While I was at Mr Courtenay's plantation I had a panther adventure, a
circumstance which, in itself, would be scarcely worth mentioning, were
it not that this fierce animal was thought to have entirely left the
country for more than twenty years. For several days there had been a
rapid diminution among the turkeys, lambs, and young pigs in the
neighbourhood, and we had unsuccessfully beaten the briars and
cane-brakes, expecting at every moment to fall in with some large
tiger-cat, which had strayed from the southern brakes. After much
fruitless labour, Mr Courtenay came to the conclusion that a gang of
negro marroons were hanging about, and he ordered that a watch should
for the future be kept every night.
It happened that the whole family was one day invited to a wedding on
the other side of the river. Not having any clothes fit for a party, I
remained at home, and at mid-day started on horseback alone, with all
the dogs, for a battue. The day was sultry, although windy; as the roar
of the wind in the canes prevented me from hearing the barking of the
dogs, having arrived at one of our former hunting camping places,
fifteen miles from the house, I threw myself upon the ground, and
allowed my horse to graze. I had scarcely been half-an-hour occupied in
smoking my pipe, when all the dogs, in full cry, broke from the briars,
and rushed into the cane-brakes, passing me at a distance of thirty
yards. I knew it was neither bear nor deer that they were running
after, and as I had observed a path through the canes, I leaped upon my
saddle, and followed the chase, wondering what it could be, as, had the
animal been any of the smaller feline species, it would have kept to the
briars, where dogs have never the least chance against them.
I rode briskly till I arrived at a large cypress swamp, on the other
side of which I could perceive through the openings another cane-brake,
higher and considerably thicker. I fastened my horse, giving him the
whole length of the lasso, to allow him to browse upon the young leaves
of the canes, and with my bowie knife and rifle entered the swamp,
following the trail of the dogs. When I came to the other cane-brake, I
heard the pack before me barking most furiously, and evidently at bay.
I could only be directed by the noise, as it was impossible for me to
see any thing; so high and thick were the canes, that I was obliged to
open a way with my knife, and it was with much trouble and fatigue that
I arrived within twenty yards of the dogs. I knew that I was once more
approaching a swamp, for the canes were becoming thinner; raising my
eyes, I perceived that I was in the vicinity of a large cotton tree, at
the foot of which probably the dogs were standing. Yet I could not see
them, and I began to examine with care the upper limbs of the tree, to
ascertain if any tiger-cat had lodged itself upon some of the forks.
But there was nothing that I could discover; cutting the canes on the
left and the right, I advanced ten yards more, when, to my surprise, I
perceived, thirty feet above me, a large panther embracing the trunk of
a tree with its huge paws, and looking angrily below at the dogs.
I would have retired, but I dared not, as I feared that the least noise
would attract the attention of the animal, who would spring upon me from
its elevated position. The dogs barked louder and louder; twice I
raised my rifle, but did not fire, my nerves were too much agitated, and
my arms shook. At last I regained my self-command, and reflecting that
among the pack there were some dogs almost a match for the terrible
animal, I rested my rifle upon the limb of one of the heavy canes, and
fired: my aim was true, the brute fell mortally wounded, though not
dead; half of the dogs were upon it in a moment, but, shaking them off,
the animal attempted to re-ascend the tree. The effort, however, was
above its strength, and, after two useless springs, it attempted to slip
away. At that moment the larger dogs sprang upon the animal, which
could struggle no longer, as life was ebbing fast with the stream of
blood. Ere I had time to reload my rifle, it was dead.
When I approached, all the dogs were upon the animal, except fierce
little black bitch, generally the leader of the pack; I saw her dart
through the canes with her nose on the ground, and her tail hanging low.
The panther was a female, very lean, and of the largest size; by her
dugs I knew she had a cub which could not be far off, and I tried to
induce the pack to follow the bitch, but they were all too busy in
tearing and drinking the blood of the victim, and it was not safe to use
force with them. For at least ten minutes I stood contemplating them,
waiting till they would be tired. All at once I heard a bark, a growl,
and a plaintive moan. I thought at first that the cub had been
discovered, but as the dogs started at full speed, following the chase
for more than twenty minutes, I soon became convinced that it must be
some new game, either a boar or a bear. I followed, but had not gone
fifty steps, when a powerful rushing through the canes made me aware
that the animal pursued had turned back on its trail, and twenty yards
before me, I perceived the black bitch dead and horribly mangled. I was
going up to; her, when the rushing came nearer and nearer; I had just
time to throw myself behind a small patch of briars, before another
panther burst out from the cane-brakes.
