The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-01-19 00:00:00

ATTACKED BY WOLVES.

(Denver News—Colorado., U.S.)

A thrilling adventure, related to a reporter by Mr.
James Austin, just in from Oheyenee Wells, and who
Is stopping at the American Hotel, proves that the
popular idea that game is hard to find in the State,
and that wolves and other ferocious animals are things
of the past, is a fallacy. Said Mr. Austin :—" At the
station, which is a collection of cabins occupied by
ranchmen and those employed in putting down the
Government well are a number of wealthy young men
from the East, who are engaged in a hunting expedi-
tion. Large numbers of buffalo and other game
frequent the vicinity, and some days ago a hunt was
organised in which all participated. The party, which
included four others and myself, wer e well armed and weK
mounted, and from the reports received from ranch-
men and cowboys a successful raid was predicted by
the men at the station. We started last Thursday
morning and rode due east, then north-east, until
when eighteen miles out we discovered in the distance
a cloud of dust such as a large body of horsemen would
make. Looking through a field-glass which I carried, I
readily discovered that the occasion was an immense
herd of buffaloes sweeping across the plain almost
directly towards us. We galloped on and were soon '
quite close to them, when the leaders, observing us,
wheeled suddenly to the left, followed by the whole herd,
and swept to the north like some huge avalanche. We
followed them as closely as we could, getting an occa-
sional shot, but without any material result, for several
hours. Thinking to accomplish more we scattered, with
the intention of circling them, or at least turning them
from their course. In this we were not successful, as
night overtook us before we had 'downed a single
bull.' I had singled out one that had become seps-
rated from the rest of the herd, and had followed
him some distance, when it became too dark to see,
and I discovered that I had lost my companions.
There being nothing else to do, and as it would be im-
possible to find my way in the dark, I resolved to camp
where I was, Bo unrolling the hide lariat I secured the
animal to some stout sage brush, and after building a
small fire of grass and brush, rolled myself in my
blanket and prepared to make the best of it, but
without much ides of sleep. In fact, in spite of the
heavy overcoat and blanket which covered me, it was
uncomfortably cold. I lay four hours in a half.
waking, half-dozing state, and it was perhaps
midnight when something more like sleep overcame
me, Suddenly a sound, the most horrible and
blood-curdling of any I had ever heard, seemed to
chill the very marrow in my bones. To my excited
imagination it seemed like the shriek of fifty demons.
Jumping to my feet I discovered that my fire had
gone out, leaving but a few embers, but at a distance
of perhaps 200 feet, nearly forming a complete circle
around me, was a line of bright points scintillating
like so many diamonds. I instantly realised my
danger. I was surrounded by wolves. To hesitate
was death, and mounting my horse, who was trembling
with fright, I drove spurs into him, and we darted off
through the only opening in the cordon which nearly
surrounded me, and swept across the plains without re-
gard to the direction, my only object being to escape
the fangs of my hungry pursuers. The wolves, as soon
as they discovered my flight, with a renewed howl,
more full of rage and horror than that which had
awakened me, started in full cry, and the terrible race
began. At the start I gained considerably, as my
horse was a good one and his fright seemed to add to
his lightning speed, Miles seemed like feet, and
after perhaps a half-hour passed, upon looking
back I saw that the distance from the foremost of my
pursuers was the same as at the start. To keep this
distance till daylight seemed my only chance, yet
what a hopeless task I No horse could long keep up
the terrible strain which mine was enduring. Sud-
denly the faithful animal stumbled over a low
sand dune and fell to his knees, throwing me
to the ground. In an instant the hungry pack
were upon me, and I imagined I felt their fangs
already buried in my flesh. Fear lent swiftness
to my movements, however, and I remounted
and was off just as the leaders were about
to pounce on me. My horse soon began to show the
effects of his terrible efforts, and thinking to gain time,
I threw away the blanket which I had hastily thrown
over the horse at the first alarm. This gave me a
slight advantage for a time, and no sooner did it touch
the ground than it was torn in shreds by the hungry
brutes. The delay gave me a small advantage, but I
soon perceived that I was losing it, and my horse's
movements became more laboured. I next sacrifieed
my overcoat, then the cost which I wore, which in
turn suffered the fate of the blanket. The horse
began to show signs of exhaustion, but he still kept his
feet; but I realised that in a short time my fate was
sealed, unless a miracle was interposed to save me. The
wolves were already snapping at my horse's,heele, when
upon looking up I saw lights in front of me, perhaps
a mile or so distant. I endeavoured to urge my horse
to further efforts, but without avail. The poor animal
was breathing heavily, and could hardly keep his feet.
The maddened brutes were jumping ine. (mapping
around me, and I had struck several of them down
with the butt of my rifle, after having exhausted the
ammunition in shooting at them. I turned and found
m”elf within a few hundred feet of a house and an
enclosure. Making a last despairing effort, nay horse
cleared the fence and fell dead on the inside. At the
plusle moment several men (lime out of the door of the
house with lanterns, aroused, no doubt, by the unearthly
sounds. I was quickly dragged inside, and immediately
swooned. Upon recovering consciousness, it was broad
daylight, and I found myself in the eabin of a ranch-
man' within half a mile of the station whence I had
started in the morning, lying on a rude bed, with a
man sitting near by and watching me, It seems that
soy horse, guided by instinct, had taken the straightest
direction for the place from which we had started. I
learned by inquiry that the wolves had surrounded the
house all night long, filling the air with their fearful
howls, and never departed until daylight. I was too
11l from the effects of the fearful experience I had
undergone to leave the house until yesterday, and I
came to Denver for rest and recuperation."