The Turnbo Manuscripts
by Silas Claiborne Turnbo
1844-1925
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A SETTLER OF EAST SUGAR LOAF TELLS OF INCIDENTS
AMONG THE WILD BEASTS OF LONG AGO
By S. C. Turnbo
Marion Wilmoth has been a resident of Sugar Loaf since 1853. Two years prior
to this he was a resident of Madison County, Ark. He has lived for many
years on his farm just above Lead Hill in Boone County, Ark. Marion is a
son of Wilson and Anna (Cooper) Wilmoth, who died many years ago, and were
buried in the cemetery at the old Macedonia (now Enon) Churchhouse, two
miles above Lead Hill. Marion was born and reared in Overton County, Tennessee,
and came to Boone County when 27 years of age. He says when he came here,
there was living on West Sugar Loaf Creek, John Manley, John Durham, Charles
Coker and "Buck" Coker, and a few others; and on East Sugar Loaf
was M. P. Ray, George Wood, and Joe Coker. Uncle Marion never attained much
fame as a hunter, but was very successful in growing fine crops. He says
that he has found some very rich bee trees here. One that he found about
one mile east of Lead Hill contained about ten gallons of honey. The honey
comb extended fully ten feet in the hollow of the tree. "Many years
ago," said he "hundreds of coons infested this country, and they
were very destructive to growing crops. The settlers were very anxious to
kill as many as possible. I remember going out one night on foot to hunt
the coons; three or four dogs accompanied me. The moon was in its first
quarter. I wandered some distance from home, and was enjoying the tramp,
when suddenly I heard a commotion among the dogs that had gone on in advance
of me. I soon learned that a pack of wolves had made an attack on the dogs,
but the battle was of short duration, as the dogs beat a hasty retreat and
came charging toward me, with the wolves in hot pursuit. The terror of the
dogs was infectious, and I was at once imbibed with the same, and went up
a tree as nimble as a squirrel. By the time I was at a safe distance, the
wolves and dogs had reached the tree. I disliked to desert the dogs, but
I knew they could defend themselves much better than I could. I watched
the actions of the dogs and wolves by the dim moonlight. I could see the
forms of the wolves darting around after the dogs. They were making the
night not a bit lonesome by their loud noise. I feared the dogs would be
torn to pieces, and I gave vent to some terrible screams to try and frighten
the wolves, and it apparently had the desired effect, as they ran off. I
remained in the tree for awhile, and after getting enough courage, I descended
and started for home, and I was not long reaching the house either."
"As to panthers," said Uncle Marion, "they were also quite
numerous. Along in the 50’s a man whose name was Christian Owens, lived
near the Sugar Loaf Prairie, or rather between the prairie and Lower Sugar
Loaf Creek. One day his daughter Bettie, who was about grown, came over
to our house on horseback. Her brother, a small lad, sat on the horse behind
her. While on the way they were attacked by a panther. The young lady urged
her horse into a run but the panther kept in close pursuit and would occasionally
spring at the child on the horse. The lady and boy screamed for help, but
none came. The horse was badly frightened and ran with all its might until
they reached our house when the panther abandoned his attempt to get the
little boy. "I will now give you a brief account of an experience that
my wife had with a panther," said Mr. Wilmoth. "During the war,
while I was in the confederate service, my wife went to a neighbor’s
house one day and on her return a panther made its appearance at the roadside
within 6 or 8 feet of her. To say she was frightened is putting it very
mild. As the great long beast stood glaring at her she began to scold it
as though it were a dog. The panther raised on its hind feet, and putting
forward its forelegs it expanded its paws and the long claws were visible.
It was enough to frighten the bravest of men, much more for a woman to witness.
She did not tarry long, but fled in terror. She ran as long as she could
and finally reached the house, but was unable to speak when arriving there.
The children were greatly alarmed and my wife could not then explain. After
awhile she related the incident to them and during the time she was telling
it, the panther was making some piteous screams nearby. My wife, no doubt,
must have outdistanced the beast, or else the beast was not very vicious.
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