Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-02-02


81 along the roads " hch border the woods where I'll
J. wolves are concealed No one is allowed TO fre=i
: the rear and prevent accidents. marks are mad
= on the Trees for their guidance when the confusion
: the b0ffue Every thing having been pre-
pared IN dead silence, the signal is al last given
- the peasants commence howiing, roaring beating
: and banging pots and kettles stout lungs and iror
shOd staves, all combining TO produce general up
= roar. Away fly the creatures; owls awakened fror
their sleep, deer startled from the cover foxes
. hares breaking and bounding if panic struck
Nothing. however, but wolves, these occasion
allowed to be shot and al least the wolves appear
: like tide, roaring as it goes; and they pass tn
fatal path gun discharges its murderous volley
and the balls fly like hail into the thick of the yell
ing and bowling crew, thirty or forty wolves ben
the frequent result of days sport. The govern
ment gives reward of twenty francs for each vol
and twenty-five for every she-wolf, and these sums
being divided among the peasantry, together will
the value Of the wolves themselves (or rather hei
skins and fur) renders this most useful and pro6a
f BILE employment After the 6afue, the peasants noun
the heads Of several wolves upon pole. and beating
drums and singing the hunting songs Of the county
march through the villages, and receive from the vii
Layers presents Of money. meal, grapes, and wines
finish the day with jovality and song.
The 6Gh,scs of December of different descrip.
tion and participated in by the wealthy proprie
tors, who make them the occasions of considerable
ioy and hardihood. Previous to the night of meet
ing number ef carpenters repair TO the woods, and
\ choosing suitable ground. erect large square hut
of addressed stems. strongly braced together. and
inches. This hut is left for several nights untouched
that the creatures may become accustomed to it, and
duck or two. goose or sheep. tied it,,
! as bait for the wolves. Then the appointed eve
| ming having arrived, the huntsmen. and long line
of for the Forest taking with them four
calves. cask of cold meat, ham per Of wine, and
horse-load Of pale cognac. Esconced within their
Gibraltar of wood, they eat drink, and smoke but
not the least noise is allowed, not even a laugh,
cough, Night fairly sets in, and the
wolves begin to sniff the air. The calves led out
and tied to stakes outside, and then-must relate
ii leach receives ncison in The neck, hch sets
him bleeding and bleating, by which, most uncon.
sciously, the poor wretches attract the wolves by
appealing two of their keen senses, Nine-ten-
halEpast; dead silence reigns. broken only by the
occasional cry of an owl, or the crash of branch
which the wind has severed from the trunk Sud-
denly the calves break cut into fresh fit of bleanp
they below groan and tag the ropes escape
Out goes cigar and the sportsmen pick their
rifles. Black spots are seen nron the the
wolves the scent and, ina gng the calves have
como dstray attempt to carry them off for their own
enjoyment. Four or five lush forward, and plunge
their ravenous Jaws into the flesh Of the animals
their Numbers increases and just as this demon han
Quet is in full swing. the sportsmen open their re
The wolves either fall fly; hut return again, and
are met with another voey. Other wolves, attracted
by the swell Of their bleeding comradues prese to
The scene and met with showers of fire and death
and for several hours this slaughter Of maledcios con-
Times. The survivors slipk hack their dens and
the sportsmrn, leaving their hut form huge fire on
the tnrft. and eat ard crack jokes ill morning when
the peasaEtry assemble, and gather the dead wolves
together, and form procession march through the
villages AID add the contributions obtained in this
way 10 the rewards given by the government.
Other modes of taking wolves also devised {:
one Of which is. the trnquenard huge circular trap
with fierce OF teeth. which is set in chosen
parts of the forest, and baed with savoy slice from
sheep, which has heen kept ill nearly green There
is melancholy incident record, of a Young man.
who, going to the forest in the evening to obtain
pair OF turtle doves. with rosy beaks present TO
his sweetheart fell into a trap which had been set
in an old to"tway, and while fixed in the immovea-
Bile jaws OF this dead machine, devoured, piece
neal, by the wolves moi, however, unit, he had hack
I'd three of them open with his Ratchet, the mangIed
bodies oil which, toge her with the leg, only of the
Unhappy young man. We're found upon The spot next
morning. Another circumstances Of a similar nature
nay sniabe close this notice Of the charms and dam
Iers OF these romantic forests farmer, living an
he borders IF the forest of La Madeleine had deter
mined to work lille mischief with the wolves; and
he weather being intensely cold, his farm was fire.
ueny visited by them, troops appearing in the star
lghy scratching under the walls and demanding the y
Ims of a horse, OK, Just at this time O
of the farmers colts died and thinking it would
erve capital bait for the wolves. he caused to
e laid in the middle of the yard, with weights
tached, TO prevent the wolves from dragging
he principal gate was set open, md arranged with
nTds and puIieyS that could he Chased the instant
hen necessary. Night came lights were exin- IL
nshed the dogs muzzed and the gate open. The
Olives came, and hcvered, ds,rnstfuy, around the
pen gate. At last entered, away portion b.
the colt, and set OF with his booty in safety En- tc
oIdened by example, eight wolves flew upon abe
srcass the farmer whised, and the the ropes
oseh the gate-,he wolves were prisoners. Morn oil
g dawned, and ladders raised against the wall
the yard, and the commenced firing en- the it
II prlsoned wolves. Fear was converted into rage 81
I'd, wounded only by the unskfu firing Of the Iii
they leaned up and tried scale the walls and
'cape. Just al this juncture, young man, finding c
is ladder too short to enable him get good shot "
the wolves, asride the wall, with leg dang
ng into the yard. wolf flew up like a cat and er
most seized the profered leg, and the young man. fir
Using his leg avoid the brute lost his balance and be
II into the yard! scream, and the wolves flew
Re lightning their victim and cry of horror was 70
card on every side. There pause of moment he
lily, and the farmer, prompted by dictates of tn
re and humanity. gun in hand, leaped into the yard,
the following his heroic example. The scene p
hich followed defes both description ond lima gina TOT
'n The bowling of the wolves the groans of tke by
ing youth, the imPrecations of the men, and the
airing the bulls in the stables and the sheks of wo-
in the house, formed fearful chorus-suc1 as we Ih
pc may never be heard again. The farmers wie-a thu
oman of resolute daring-unmuZzIed the dogs and an
ng them from window into The yard, and in twenty
mules the eg ht wolves dead and half the dogs is
The unfortunate Iad-his throat torn open-was tle
ad and his courageous, though unsuccessful de- MI
lders, all more or less wounded. Such is one of
frighfu tragedies but too frequently enacted in me
meetings which take place between man and this "a
rage BRUTE which, in spite of the repeated attacks lot
OH it, the invented TO destroy, and the uni a
assent of mankind for its determination, seems 10
abundant in these wild anda lmost nntrod- as
soudes of LIE Morvan. Still it is land of beau rail-