The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-02-09
TELLS HOW NE KILLED BoBCAT

TELLS HOW HE KILLED B0BCAT
Ludlow. Feb s. Vermont bobcat,
made bold and ferocious by nine days
Of below zero weather and deep snow
which hid its food supply, did more
damage to John Sheehan Of this vii
lage. aged q. in 20 seconds than he
suffered at the hands Of the Germans
at Chateau Thierry, 81. Mihiel. Verdun
and other noted battles in which he
faced the enemy during Is months Of
service with Company A. 1881 In
try. in which he enlisted early in the
war Crazed by hunger the beast at
tackled Mr. Sheehan and a companion.
Arthur Connors Of Ludlow, on pub
lie highway but the former was able
to dispatch it with no other weapon
than his bare hands, choking il 10
death -Four deep scratches, extending
from upper wrist to finger tips on
each hand where the cats big claws
laeerated his flesh will make scars
that will be a reminder for life to Mr..
Sheehan Of his encounter with the bay
lynx. Persons familiar with the
traits Of the fierce animals marvel that
he escaped with his life.
Although he has already received the
State bounty Of IS for killing the
creature, Mr.. Sheehan has refused SIS
for the pelt, preferring to have it
mounted to trading it for cash as he
considers it the greatest trophy that
he ever secured Notwithstanding the
fact that his life has been largely
spent in the woods.
The feline WIS 40 inches long and
is inches high at the shoulders. II
had frame which should have given
il a weight of 25 pounds but famine
had reduced its weight to half Of this.
Sitting at his home with his arms
swathed in arnica bandages half way
TO the elbow, Mr.. Sheehan told of his
dangerous experience.
arthur and | had an errand the
other side of the mountain and took the
less Travelled road as short cut.
When we reached a place about three
miles from the village where there are
woods on both sids Of the highway, the
big cat suddenly appeared from
thicket and stood facing us in the
middle of the road not more than six
feet away, snarling and showing its
teeth. took step forward, thinking
il would take flight, as a lynx is usual
ly coward, but it stood still and made
louder noise. Believing that ] could
grab il by the neck and choke it, | ex-
tended my arms to go towards it and
Arthur went to one side to get stick.
Gust then the cat sprang at me and
as il landed at my feet it made pass
with one paw and its claws ripped four
burrows in one of my hands which ]
had thrown up to protect my face, be-
ing so taken by surprise that the wild
cat should attack me.
Before / could get a hold on the
animal it struck again with its paw,
which came through the air with such
lightning speed that | could not dodge
it and it caught the back Of my other
hand, tearing it open almost as bad as
the other. Then things became pretty
lively. | was going to have that cat
and / got it, with Arthur's help, chok-
ing it with my hands until it was all
in when we finished it with stick.
My hands are pretty sore but he did
not hurt me any besides those
scratches. His claws certainly were
sharp and | shall often think how
fierce he looked when he came at me,
as glance at his skin after the taxi
dermist gets through with it."
Mr.. Sheehan has lived in Ludlow
and vicinity all his life. An occasional
pelt of some fur bearer frequently
helps to furnish bread and butter for