Skull of Cougar by Ernest Thompson Seton
This is one in an ongoing series of nature essays from Lives of Game Animals (1925-1928) by Ernest Thompson Seton.
Primitive Numbers/Vol. I pg. 64-66
“The early writers speak of the Cougars as formerly abundant; in considerable numbers, etc.
We are fortunate in having more exact information supplied to us by Col. H. W. Shoemaker; “The woods [of Pennsylvania] teemed with them.” And again: “[The Cougar] was found in great numbers in Lycoming and Sullivan [counties, Pa] … Panther skins were as prevalent on the walls of old-time farm buildings as Raccoon skins are to-day. Almost every backwoods kitchen had a Panther coverlet on the lounge by the stove. Panther tracks could be seen crossing and re-crossing all the fields, yet children on their way to school were never molested.
In Luzerne County, between 1808-20, bounties amounting to $1,822 were paid for scalps, probably representing 200 Panthers. “More than 50 of these superb animals were killed in one year.” “Sam. Askey of Snow Shoe, Center County, killed 64 between the years of 1820 and 1845. These were taken in a limited district, and all of this great game hunter’s neighbors were engaged in slaying Panthers at the same time. During these 25 years it is estimated that 600 Panthers were killed in Center County.” Hundreds were slain in Susquehanna County, Wyoming County, Lycoming, Sullivan, Clearfield, and farther south, but less so in the less mountainous counties to the northwest. “In an early day in Center County, hunters who had killed 50 Panthers were of no rare occurrence.”
The climax of the slaughter, wanton and criminal, is set forth by Shoemaker. Here he tells of a great animal drive organized by one Black Jack Schwartz in the woods of Pennsylvania, near Pomfret Castle, on the West Mahantango Creek in 1760, in which were killed, “41 Panthers, 109 Wolves, 112 Foxes, 114 Mountain Cats, 17 Black Bears, 1 White Bear (?), 2 Elk, 98 Deer, 111 Buffaloes, 3 Fishers, 1 Otter, 12 Gluttons, 3 Beavers, and upwards of 500 smaller animals.” The drive covered a circle of 30 miles in diameter; reference to the map shows that it must have covered most of Snyder County.
This gives some idea of the comparative numbers of the large game in that region, though not an exact one, for the drive was against the predaceous animals, and it is improbable that the hunters killed all the Deer, Elk, Beavers, etc., that they could. Furthermore, it is likely that at least twice as many Panthers escaped as were killed, for the 200 hunters who made the drive were on a 100-mile circle at the beginning; that is, half a mile apart in thick woods.
Destruction by the White Man
These records tell a story of whiteman’s senseless destructiveness and redman’s righteous indignation not surpassed in the annals of America….
Did human hand ever set on paper a more loathsome story of insensate destruction? These vile butchers did not need the meat, or the hides, for they destroyed them. They did not seek the real joys of the chase, for the joys were over before the massacre began. There is no such joy in a shambles. They did not need the land, for it was one mountainous primeval forest. No one pretended that the wild things were a serious menace.
There was no courage in the vile undertaking, for the whites far outnumbered the Indians and had much better weapons. There is absolutely no shadow of excuse, and the names of Black Jack Schwartz and his bestial accomplices must be held up to the reprobation of decent men for all time.
The shameless and deliberate way in which these creatures desolated their country is sufficiently indicated in this sentence: “Animal drives did not cease with Black Jack’s death, but in some localities they were held annually until game became practically exterminated.” The last “ring” hunt or animal drive was held in Center County, Pa., in 1849.
And this was exactly the same thing as the Government did in our day out West. The soldiers had orders to slaughter all the game they could all the time, especially Buffalo, because so long as the game abounded the Indian could not be controlled.
There are few available figures to illustrate the slaughter which undoubtedly proceeded along the same lines in other States. J. R. Simms records that Thomas Meacham, a trapper who died about 1849, killed 77 Panthers during his hunts in the Adirondacks, N. Y. Merriam records in 1883 that the hunter E. L. Sheppard had killed up to that time 28 Panthers in the Adirondacks. But that covered a number of years and was merely the rounding up of the remnant. This author believes that nearly 100 Panthers were killed in the Adirondacks between 1860 and 1883.
Referring to the same region, G. S. Miller says that from 1871 to 189 inclusive, 107 Cougars were killed officially in or about the Adirondacks N. Y. The latest was in 1890, probably the last of the race, as none have been killed there since.
Heroism of The Cougar/Vol. I pg. 102-104
“Is the Cougar as brave as he is strong?
Like every creature treated in this book, he is described as cowardly by those who, without any personal risk, pursue and destroy him.
I do not think we should accuse the Cougar of cowardice because he shuns the attack of many Dogs, backed by men armed with guns. He knows it is a ten-to-one fight – he has no chance. A better answer is found in this: the Cougar will face and fight to a finish any number of Dogs is more than ready to try conclusion at any time with Wolf, Jaguar, Blackbear, or Grizzly”.