A Panther Encounter on the River Road
Two locals survived a tense, face-to-face standoff with a wild cat between the Snohomish and Skykomish rivers.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Yesterday afternoon as Mr. Slater and Walter Bell were traveling along the county road from the Snohomish to the Skykomish, and when about midway between the two rivers, were surprised and not a little frightened when a panther sprung from a tree, lighting on the ground about ten feet in front of them. After eyeing them a moment the ugly-looking brute passed to the rear of them when a thoroughfare occurred, both parties claiming the victory.
“After eyeing them a moment the ugly-looking brute passed to the rear of them when a thoroughfare occurred, both parties claiming the victory.”
While panthers (cougars) are still present in the Snohomish foothills today, they are rarely encountered on the busy corridors connecting the Snohomish and Skykomish rivers. This account serves as a reminder of how recently the 'wilderness' was effectively our backyard in Snohomish.
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