I had never seen before so tremendous, and, at the same time, so
majestic and so beautiful an animal, as with a long and light spring it
broke out of the canes. It was a male; his jaws were covered with foam
and blood; his tail was lashing through the air, and at times he looked
steadily behind, as if uncertain if he would run or fight his pursuers.
At last his eyes were directed to the spot where the bitch lay dead, and
with a single bound he was again upon the body, and rolled it under his
paws till it had lost all shape. As the furious animal stood thus
twenty yards before me, I could have fired, but dared not to do so,
while the dogs were so far off. However, they soon emerged from the
brake, and rushed forward. A spirited young pup, a little ahead of the
others, was immediately crushed by his paw, and making a few bounds
towards a large tree, he climbed to the height of twenty feet, where he
remained, answering to the cries of the dogs with a growl as loud as
thunder.
I fired, and this time there was no struggle. My ball had penetrated
through the eye to the brain, yet the brute in its death struggle still
clung on.
At last the claws relaxed from their hold, and it fell down a ponderous
mass, terrible still in death.
The sun had already set, and not wishing to lose any time in skinning
the animal, I merely cut off its long tail, which I secured as a trophy
round my waist. My adventures, however, were not yet terminated, for
while I was crossing the short width of cane-brake which was between me
and where the she-panther laid dead, the dogs again gave tongue, and, in
less than three minutes, had tracked another animal. Night was coming
on pretty fast, and I was beginning to be alarmed. Till now I had been
successful, each time having destroyed, with a single ball, a terrible
enemy, whom even the boldest hunters fear to attack alone; but should I
have the same good luck in a third encounter? It was more than I could
expect, especially as the darkness would render it more difficult to
take a certain aim. I therefore allowed the dogs to bark as much as
they pleased, and forced my way to my first victim, the tail of which I
also severed, as a proof of my prowess. It, however, occurred to me
that if there were many more panthers in the cover, it would be very
unsafe to return alone to where I had left may horse. I therefore made
sure that my rifle was in good order, and proceeded towards the place
where the dogs were still baying. There I beheld another panther, but
this time it was a sport unattended by any danger, for the animal was a
very young cub, who had taken refuge fifteen feet from the ground upon a
tree which had been struck by lightning, and broken off about three
yards from its roots. The animal was on the broken part which had its
summit entangled in the lower branches of another tree.
It was truly a pretty sight, as the little animal's tail, hanging down,
served as a _point de mire_ to all the dogs, who were jumping up to
catch it. The cub was delighted, mewing with high glee, sometimes
running up, sometimes down, just to invite his playfellows to come to
him. I felt great reluctance to kill so graceful and playful an animal,
but it became a necessity, as no endeavours of mine could have forced
the dogs to leave it. I shot him, and, tying him round my neck, I now
began to seek, with some anxiety, for the place where I had left my
horse.
There is but little twilight in America, in the spring of the year
especially; great was my hurry, and consequently less was my speed. I
lost my trail, bogged myself in a swamp, tore my hands and face with the
briars, and, after an hour of severe fatigue, at last heard my horse,
who was impatient at being left alone, neighing loudly. Though my
distance to the house was only eighteen miles and the road quite safe, I
contrived to lose myself three or four times, till, _en desespoir_, I
threw the bridle on my horse's neck, trusting to his instinct to
extricate me from my difficulties.
It was nearly midnight when I approached the back fences of Mr
Courtenay's plantation, and I wondered very much at seeing torches
glaring in every direction. I galloped rapidly through the lane, and
learned from a negro that the family had long returned home, and that
supper had been, as usual, served at eight o'clock: that they had been
anxiously waiting for me, and that Mr Courtenay, fearing some accident
had happened, had resolved to go himself in search of me with the major
portion of his negroes. Leaving my horse to the care of the slave, I
ran towards the house, where the dogs had already announced my arrival.
The family came under the portico to welcome me, and simultaneously
asked me what could have detained me so long. "I have caught the
robbers," replied I, approaching the group, "I have killed them, and
lost two dogs; here are my _spolia opima_."
My host was thunderstruck; he was too much of a hunter not to be able to
estimate the size of the animals by the tokens I had brought with me,
and he had believed that for the last twenty or thirty years, not one of
these terrible animals was actually living in the country. The fact was
so very remarkable, that he insisted on going himself that very night
with his negroes to skin the animals; and, after a hasty meal, he left
us to fulfil his intentions. Relating my adventures to my kind hostess
and her niece, I had the satisfaction of feeling that my narrative
excited emotions which could only arise from a strong interest in my
welfare.
This panther story got wind, and nothing could convince the neighbouring
farmers but the very sight of the skins. All the western newspapers
related the matter, and for two months at least I was quite a "lion."
