters into
tales that bear the telling sometimes
taxes the ingenuity of even those
inventive young heroes; but their
task is fortunately lightened by the
activity with which the public swal-
lows the most ludicrous rumors that
promise something of a neighbor-
hood sensation. The recent killing
of a pet cinnamon bear near Con-
neaut Lake, Pennsylvania, by a
Grove City tyro is one more illus
tration of this senseless and un-
reasoning panic, something in which
the true hunter, with the courage of
the forest upon him, is not prone to
indulge.
Some one, frightened perhaps by
his own shadow, If cast among the
shadows of surrounding trees, gives
the cry of danger; a number Of eX-
citable residents hear, see or imag-
inc an unusual presence; the local
papers print few columns of gush
about the wild animal" roaming
through the neighborhood; then
some wilder animal, gun in hand,
too ignorant or too frightened to
consider that cinnamon bear, never
a native of Pennsylvania, could only
by any possibility be found therein
through mans agency or ownership;
and two homeless wanderers are sud
denly deprived of their pet compan-
ion and means of livelihood.
Not all "scares' terminate in an
animal tragedy that draws attention
so entirely from the ludicrous side.
Some years ago, almost in this same
neighborhood, a young man had his
nerves considerably shaken up one
night by the sudden passage Of a
strange animal across the road before
him-this where no larger wild ami
NAL was to be expected than coon
or fox. The story was hardly credit
ed at first, but during the next few
weeks at least dozen different
tr1t
either night or. in few instances,
in broad daylight. Some recognized
mountain lion; others South
American jaguar, while even the
king of beasts was himself described
with startling minuteness by one or
two of the frightened witnesses.
Some one finally missed a sheep. A
dead calf that had been left un-
buried was found to be mutilated;
then the carrying off of full-grown
tors reported pastimes.
With the possibility of such visi-
tant among them, even those who
disbelieved the stories became inter-
ested, especially as the group of wit
nesses included some of the most
solid and conservative people. 1t
seemed only the part of duty to rid
the neighborhood of such danger
Gus marauder, and an entire village,
under the leadership of good citi-
zen who was familiar with the wood
lot. said to be the most frequently in
tested, started out one Sunday morn
ing on an organized wild animal
hunt. Some went because they con-
sidered it a duty; others out Of
curiosity; some because the rest were
going; but in the crowd there were
doubtless some who had secret
hope OF returning with full-grown
African lion in their game bag or
else a secret fear that they would
see one at close quarters. Only a
part OF the array had guns or other
efficient weapons, and only few
OF those who did were as dangerous
to Il wild animal as they were to
their comrades. Needless to say, the
greatest danger encountered was
that from a boy or nervous man with
a gun. A practical joker might in
a moments outburst of misplaced en-
thusiasm, have furnished wholesale