The sun., 1917-05-27
PANTHER ATTACKS
/. BRAVE CHILDREN
10y, 3, and Girl, II, Rescue
Each Other From Cougars
Fierce Blows.
NFDAvTTS TELL STORY

fling Of afidavits with the PROVISIONAL
librarian, at the Parliament buildings. this
city. there has come to light a story OF
courage. bravery and resource both OF a
small boy and little girl in the face OF
death with q wild animal that. in the
view Of their elders, deserves proper rec
ignition. In addition the attack on the
children changes the accepted habits OF
the cougar. puma. mountain lion. call II
whatever name you wish to give to the
American panther, or at least one speci-
men Of the race.
The cougar family. like the shark fam
ily. have usually been regarded as cow
ardly. and while II is true many species
are. there are individuals of both the
animal and the f,sh that will not hesitate
to attack the human being. The attacks
on 6a&hers by sharks on the New Jersey
coast last summer called widespread at
tention to this smashing of the old time
thsWy.
Attacked Half Mile From Home.
This particular cougar not only at
tackled one. but two children. The at
tack took place on September %. at I
lumbia.
The children were Doreen Ashburn-
ham, an elever-year-old girl. and Tony
Farrer, whose years number eight. They
went with brides in their hands to {.
field three-quarters OF mile from their
home and were Ii not for the implements
they carried they would have had no
other weapon of defence Or offence.
Both children were on the trail. and
when about half a mile from the house
they. saw a panther. as the cougar is
known in British Columbia. coming
around a corner few feet away.
The panther sbrang at the girl. who is
about a head taller than the boy. knock
ing her down and put its four feet on her
back.
Children Rescue Each other.
The attack was SO sudden. no person
could possibly hear cries OF help and
rome to the boys assistance; evidently
no such thought came to the mind of the
boy He saw his duty on the instant
Gathering all his strength Tony. from a
small bush. hit the cougar as hard as he
could with his bride. Tony is less than
three and half feet tall. yet he did moi
hesitate to attack a panther that was
seven feet In length and estimated tc
weigh 75 pounds.
The repeated attacks made the cougar
get of Doreen and the panther turned
ON the eight-year-old boy. armed only
with a ponys bride. The first blows Of
the pan,her's paws tore the boys nose
and cheek and forced the youngster t6
The ground. face down.
Unable to turn and fight. the panther
tore the clothing from the boys back
ripping the flesh. Next 1t bit the boy II
The shoulder ana tore the boys scalp.
Doreen. released by the panther at
tacking her companion. and with onl,
her riding bride and her fists, fought tn,
beast with all her strength. To stop th'
panther from biting. Tony, unmindful o
her own wounds, she put her arm in tn,
cougars mouth. thinking she could stoI
the animal from biting her companion
lying on the ground unable to defcnl
himself. The animal sunk its teeth II
her arm.
Both children BY that time were COW
cred with blood from the slashing %
the panther's paws. but finally an extrs
hard blow by Doreen and a mastering o
her own rapidly ebbing strength go
the brute OF Tony. and as the ho!
started to rise the animal skunk away.
- stitches Needed In Boys Scalp
As best they could the children mad.
their way home. the nearest being Do
reen's. Her father Immediately got DR.
Stokes. a retired army surgeon. and the,
telephoned for Dr.. Dykes. physician
practising at Duncan. DR.. Stokes put
dozen temporary stitches in the boy
scalp.
Upon the arrival of Or. Dykes it wa
deemed best TO take Tony to the Dun
can Hospital. where il was found neces
sary- for Dr. dykes 10 put forty 81:
stitches in the iorn scalp There wer
also n number Of cuts. scratches an,
bites on the back and limbs needing at
tention.
The injuries of the little girl. who II
turn saved her companions life. wer
not so severe, consisting chiefly. as Dr.
Dykes said, Of some scratches from tn
animals claws and a bite through he
right arm above the elbow"
The news of the attack spread randy
and Charles March got his dogs an,
wen; in pursuit of the panther. III
finally located The animal and killed
after 1t had badly injured one of hi
dogs.
Tony Farrer spent almost a month II
the hospital. and in November practicall
had recovered from the panther's at
tack.
When the panther was examined
was found that II had a cataract Ia on
eye and that the blows OF the chill
dren, presumably. had injured the othe,
Its stomach was empty.
The Red Cross Hospital here has tn
akin.