Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-04-24
From the livingston Journal.

From the Liringst0n Journal.
| Putnam Oat-done.-An exploit per-
formed lately in a rencontre with a wof.
by the son of Benjamin Fowle, Esq. of
Caledonia, lad Of fifteen years OF age
is unparalleled either in the story of
Putnam, or in that OF the no less cele-
brated boar hunt of M'Donald, in Scot.
land. For some time previous. many
OF the farmers of Caledonia. aud of the
neighboring towns, complained loudly
OF the ravages committed in their sheep
folds by some vuracious animal infesting
the forests and swamps of the vicinity
supposed to be wolf. 4 large number
Of sfortsmen having been rallied, and
appearing in the costume of hunters,
with rifles, bugle horns. &c. went in
quest OF the lawless depredator. After
an unsuccessful chase for several days,
the wolf cunningly eluding their pursuit,
and in the mean time. extending his mis-
chief. They started on the morning OF
the 9TH instant, with view OF acting
more Systematically, in concert. Noun
ted on horseback, young Eowle had dis
tanced his companions neat y rnile
when he discovered the wot making his
way ahead, over piece ofrising ground,
with his utmost speed. Applying his
whip to his horse, he soon 0yert0oK and
passed him, as he was on the eve of en-
tering an almost impenetratable swamp.
Having diverted the wof from. his
course, aud being without fire arms, he
tried. at first, to run his horse on him,
in order to disable and impede him until
he could be despatched. But the horse
of less courage than the rider, shrinking
from the contest with SO ferocious an enc
my, the boy dismounted, took off rope
halter, thrust it in his bosom, and fol.
lowed on foot. Again overtaklng the
wolf, who was plenteously gorged with
the flesh of the animals which he had de-
voured, and nearly exhausted, he seized
him by the tail with both hands, and with
his feet we'll bfaced, held him fast.
He continued thus for some minutes
waiting for his companions, when the
wolf having recovered in some measure,
from his excessive fatigue, termed round
to attack him, the boy with an intrepid
ty rivalled only in the battle OF Decatur,
with barbarous foe of another kind,
seized his antagonist by the nape of the
neck with his right hand, having still
hold of his tail with his left, and strrg-
gle took place between them. the one
whiriing round the other four or five
minutes, till the boy fell uppermest.
The wolf being nearly covered in the
deep snow, the boy bore down upon his
neck with his right foot to prevent his BIZ
ting, and succeeded in tying one of his
hind legs, with the halter to small tree.
He then with leap, placed himself out
of his reach. Breaking oft large sap
ling, which was the best weapon he
could procure, he beat him on the head
till the blood gushed from his nostrils.
The wolf after several unavailng at.
tempts to extricate himself, was mad
dened to desperation, exhibiting so
frightful an appearance as for moment
to daunt the courage of the boy, and
made him shudder at the idea of the dan
ger he had encountered. The boy con-
tinued to watch him for nearly half an
hour, in the mean time halloing with all
his might, for the rest of the company
to come up. At length growing impa
tent and thinking that perhaps they had
missed his track, he re-mounted his
horse and rode after them. When they
arrived, the wolf had gnawed off the
rope, and made his escape; but every
appearance confirmed the story of the
boy. Several of the party, however,
thought it incredible, and were not salts
fed until the next day, when the wolf
was shot. and lol piece OF the identi-
cal rope halter was found upon him
wound twice round his leg, and fasten-
ed in guardian knot. This wolf mea-
sured 5 feet in height. and 6 in length
from the nose to the end of the tail.
II ne,c opening for Yankee En-
terprizc-A Missourle paper of the
18th of February, informs us that a
wagon was taken, in the early part oil
last spring, from the vicinity of Frank
lin in that state, which cost there $50
to Santa Fe, where it was sold for Sc
ven hundred dollars 1T is stated
that the owner will start again nex'
fall with three more for the same mar.
ket; but we are much mistaken in the
eagled eyed enterprise Of our eastern
friends, if he does not find the me-
tropolis of New Mexico to have been
fully supplied with yankee wagons
before his arrival-M YssAmer.