Year: 1878

HUNTERS.


A correspondent of the Lewiston Jour-
nal says; A party of three-two gentle
men and myself. started for two weeks
vacation, in the wilds of Maine. We
were prepared for cunning and fishing.
Reaching Bangor we took the cars and
trav' led northeast, nearly one hundred
miles. Then taking our traps, we plunged
into the woods tor thirty or forty miles
We came to a small stream which looked
as though it contained trout. Pitching
| our mt about five in the afternoon, leav-
ing the res, to arrange things, started 10
try my luck at fishlug, Tor our supper.
Following the stream Tor nearly one
quarter OF mile without catching a fish,
| came to a deep hole under the edge OF
| rock. threw my line into the water. 1t
had but just touched the water when some
thing seized the hook with such sudden
jerk that it nearly took the pole from my
hands. pulled from the water fine
trout weighing two pounds. 1t was the
first ever caught. In fifteen minutes l
had nine weighing from one half pound,
to two pounds, enough for supper and
breakfast, with what provisions we had
with us. We were out ia the morning





though we had slept in our beds at home.
Our breakfast consisted of fried trout,
boiled potatoes, bread and coffee, We
set out with Our guns and dog for a days
hunt. About nine o'clock we came upon
flock of partridges, and managed to
bag two of them. Travelling the rest of
the day without much game (eigbt par
tridges and a few squirrels,) we reached
b.a ,...bt <xk k.,n
men. | went for the fish to cook, for
had covered them with wet grass and
placed them in shady place. that they
might keep, and behold they had been
devoured hy some beast. The tracks of
some animal were plainly to be seen.


We were excited, our fish gone and
some wild animal was somewhere in the
vicinity. But it was too late TO hunt for
him that night. Cooking partridge and
squirrel and knowing that our dog would
give the alarm if any danger was near, we
went to sleep determined to start eaIly in
the morning after our unknown foe. The
next morning we were up before the sun.
After breakfast we started to find the foe
that stole our fish. We went to the place
where they were to see il we could track
him from there. After he had left the
low, soft ground short distance from the
stream all traces were lost. We made up
our minds that he had gone to the noun
talns, about four miles away, and We bent
our step. in that direction. After reach
ing them it was almost impossible to as
cend on account OF the projecting rocks
and lodges. After travelling and scour-
ing them until nearly night, without any
trace OF the animal, we returned to our
camp dlsgusted and nearly worn out with
our days work. Cooking and eating our
suppers we went to the stream and caught
some fish and hid them in the same place
we hid the others, and set a large trap We
had with US, determined to catch him
that way, ii he returned again, as we
thought he might. The next day was
Sunday and stormy day it was. We
were awakened about three o'clock Mon
day morning by the growing of some
beast. We knew it was not our dog, for
he was in the tent. We We're dressed and
had our guns ready in very shOlt time.
Our first thought was of the trap we had
set, and that we had caught the animal we
had set it tor When we reached the trap
we found it had been sprung and beside it
two toes W til claws over an inch in length,
but the animal had gone. Our dog scent
ed The track and we started in pursuit.
Now and then we could see blood on the
leaves. We hurried as fast as we could
to keep up with the dog. In about an
hours Time the dog stopped at the foot OF
a large tree and began to bark. We
didn't 90 very near the tree until we could
see what it was. When we had got with
in about fifty yards we could see crouched
upon limb what we thought to be pam
ther. We noticed the dog was cautious
about going very near the foot OF the tree.
We went nearer until we were within
twenty yards from the tree. The animal
seemed to be watching the dog, and act
ing as though he was going to spring upon
him. put my gun to my shoulder and
! fired Just as he sprung. The ball took ef-
feet The dog sprung aside, but the pam
| ther was soon on him. A terrible fight
ensued. We didn't dare to fire for fear
we should hit the dog. The fight with the
dog was soon over. The panther was too
much for him, and our poor dog was
stretched upon the ground. Then we
| managed to get two shots into the animal
which seemed to stun him for moment +,
but he soon rallied and made for us.
| When within twenty feet he crouched for
a spring. | was ahead OF the rest, and
fired as | could and spraug aside. The
animal made spring for me. | was not
out OF his reach or not far enough but
what he fastened his tee th in my leg and
bore me to the ground. In moment my
friends We're with me, and put bullet
through his heart and he fell dead across
my teet. On examining my leg found
an ugly flesh wound. had IL well BAN
daged with our handkerchiels. On exam
ming the panther we found four bullet
holes in him. think he was the largest
panther ever saw. When we reached
our dog we found him dead. Before
reaching the camp | began to grow lame