Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-07-19
Canadian Family.

A TERRIBLE CHASE The Ladie-' National
Magazine for July, edited by Mrs Ann s. Ste.
phens, contains the following thrilling account
Of family, mother uhd her children, being
chased by wolves:
a few years ago, toward the close ofa win
ters day, mother and her children were ira.
yelling in Canada behind one horse sledge.
Suddenly, from forest, by which they were
passing, issued gang of wolves. 1t was ter.
rbe moment when the mother first beheld
these ravinous animals in full pursuit behind
her; but she knew the only hope was in the
superior swiftnrss OF her horse, and go she re-
tained sufficient presence of mind to urge him
forward at the top of his speed. The noble an
imaI seemed aware OF his danger he snorted
ferccly on hearing the howl of the wolves and
dashed ahead at !rightiul pace. On came the
hungry animals, and fast fled the atfrighted
horse. Miles were soon passed over. but miles
Of trackess waste yet remained before the ira
vellcrs would reach the village. Mean time
the wolves gained on the tugilives. The mo.
ther casped her babes closer TO Ter bosom as
the howling animals came up, and running al
most at the side Of the sledge, threatened every
moment to drag her and her little ones down
But the terrified horse now seemed to gnin gu
pcrnaiural speed, and on he dashed with ncrea-
sed velocity, snor,ing with alright. For awhile
the wolves were left in the rear but his speed
soon slackened, and again they gained on the
sledgc. The horrible idea now occurred TO the
mother Of the throwing over one oil her children
aud staying for awhile the pursuit, for she had
heard of such an alternative having once been
resorted to. But she shrank from the tempta-
ton with shuddcr. She urged on the horse
again. and once more he sprang ahead and in
creased the distance between her and the
wolves. Thus, for another hour, she continued
they prey OF alternate despair and hope. Now
she seemed in the very jaws of death-now an
almost preternaturai exerton of speed on the
part of the horse gave her a momentary respite
| At length the village was in sight But, horrl-
BILE 10 relate, at this moment she heard crack
as it the sledge had given away. The runner
| had broke she surrendered herself to despair
Through the fast gathering night she caught a
view of the farm house on the utskirts of the
village. To die thus in sight OF safety was ter
rible. She looked aeonizingly on the faces OF
her children, who were now sobbing piteonsly
| she strained them to her bosom; she shut her
eyes on the scene that was TO follow. But
strange to say, the eledge still held together
and the horse, recognizing his home, dashed for
ward at pace that leit the wolves far behind
She looked up once more they were now close
to the village. The inhabitants, by this time
had become alarmed but the wolves kept ul
their pursui, to the very gate ofthe farm house
and yielded their expected prey slowl, and sui
Icnly. The sledge on examinations, was found
to be so much injured that it would inevitably
have broken down before another mile An cs
cape like this surPasses any thing in fiction