Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 December 1879 — Tackled by a Wild Cat. [ARTICLE]

Tackled by a Wild Cat.

Jtareka (Nev. Dodger.) Mr. Tom Short, a well-known cattle man of Buby 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 frail and hunt of a couple of strayed steers, and was alone, with the exception of his two dogs. He was leisurely riding along a rougn mountain road, his dogs a Tittle in advance, and as they came to an abrupt turn ic the frail, the dogs were lost to sight. In a few minutes Tom heard them yelping and barking, and at once 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 waa watching for a chance to shoot without hitting the dogs, when the wild cat' saw mm, settled on his

haunches, and made aspring, striking Tom in the breast, knocking the pistol out of his hand and carrying him to the ground. Tills would undoubtedly have been the last of Mr. Short had not fortune favored him. Just before the attack be had drawn a knife, and while losiDg his revolver he dung to tothis, and as the cat 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, and seeing the horse without a rider, immediately Bought the cause, found Mr. Short and conveyed him to a ranch, and disebtclied a messenger to Elko for a docr. Mr. Short was terribly cut up about the face, neck and arms, and has been unable to be about but little. We are pleased to say, however, that no permanent injury will be sustained. The wild cat was one of the hugest and most ferocious of its kind, weighing nearly 200 pounds. It is supposed to be the same one that, only a few days ago, killed a horse belonging to a neighbor and an intimate friend of Mr. Short’s—a Mr. Harrison’s. Tom may well congratulate himself that he got off as well as he did.