The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-02-08
HOW HE KILLED BIG BOB
CAT WITH BARE HANDS
Ludlow Man Receives Moro Damage
Than In Battle of Chau-
teau-Thlerry.

ledu- merry
Ludlow, Feb. IA Vermont bob
cat, made bold and ferocious by nine
days Of below zero weather and deep
snow which hid its food supply, did
more damage to John Sleehan OF
this village, aged n, in 70 seconds
than he suffered at the hands of the
Germans at Chateau Thierry st.
Mihiel, Verdun and other noted bat
ties in which he faced the enemy
during Is months OF service with
Company II, 1881 Infantry in which
he enlisted carry in the war Crazed
by hunger the beast attacked Mr.
Sheehan and companion, Arthur
Connors of Ludlow, on pubic
highway but the former was able
to dispatch it with no other weapon
than his bare hands, choking IT 10
death. Four deep scratches, extend
ing from upper wrist to finger tips on
each hand where TIE cats big claws
lacerated his flesh win make scars
that will be q reminder for lie 10
Mr.. Sheehan of his encounter win
the bay lynx. Persons familiar WIN
ne traits OF the fierce animals ma.
vel that he. escaped with his Ire
Although he has already received
the States bounty OF So for klifihS
the creature. Mr. Sheehan has re-
fused IS for the p6lt, preferring 10
have il mounted to trading 1t lot
cash as he considers It the greatest
trophy that he ever secured notWlth'
standing the fact that his lie hai
heen largely spent in tae woods
The feline was 40 inches long ana
Il inches high at the shoulders, IT.
| had a frame which should ,laye given
1t weight OF 25 pounds but famine
had reduced its weight to hall Oh
this.
Sitting at his home with rs arms
swathed in arnica bandages hall way
TO the elbow, Mr.. Sheehan told OF ms
dangerous experience.
1 arthur and ! had an errand the
otber side OF the mountain ana we
took the less Travelled road as
short cut. When we reached place
about three miles from the Village
where there are woods on both sides
nj The highway, the big cat suddenly
appeared from a thicket and stooa
! facing MS in the middle Of the road
not more than six feet away sIiall
ing and showing its teeth. ! TOOK d
step forward, thinking it would take
Aiobf as a lynx Is usually a coward
hut II stood still and made a louder
noise. Believing that could gray
Il by the neck and choke H. eAtehu,
ed INV arms to go towards It ana
Arthur went to one side TO gel +"
stick. - o. mo
and az Il landed at my FEET II maue d
mass with one paw and It's cla"s rlp-
nod rour furrows in one OF my haiius
which | had thrown up to protect my
face. being so taken by SURPRISE '''' +
me wild cat should attack me-
Before | could get a hold on tne
animal IL struck again with us paw
which came through the air with
snch lightning speed that eouid no.
dodge Il and ii caught the back oil my
ctser hand. tearing it open almost az
Ia &C the other. Then things ne
csme Dretty lively was gong ~
have that cat and I got H. WIN
,rtS,r's helm. choking it with my
hands until 1t was all IN W''er a. !
0nished it with stick Wy hanu ..
are nretty sore but he dlo not n IIie
mo any besides those scratches his
laws certainly were sharp anu
sbau often think how fierce ne i9oh.
al wban he came at me, as glance
ou w. si,;n after the taxidermist gets
through with Il ,ud,o,y
Mr. Sheahan @as llved III Luulo"
and vicinity all his life. An occas'
ional pelt o. some fur bearer L5
ouently helps to furnish preau anu
6utter for his wife and ehild' nut t hls
Is the hrst time that he mas ever
captured a pelt VITA his bare hah9s
Mr.. Sheehan earns a livelihood DS
caring for a large estate IN Lua'o"