The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-25
THEY HUNT BEAST
People of Northeastern Kansas
in Terror of Animal.
Many Believe 1t Is Panther,
Others CatamOunt and Lynx.
SEEN TIME AND AGAIN.
Whenever 1t Is, Cattle and POul-
try Have Been Slaughtered.
Other Items of General Interest
to State Readers.
SEEN TIME AND AGAIN,

Potter. Kan. Nov. 25.-In the region
roundabout this little town and along
the county line separating Leaven-
worth and Atchfson counties the peo-
pie are wrought up over the appear
aura of a wild animal which has ter
rorfzed several neighbOrhOods- Many
believe the animal IS a panther that
has made lis home in the Missouri river
bluffs for several years.
Farfv settlers declare that there is a
nest of pauthers in these hills that
have never been driven out and that
+bav have killed much poultry and
Young stock during the last ten years
For rFe last month people living along
tha Atchi=On county line have been ire
uueutIy startled by the screams OF a
wild beast. but no one was able To
catch sight OF il until recently, when
If became bold and ventured out into
the well Travelled highways Since then
If has been seen by different parties,
who are at variance as TO what species
the animal really belongs Some claim
If is a catamount. others a monster
wild cat. and still others a bob cat, or
lynx.
The animal was first seen on the
farm Of NJ J Gearhart, and one Of the
Gearharr boys shot at it with a rifle,
but missed it On another occasion II
emerged from the heavy timber Of
Felix Couetfen's place on the bank Of
farm uttering a series Of cries that
made those who heard them fairly
sF1ldder. and entered Barney Prices
pasture The cattle in this pasture
became panic stricken and rushed TO
one corner OF the Enclosure near the
public road. where they stood and bel
lowed all night as if calling for help
Price saw the animal on his farm at
another time and might have killed Il
If he had had a gun
About week ago two travelling men
driving into Potter encountered the
animal in the public road near Peter
Petesch's place. east Of this town two
miles They notified Ben Shaw
merchant. who has a. pack Of hounds
Shaw took his hounds and went after
the animal, but it had disappeared.
and the ground was too dry for the
looking for the animal. caught q
glimpse Of II as il hid in a cIump IF
brush He emptied both barrels Of z.
shotgun in the direction Of the ami
NAL. but did not hit it
Several parties have been organized
TO hunt the animal, and while il has
been seen several times no one has
been able 70 get close enough 10 IL TO
get g good shot. 4 party headed by
Walter Gray saw IL sneaking upon q
flock OF quail near the Mercer Spring.
and while they fired one shot It es-
seen a few days ago carrying a rabbit
in the direction of an old straw stack
in ravine in the Mercer bottom.
Walter Gearhart shot it. but II dropped
the rabbit II is believed the animal
lives in this straw stack and there Is
talk Of burning it.
Sunday night an animal uttered a
series Of hideous screams near Potter
and many citizens of the town heard
them The beast cried il q distressfuI
manner, as though it might have been
caught in trap OF otherwise i'm
pr1soned Or fastened. Some believe
there are more than one Of the ami
mais in this locality, and from the
screams of the beast the Old settlers
believe that when the truth IS known
It viii be found that nest Of pauthers
still I've in the bluffs along the Mis-
souri, river and go out into the
Stranger creek valley for food. killing
turkeys. chickens. rabbits and such
other game as thew can find