A few days after that adventure, the Caroline, the largest and finest
steam-boat upon the Mississippi, struck a snag in coming down the
stream, and sank immediately. The river, however, being very low, the
upper decks remained above water, and help coming down from the
neighbouring plantations, all the passengers were soon brought on shore
without any loss of life. Three hundred sheep, one hundred hogs, eighty
cows, and twelve horses were left to their fate, and it was a painful
sight to witness the efforts of the poor brutes struggling against the
powerful current and looking towards the people on shore, as if to
implore for help.
Only one pig, two cows, and five horses ever reached the bank of the
river, many disappearing under the repeated attacks of the gar-fish, and
other monsters, and the remainder carried by the stream to feed the
alligators and the cawanas of the south. But very few objects on board
were insured, and hundreds of hogsheads of Missouri tobacco and barrels
of Kentucky our were several days afterwards picked up by the Arkansas
and Tennessee wreckers. Articles thus lost by shipwreck upon the
Mississippi are seldom reclaimed, as the principal owners of the goods,
on hearing the news, generally collect all the property which they can,
run away, change their names, and enter upon new speculations in another
state.
Among the passengers on board, Mr Courtenay recognised several of his
friends, whom he directly invited into the mansion, while temporary
sheds were erected for the others, till some steamboat should pass and
take them off. So sudden had been the catastrophe, that no luggage of
any kind had been saved, and several Englishmen, travelling to purchase
cotton and minerals, suffered very serious loss. As to the Americans
themselves, though they complained very loudly, vowing they would bring
an action against the river, the steam-boats, against every boat, and
every thing, for I don't know how many millions of dollars, their losses
were very trifling, as it is the custom for a man in the Western States
to carry all his money in his pocketbook, and his pocket-book in his
pocket; as to luggage, he never has any except a small valise, two feet
long, in which are contained a shirt, two bosoms, three frills, a razor,
and a brush, which may serve for his head, clothing, boots, and perhaps
teeth.
It was amusing to hear all the complaints that were made, and to
enumerate the sums which were stated to have been lost; there was not
one among the travellers, even among those who had taken a deck-passage,
who had not lost from ten to fifty thousand dollars, with which he was
going to purchase a cotton plantations a steam-boat, or a whole cargo of
Havannah cigars. What made it more ridiculous was the facility with
which everybody found a witness to certify his loss. "I had five
thousand dollars," one would say; "ask the general: he will tell you if
it is true." "True, as I am an honest man," would answer the general,
"to wit, that I swapped with the judge my eastern notes for his southern
ones."
It would be impossible to explain to a sober Englishman the life that is
led on, and the numerous tricks that are played in Mississippi
steam-boat. One I will mention, which will serve as a sample. An
itinerant preacher, well known as a knave upon both banks, and the whole
length of the river, used (before he was sent to the Penitentiary for
picking pockets) to live comfortably in the steam-boats without ever
paying a farthing. From St. Louis he would book for New Orleans, and
the passage-money never being asked in the West but at the termination
of the trip, the preacher would go on shore at Vicksburg, Natches,
Bayon, Sarah, or any other such station in the way. Then he would get
on board any boat bound to the Ohio, book himself for Louisville, and
step on shore at Memphis. He had no luggage of any kind except a green
cotton umbrella; but, in order to lull all suspicion, he contrived
always to see the captain or the clerk in his office, and to ask them
confidentially if they knew the man sleeping in the upper bed, if he was
respectable, as he, the preacher, had in his trunks considerable sums
intrusted to him by some societies. The consequence was, that,
believing him rich, the captain and officers would pay him a great deal
of attention, inviting him to wine and liquor. When he disappeared,
they would express how sorry they were to have been obliged to leave the
gentleman behind, but they hoped they would see him at St. Louis, New
Orleans, or Louisville, or hear from him, so as to know where to direct
his trunks. But they would soon ascertain that there were no trunks
left behind, that there had never been any brought on board, and that
they had been duped by a clever sharper.
In less than twenty-four hours almost all the passengers had got on
board some other boats, but those who had been invited by Mr Courtenay
tarried a few days with us, for we were on the eve of a great fishing
party on the lake, which in the Far-West is certainly a very curious
scene. Among the new guests were several cotton planters from the
South, and English cotton-brokers. One of them had passed a short time
among the Mormons, at Nauvoo, and had many amusing stories to tell of
them. One I select among many, which is the failure of an intended
miracle by Joe Smith.
Towards the close of a fine summer's day, a farmer of Ioway found a
respectable-looking man at his gate, who requested permission to pass
the night under his roof. The hospitable farmer readily complied; the
stranger was invited into the house, and a warm and substantial supper
set before him.
