Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

Oregon is the scene of a panther-slaying episode, which, as related by the Butler Creek Enterprise, is enough to make Fiction blush over the audacity of Truth.  A settler living near Scott’s Mills set out to haul some cedar timber, being accompanied by children, a little rat-terrier, a Newfoundland dog, and a large-bore ritle.  After leaving the main road a panther crossed the path and was quickly treed by the dogs.  Obtaining a rest aim, he shot the beast dead.  When he returned to the wagon the children pointed out another panther behind them in the path by which they had come.  This one was treed and shot in the same manner, but sprang from the tree and ran a hundred yards before it fell.  Proceeding some distance further, the little dog treed a panther two-thirds grown.  No. 3 was shot dead.  Before he had time to reload he heard the big dog barking at something about 200 yards off.  On going there he saw the biggest panther he had ever seen — a very large female.  She was growling and snapping her teeth at the dogs.  It was difficult to get a good shot, but on firing she came down and ran off, the dogs following.  She was next found on a stirrup about twenty-five feet from the ground.  He shot again, but no vital part was struck.  On looking for a bullet, he found that he had only half a bullet left with which to make a successful shot or lose his game.  His patching was all gone as well, so he tore off part of the lining of his coat.  Taking careful aim, he fired.  The beast tumbled to the ground and was seized by the dogs.  She had succeeded in tearing the scalp nearly off the big dog when death put an end to the struggle.  No. 4 measured nine feet.