Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-01-01
Tragical Encounter with
Wolves.

i"s idsleheo Welghts 10 lis neck and legs, to
prevent the wolves from dragging it away, he
set the principal gate open, but SO arranged
with cords and pulleys that it could be closed
at any required moment. Night came on the
house was shut up, the candles extinguished,
the stables barricaded, the dogs brought in
doors and muzzled TO prevent them from bark
ing, and In the bright starlight, on some clean
straw, the better to attract attention, lay the
dead body of the colt, the gate, as we have
said, being open. All was ready, all within
on the watch, when about ten O'Clock The
wolves were heard in the distance, they ap-
preached, smeIt, looked, listened, grumbled,
and dlsirns,ing the open gate, paused not
one would enter. Profound was the silence
and excitement in the house. Hunger at last
overcame prudence and mistrust. Their saw
age cries were renewed they became more
and more impatient and exasperated how was
1t possible to resist piece of young horse
flesh ?! The most forward, probably the cap
tain of the band, could hold out no longer, and
to show his fellows he was worthy to be their
leader, he advanced alone, passed the Rubicon,
went up to the colt, tore away large piece of
his chest, and proud of his achievement, set off
at full speed with his booty between his teeth
The other wolves, seeing him escape in safe
ty, regained their confidence, and one, two,
three, six, eight wolves were soon gathered
round the animal, but though eating as fast as
they could, they remained with ears erect, and
each eye still on the gate. Eight wolves -
The farmer thought it respectable number,
and whIstled, when the four men at the ropes
hauling instantly, the large folding gates rolled
10, and closed in the stiffness with the voice
of thunder the wolves were prisoners-
Startled aud terrified at finding themselves
caught, they at once deserted the small re-
mains of the colt, creeping about in all direc-
tions in search of some outlet by which they
might escape, or some hole to hide in, while
the farmer, having secured them, sent his
household TO bed, putting off their destruction
till sunrise.
The morning dawned, and with the first rays
of light, master and man, for whom the event
was perfect fete, set some ladders against the
walls of the court, and from them, as well as
the windows, fired volleys on the entrapped
wolves. Unable TO resist, the animals for some
time hurried hilher and thither, crouching in
every nook and corner of the yard; but the
wounds from balls which reached them behind
the stones, or under the carts, soon turned
their fear into rage. They began to make
alarming leaps, and the most dreadful yells-
The work of destruction went on but slowly,
the men were but Indifferent shots, the wolves
never instant at rest; and the rapidity and
perseverance with which they continued to gal
lop around. or leap from side to side of the
yard, as if in cage, essentially bafled the en-
deavors ofiheir enemies. The affair was in
this way becoming tedious, when unlocked
for misfortune threw dreadful gloom over the
whole scene. The ladder used by one of the
party being too short, the young man placed
himself on the wall as if in a saddle, to have
better opportunity of taking aim when one
of the wolves, the largest, strongest and most
exasperated, suddenly bounded at the wall, as
if to clear it, but failed; subsequently, the
animal attempted TO climb up by means of the
unhewn stones, like cat, and ,hongh he again
failed, reached high enough almost to seize
lad. Terrified at this he raised his leg to
avoid the brute, lost his balance, and the same
moment fell with heart-rending scream into
the court below. Each and all the wolves
turned like lightning on their helpless victim.
and cry of horror was heard on every side.
The storm of leaden hail ceased no man
done, for the monsters were devouring their
unhappy fellow servant. Listening only to
the dictates of humanity, the noble-hearted
farmer, gun in hand, eaped at once into the
ample. A general and frigltful conflict en-
sued. The scene which then took place defies
every attempt at description. No pen could
adequately place before the reader the awful
incidents that succeeded. He must, if he can,
imagine the bowling of the wolves, the piteous
cries of the lacerated and dying youth, the i'm
precautions of the men, the neighing of the
horses and roaring of the bulls in the stables;
and more than all, the crying and lamenta-
tons of the women and children in the house,
a fearful chorus, such as happily few, very
few persons we're ever doomed to hear At
last the farmers wife, powerful and resolute
woman, with great presence of mind, unmuz-
zled the dogs, and threw them from window
into the yard. This most useful reinforcement
with their vigorous attacks and loud barking,
completed the tumult and the tragedy. In
twenty minutes the eight wolves were dead
and with them half the faithful dogs. The
poor unfortunate lad, his throat torn open, was
dead his courageous though successful de-
tenders were all more or less wounded, and
the gallant farmers left hand SO injured, that
as soon as surgical assistance could be pro-
cured Tor him, amputaton was found to be
necessary. The monsters, stretched side by
side in the yard, were also dead, every one of
them but not a voice on the farm raised the
heart-stirring shout of victory CONSERVATION
and gloom reigned over it, and it was long in
deed. ere the voice of mourning deserted its
walls. t...
Wolf hunting with traps has its dangers and
its inconveniences, and the Tranguenard must
be used with great canton. Every morning il