Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 November 1879 — Tackled by a Wild Cat. [ARTICLE]

Tackled by a Wild Cat.

Mr. Tom Short, a well-known cattle man of Ruby Valley, who, for a number of years has furnished fine beeves to Eureka butchers, the, fore part of last week had an encounter with a large wild-cat which came near resulting fatally to Tom. It appears that Mr. Short had set out early in the morning on the trail and hunt of a couple of strayed steers, and was alone, with the exception of his two dogs. He was leisurely riding along a rough mountain road, his dogs a little in advance, and as they came to an abrupt turn in the trail, the dogs were lost to sight. In a few minutes Tom heard them yelping and barking, and atonce knew they had attacked a wild animal. Putting spur to his horse, he was only a few seconds in turning the break in the path and coming to the scene of action. The two dogs had attacked a wild-cat, one of the largest of its species, and were getting terribly worsted. Mr. Short saw how the fight was going, and not caring to lose his valued dogs, drew his revolver and rushed to the aid of his canines. He had not much more than left the saddle, and was watching for a chance to shoot without hitting the dogs, when the wild-cat saw him, settled on his haunches, and then made a spring, striking Tom in the breast, knocking the pistol out of his hand and carrying him to the ground. This would undoubtedly have been the end of Mr Short had not fortune favored him. Just before the attack he had also drawn a knife, and while losing his revolver he clung to this, and as the fiat bore him to the ground he made a desperate thrust, and most fortunately the blade touched a vital spot and the brute rolled over dead. Tom lay in an exhausted and almost senseless condition, but only for a short time, and as a couple of men happened along, seeing the horse without a rider, Immediately sought the cause, found Mr. Short and conveyed him to a" ranch, and. dispatched a messenger to Elko for a doctor. Mr. Short was terribly cut up about the face, neck and arms, and has been able to be about but little. We are pleased to say, however, that no Permanent injury will be sustained. 'he wild-cat was one of the largest ai u most ferocious of its kind, weighing nearly two hundred pounds. It is supposed to be the same one that, only a few days ago, killed a horse belonging to a neighbor and intimate friend of Mr. Short’s—a Mr. Harrison. Tom may well congratulate himself that he got off as well as he did.— Eureka (Nev.) Leader.