After he had eaten, the farmer, who appeared to be a jovial,
warm-hearted, humorous, and withal a shrewd old man, passed several
hours in conversation with his guest, who seemed to be very ill at ease,
both in body and mind; yet, as if desirous of pleasing his entertainer,
he replied courteously and agreeably to whatever was said to him.
Finally, he pleaded fatigue and illness as an excuse for retiring to
rest, and was conducted by the farmer to an upper chamber where he went
to bed.
About the middle of the night, the farmer and his family were awakened
by dreadful groans, which they soon ascertained proceeded from the
chamber of the traveller. On going to ascertain the cause, they found
that the stranger was dreadfully ill, suffering the most acute pains and
uttering the most doleful cries, apparently quite unconscious of what
was passing around him. Every-thing that kindness and experience could
suggest was done to relieve the sick man; but all efforts were in vain,
and, to the consternation of the farmer and his family, their guest, in
the course of a few hours, expired.
At an early hour in the morning, in the midst of their trouble and
anxiety, two travellers came to the gate, and requested entertainment.
The farmer told them that he would willingly offer them hospitality, but
that just now his household was in the greatest confusion, on account of
the death of a stranger, the particulars of which he proceeded to relate
to them. They appeared to be much surprised and grieved at the poor
man's calamity, and politely requested permission to see the corpse.
This, of course, the farmer readily granted, and conducted them to the
chamber in which laid the dead body. They looked at it for a few
minutes in silence, and then the oldest of the pair gravely told the
farmer that they were elders of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, and were empowered by God to perform miracles, even to the
extent of raising the dead; and that they felt quite assured they could
bring to life the man who laid dead before them!
The farmer was, of course, "pretty considerably," astonished at the
quality and powers of the persons who addressed him, and, rather
incredulously asked if they were quite sure that they could perform all
which they professed.
"O certainly! not a doubt of it. The Lord has commissioned us expressly
to work miracles, in order to prove the truth of the prophet Joseph
Smith, and the inspiration of the books and doctrines revealed to him.
Send for all your neighbours, that, in the presence of a multitude, we
may bring the dead man to life, and that the Lord and his church may be
glorified to all men."
The farmer, after a little consideration, agreed to let the
miracle-workers proceed, and, as they desired, sent his children to his
neighbours, who, attracted by the expectation of a miracle, flocked to
the house in considerable numbers.
The Mormon elders commenced their task by kneeling and praying before
the body with uplifted hands and eyes, and with most stentorian lungs.
Before they had proceeded far with their prayer, a sudden idea struck
the farmer, who quietly quitted the house for a few minutes, and then
returned, and waited patiently by the bedside, until the prayer was
finished, and the elders ready to perform their miracle. Before they
began, he respectfully said to them, that, with their permission, he
wished to ask them a few questions upon the subject of this miracle.
They replied that they had no objection. The farmer then asked--
"You are quite certain that you can bring this man to life again?"
"We are."
"How do you know that you can?"
"We have just received a revelation from the Lord, informing us that we
can."
"Are you quite sure that the revelation was from the Lord?"
"Yes; we cannot be mistaken about it."
"Does your power to raise this man to life again depend upon the
particular nature of his disease? or could you now bring any dead man to
life?"
"It makes no difference to us; we could bring any corpse to life."
"Well, if this man had been killed, and one of his arms cut off, could
you bring him to life, and also restore to him his arm?"
"Certainly! there is no limit to the power given us by the Lord. It
would make no difference, even if both his arms and legs were cut off."
"Could you restore him, if his head had been cut off?"
"Certainly we could!"
"Well," said the farmer, with a quiet smile upon his features, "I do not
doubt the truth of what such holy men assert; but I am desirous that my
neighbours here should be fully converted, by having the miracle
performed in the completest manner possible. So, by your leave, if it
makes no difference whatever, I will proceed to cut off the head of this
corpse."
Accordingly, he produced a huge and well-sharpened broad axe from
beneath his coat, which he swung above his head, and was, apparently,
about to bring it down upon the neck of the corpse, when, lo and behold!
to the amazement of all present, the dead man started up in great
agitation, and swore that, "by hell and jingo," he would not have his
head cut off, for any consideration whatever.
The company immediately seized the Mormons, and soon made them confess
that the pretended dead man was also a Mormon elder, and that they had
sent him to the farmer's house, with directions to die there at a
particular hour, when they would drop in, as if by accident, and perform
a miracle that would astonish everybody. The farmer, after giving the
impostors a severe chastisement, let them depart to practise their
_humbug_ in some other quarter.
These two "_Elders of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints_,"
were honest Joe and his worthy _compeer_ and coadjutor, Sidney Rigdon.