A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 80, 24 July 1876, Page 3

A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.

«.:kt wrra a r.v>mtr.K w S.Ul.Vl'OttA tflCSt'IY. fovr*« ffinchtey w»» last Fri«by uijfltt, , t £t T/cl. -civ, ilfiwng ttvui i.uvuu-U t-> ConkUr.sfvmo, SaMtajkCßOiitey, ¥., W mwwb* faefa*4stfgn *"»«'» moo «* and tlw F"<« 1 atn » , e<> Cft ® -,„ Hi wWHPfciW-prevailed m that ft* C.v<> wu«k» or more. He «m in 'I li"ht cutter, well protected from the ill bv n>l>es and btamketa, and was dciviuu 11 spirited horse. The road lay tilivotr'h sot no undergrowth of woods. While* fehe horw w;w jogging along at a moderate trcb. suddenly he stopped, threw bis ears forward, gave a furious snort, and retard to go further. The drivtjf irrgtHl liiui tugo r tuul finally atrnck him, with ft halter, the strap end of which wiw tied to th* cutter, in order to prevent it# dropping out itnd becoming loftt. The horse jumped forward in a frightened manner, but More he had taken three ateytt a huge [wither sprang from behind , t | {n vev evergreen close by the track, and iuairtsd sctuarety into thcr cutter. As it struck the cutter, ita fore paws euine with umifc force against Hinchtey's breast, and with oat) haul with its powerful nails the uhui's clothing waa stripped clean from his sliin. Kinchley had the halter with winch he had i*i>tt stuck the horse still in his hand, mul instinctively he laid it with all his might over the head of his tierce assailant. By one of the blows the headstall was pitsseil over the panther's head. It being u slipping noose, the next effort to strike draw the no.se tight about the panthers neck. Then a desperate hand to hand, as it were, tight ensued. The man struggled to throw off the beast, but succeeded only so far as to prevent it from fastening its powerful jaws upon his nt>w_ bare neck. The panther grabbed the man's left arm, which it bit through and through, the blood which Bowed only seeming toi make it the more furious. With the right arm Hincfrley tightened the slipping noose about the animal's throat. So tight was it drawn by that strength which comes of desperation, that the panther was choked so that it tot go its hold on his arm and groped, at the same time stripping its victim of clothing, and lacerating his skin with its sharp claws. With the first spring off the panther, accompanied as it was with a wild, tierce growl, the horse took fvight and _ van full speed, every leap fairly lifting the cutter from the track. Thus, while Hinchley ivaa struggling for life in the cotter, the horse was running away. But this proved to bo the salvation of the driver; for in milking # short turn in the road the cutter was overturned, dumping driver and piuither out upon the frozen snow. The moment they struck earth, however, they parted company. One end of the halter buing- fast to the cutter and the other tight about th« wild animals neck, the latter was mercilessly dragged after the flying steed, its body jumping and bounding Wong the road like a tin pan hitched to a doit's tail. 'the running away of the horse saved Mr. Hinchley's life. He was left by the route ad, witnee he, in course of tune, found his way to a house. The horse ran till he got lose from the cutter, and he tiieawent to Conklingvitle. The cutter, badly shattered, was found half-a-mile from the spot, where the panther leaped from behind the bush. The animal was doiut, choked to death, and badly bruised. It \v;w a narrow escape, and one of the most peculiar and desperate struggles that ttvur occurred between man and beast.— " Soratogian."