CHILDREN FIGHT A PANTHER.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3234, 3 April 1917, Page 2

CHILDREN FIGHT A PANTHER.

GIRL AND BOY SAVE ONE ANOTHER. The thrilling exploit of Doroen Ashluirti, aged eleven, and Antony Fairer, aged eight, in fighting a full-grown panther at Gowichan (Canada)—above ill their heroic gallantry and mutual loyalty when the fierce panther had, now the litt>!e girl, now the little hoy, at it> mercy— lias led to a movement on Vancouver Island for securing recognition of the deed from some society or institution that honours child heroes. Hero is the story as told hy the little ■rnl herself: — At about 1.30 p.m., says Doreen, 1 left our house to go down to a pastur.) t.i catch our saddle pony. Anthony Farter, aged eight, accompanied me. When about half a mile from the house \vc saw a large panther crouching on ;he path ahoue twenty feet distant; we both turned to run, but the panther sprang on me, and I fell face downwards. The animai! remained on my back and began purring. I called to Anthony to run home and save himself, but he called to mo to lie perfectly .still, that he had a plan. He then jumped from a small tree directly on the panther, knocking it off my liack, and I got up. The panther turned and struck Anthony with its paw in the face, tearing his nose and cheek. Antnony fell to the ground, and tue panther jumped qn his back and scratched his back with its claws and tore the hack of his scalp with its teeth. Anthony called to me to run, but I did not. I tlion attacked the panther with my bridle, and beat it and got my right arm into its mouth. I scratched its right eye with my finger nails, and it bit me through the right arm above the elbow, and scratched my hands and body and tore my clothes. I succeeded in driving it off the boy, and it stood up on its hind quarters and fought mo, hut finally turned and slunk under a log. Anthony was covered with blood and badly hurt, and I as-Lstrd him to run home. The Pro\incial Game Warden has received a copy of this story, accompanied by a statement from Mr. Charles March, who shot the panther, and Dr. Mokes, who attended the children. The animal measured seven feet from nose to tip of tail, and weighed seventylive pounds.