The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-04-19
Florida Panther Gives Man
Hard Fight at Punta GOrda
Striking Adventure of Young
Hunter Who Used Shot
Gun Without Avail and
Who Overcame Beast in
Hand-to-Hand Struggle.

The Tampa Tribune publishes the
following special from Punta Gorda,
Fla: An incident which came near
having a tragic end, and which is the
subject of much talk all over DeSoto
and a part of Lee counties, occurred
last Friday on Captiva island at the
mouth of Charlotte harbor.
Five young men from Punta Gorda,
who had been told that the island was
infested with various wild animals, in
Guiding panthers. but who treated the
matter lightly, encamped there for
a weeks outing.
The first few days and nights pass
ed quietly; no panther screams or
noises made by other animals being
heard, a sound slumber was enjoyed
by all each night.
But on Friday evening, just at sun
set, P. Q. S. Hatch took his shotgun
with only one round of ammunition
1.-TWO cartridges) and starting toward
the woods, remarked that ne would
be back in a minute with a rabbit for
supper.
The other fellows busted themselves
getting IN readiness for cooking the
meal. Two reports from Hatch's gun,
fired in rapid succession, attracted
their attention.
Signal of Danger.
The probability that the shots were
signal caused Carroll Davis and Yer
non Jordan TO start in that direction.
il having been agreed at the outset,
when separated, to shoot twice in
rapid succession when 1T was desired
to attract the attention of the others.
The two fellows starting in the di-
rectiOn of the shots. thOughtlessly,
took no arms with them. and were
startled when they found Hatch bat
ting, skull and fist fashion, with
grown panther
Hatch had surprised the animal
while it was eating a ''coon" and fired
at it. sUpposing it to be wild cat.
The No. s shot. hitting the brute in
the left shoulder, had little effect,
and uttering a scream followed by
continual snarl and grOwl, it started
toward its assailant. who struck it
with the butt of his gun.
Desperate Struggle.
The blow was too light to even stun
the panther. which sprang at Hatch
and clutched him about the waist.
Catching the animal by the throat
and checking him. Hatch forced the
brute TO lot go with his teeth and pre-
vented him from taking a new hold
until Davis and Jordan arrived, who
came up at the critical moment. Had
they been little later. there is lit
tie doubt but the beast would have
won the contest.
Davis picked up a piece of a large
tree limb and managed to get It'll
across the panther's throat. which by
this time was wrestling with it's as
sailant, who held il upon the ground;
and. securing a hold with their hands
of the animals hind legs. held their
own" until Gene Whidden. who was
sent down by Jordan, arrived and
killed the panther by shooting it in
the head with rifle
Horribly CIaved.
Hatch was terribly clawed all over
the arms and about the waist and
bitten in the side bait Davis received
only a few scratches. Hatch says he
don't like TO be patched up and have
to wear so many bandages. but that
he will have a good panther rug for
next winter and can boast of an ad-
venture equal to those of many Of
the oldest hunters.
The occurrence is of an unusual
nature. and the fart that there was
a panther within 30 miles of Punta
Gorda came as a great surprise to the
oldest setu ers in the town. There is
some talk Of organizing a party and
going on regular panther hunt next
week.