Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-05-13
Nj ISC E L L ANY.
FROM THE RosToNIAN
Il III Z W O L F S Z Err;
OR, THE WAR PATH OF THE WILDERNESS
BY FALCONBRIDGE.

| BY FALCoNBRIDGE.
In $500 the most of the State of Ohio. and near
y all of Indiana was dense wilderness. where the
gaunt wolf and naked savage were masters of the
wild woods and fertile plains, which now, before
the sturdy blowsof the pioneers axe, and the far
mer's plough, has been with almost magical effect
converted into rich farms and thriving, beautiful
villages.
In the early settlement of the west the pioneers
suffered not only from the ruthless savage but fear
fully from the acoIc Many are the tales of terror
told OF these ferocious enemies Of the white man,
and his civilization. Many was the hunter Indian
as well as the Anglo-SaXon, whose bones made
marrowess by the providing hordes of the dark for
est, have been scattered and bleached upon the
war-pah or Indian trial of the back woods. In
lSl2-l3, my father was contractor for the north
western army, under command of Gen. VIM Hen
ny 1arrson.-Iie supplied the army with beef ;
he bought up cattle along the Sciota valley and
Ohio river, and drove them out to the army, then,
located at Sandusky. Chillicothe, then, was a
small settlement on the Scioa river, and protected
by block house rude fort in which the inhabi-
tants could scramble if the Indians made their ap-
pearancc. My father resided here, and having
collected large drove of cattle, he set out up the
valley with few mounted men as kind of guard
to protect the drove against the prowling minions
of Tecumseh.
THE third day out, late in the afternoon, being
very warm weather, there arose 4 most terrific
thunder storm; the huge trees, by the violence of
the wind and sharp lightning were uprooted and
rent IN thousands of PARTICLES and the panic strick
en- herd scattered in every direction have seen
| the havoc made III forests through which one of
these tornados have taken their way, or should
be lncreduous TO suppose whole acres of trees hun
dreds of years old could be torn up or snapped off
like reedsupon the river side.
The fuzzy of the whir-wnd seemed to increase
as the night grew darker, until cattle, men and
horses, were killed, crippled and dispersed. My
father crawlsd under the lee of large sycamore
wat had tell and here, partly protected from the
ran and falling TIMBER he lay down. have camp
edout some, and can readily anticipate the com
fort of the old gsntleman's situation and not at all
disposed was he 70 60 10 sleep mounted upon such
guard.
AT length the work of destruction and ruin be-
ing done, the stormabated, tie rain ceased to po,n
and the winds to wig their noisy tongues so firi-
ously. wolf ho,cl, and of all fearful howls or
yelps uttered by beasls Of prey, none can, think,
be more alarming and terrific TO the ear than tue
roy howl as he seems carnage. wolf howl
broke fearfully upon tie drover's ear as he Law
crouched beneath the sycamore 1t was familiar
sound, and, therefore, zen the more dreadful.
The drover carried gOodyeager rifle, knife. and
pistols, but man laden with arms in the midst of
'iVVP VI WIVES was az helpless as the
tempest tossed mariner, in the midst of the oceans
Storm The ho'c had scarcely echoed over the
dark wood, before it was answered Inv dozens on
every side! And as the drover's keen eve pierced
the gloom around him, the daIcing fiery glare of
the wolves eyes met his wstful zaze.
The forest now resounded with the naddened
banqueting beast, and as the glazing eyes came
nearer and nearer, lhe drover hugged his yeager
tightly, and prepared to defend life while vet il
lasted. Suddenly the sharp crack 6f rifle was
heard, and then loud scream or cry of terror burst
upon the AIR. rushing sound, a man pursued by a
! troop OF wolves fled by the drover and his cover
scream after scream rent the air, and the drover
knew that companion had fell victim to The
wolf in his attempt atseifdefence. The NIGHT was
a long one, and thus, among the savage beasts. a
fearful one. The report of another rifle arain broke
upon the ear, and aqain and again. did the buntino
iron speak, and the Welt howl salute it, A nair o
eyes glared hugriedy Upon the drovet and he could
not resist the desire touse his yeauer and the vol
taking the contents OF the rifle in his mouth, roll
ed over, while score rushed up to fill his place
! Oh ! how dreadful must have been the stispense
and feelings OF the drovtr as ne lay crouched under
the old tree surrounded b. this horde Of rarnr eyes
his ears split with theiThwRul howl. and their no
and veuomous breath faNy in his face But tho
wolf is base coward, am will not meet a man eve
to eye, and so protectedla lay the drover, with hi,
clenched teeth and uuGuiI ering eye that the VOL
had no chance to attack. ft by rushing TO his yer,
front The red tongue a1ped the fierce teeth yvorI
arrayed and the demon ey@ glaring but the drove
qualed not, and the cowatdy wolf stood at bay
The sharp crack OF the dlstnt rifle still smote upor
the air and the LOUD howl sli went up the for
est around Inc fTst talna streaks that decked tht
sky at morn, the fresh breaH OF coming day caugh
the keen scent OF the bloodIprcwlers, and they he
gan to skulk OIL The drOter gave the retreatine
towards farewell shot from his pistols. tumbled
lank, grey demon over, and he wolf howl soon diet
off in the distance
Daylight now appeared, GOD the drover crawlet
from his lair. His loud qthoopto the disbande,
men and drove was answeisd ty the neigh Of
horse, who came gallopng up, and proved to be hi
own good hunter, who seemed happy indeed to nee
his master. Another 'rhoop- Nbrorgbt Tesponsiv,