My great-grandmother knew a woman who had a terrifying experience when she was walking through the snow to nurse a sick neighbor. It was very cold, and the woman had dressed warm and was hurrying to try to make the neighbor’s house before dark. Long before she got there, she heard a scream behind her. Looking back, she saw a big panther quite a was back. She started running, but knew she would give out before she reached the house.
Then she remembered that she had heard that if a panther found an article of clothing that had been worn by a human being it would stop and tear it to shreds before going on. Anything to slow him down, she thought. She threw down her scarf. Sure enough, when she looked back he was tearing it up. Every time he would start up again, she would throw down another garment. She reached safety wearing only her undergarments. The neighbor’s gun put an end to the panther. (Mrs. R. D. Berry, Salt, Missouri)