Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-07-09
Russian Wolf HINT.

number M. Alex. Dumas newspaper. It is an
extract from one Of bis letters from St Peters
burg:
Wolf hunting and bear hunting are the "a
vOrite pleasures Of the Russians. Wolves are
hunted in this way in the winter, when the
wolves being hungry are feFocious Three or
four huntsmen, each armed with double-bar-
relied gun, get into trOika, which Is any sort
Of carriage, drawn by three horses-its name
being derived from its team and not its form.
The middle horse trots always; the left hand
and right hand horses must always gallOp.-
The middle horse trots with his head hanging
down, and he is called the snow eater. The
two others have only one rein, and they are
fastened to the poles by the middle Of the body,
and gallop, their heads free; they arc called
the furious. Tho trOika Is driven by q sure
cOachman, il there is such thing in the world
as sure coachman. A pig is tied to the rear
Of the vehicle by q rope, or . chain, (for
greater sccurityO some twelve yards long
The pig is kept in the vehicle until the hunts
men reach the forest where the hunt is to
take place, when he is taken out and the
horses started. Tho pig, not being accustomed
to this gait, squeals, and his squeals soon de-
generate into lamentations. His cries bring
out ono vol, who gives the pig chase; then
two wolves, then three, then ten, then fifty
-woivcs=-ah posting as hard as they can GO
after the poor pig, fighting among themselves
for the best places, swapping and striking al
the poor pig at every opportunity, who
squcals with despair. These squeals Of agony
arouse all the wolves in the forest, within q
circuit Of three miles, and the troika is followed
by an immense flock Ofwolves. It is now that q
good driver is indispensable. The horses have
an instructive horror Of wolves, and 20 almost
crazy; they run as fast as they can 20. The
huntsInen fire as fast as they can lOad-there
is no necessity to take any aim. The pig
squeals--the horses neigh--the wolves how
the guns rattle; it is concert to make Nc
phistOphcles jealous. As long as the driver
commands his horses, fast as they may bC
running away, there is no danger. But ifhC
ceases to be master Of them, II they baulk, Il
the troika is upset. there Is no hope. The
next day, or the day after, or week after
wards, nothing will remain Of the party bul
tho wreck Of the trOika, the barrels Of the
guns, and the larger bones Of the horses
huntsmen and driver.
Last winter Prince Repnine went on one o.
these hunts, and It came very near being hil
last hunt. He was on visit with two Of hii
friends TO one Of his estates near the stcppe
and they determined to 60 ON wolf hunt
They prepared large sleigh In which thre,
persons could move ct case, three vigorOui
horses were put into Il, and they selected fol
driver man born in the country and thor
Oughly experienced in thesport. Every hunts
man had pair Of double.6axrel guns and ,
hundred and 6fty ball cartridges. It va
night when they reached the steppe that b
an immense prairie covered with snow. tn
moon was full, and shone brilliantly; its beam
refracted by the snow gave light scarcely in
feriOr to daylight The pig was put out o
the sleigh and the horses whipped mp. A
soon ~ the pig feltthat he was dFagecd be be
gan to squeal. A wolf o. two Appeared, bu
they were timid, and kept long ways Of
Their number gradually increased, and q
their numbers augmented they became bOldeT
There were about twenty wolves when theI
came within gun range Of the trOika. One o
the party fred; wolf fell. The flock becarn
alarmed and half fed away. Seven or eigh
hungry wolves remained behind to devOu
their dead companion The gaps were sool
filed. On every side howls answered howls
on every side sharp noses and brilliant eye
were seen peering. The guns ratified volIey
after volley. But the flock Of wolves increaset
instead Of diminishing, and soon il was not
flock but vast herd Of wolves in thick ser
ried columns which gave chase to the sleigh
The wolves bounded forward 80 rapidly the,
seemed to fly over the snow, and 30, lightly
not sound was heard; their numbers con
tinued to increase and increase, and increase
they seemed to be silent tide drawing neare
and nearer, and which the guns of the party
rapidly as they werC discharged, had no ef
feet on. The wolves formed vast crescent
whose horns began to encompass the horses
Thier number increased so rapidly they seem
ed to spring out Of the ground. There wa
something weird in their appearance. TO
where could three thousand wolves come from
in such desert of snow.
The party had taken the pig into the sleigh
his sQucal increased the wolves boldness. III,
party continued to FIRE, but they had now use,
above half their ammunition, and had but tw,
hundred cartridges leit, while they were sur
rounded by three thousand wolves. The tw,
horns Of the crescent became nearer and near
or, and threatened to envelOp the party. /
one Of the horses should have given out th,
fate Of the whole party was sealed. "Wha
do you think Of this, Ivan :" said Prince Rep
nine, speaking to the driver. al had rathe
be at home, Prince" "Are you afraid Of an,
evil conscquencesY' "The devils have taste:
blood, and the more you fire the more wolvc
you'll have" "What do you think is tn
best thing to be done ?" "Make the horse
go faster" "Arc you sure of the hOrsesf'
"Yes, Prince" "Are you sure of our safe
ty?" Tho driver made no reply. He quick
encd the horses and turned their heads TOWARD
home. The horses flew faster than ever
The driver excited them to increased spcet
by sharp whistle, and made them dcscrib,
curve which intersected one of the horns O
the crescent The wolves opened their rank
and let the horses pass: The Prince raiset
his gun to his shoulder. "FOr Gods sake
don't firel" exclaimed the driver, 1--WE ar,
dead men If you dol" He obeyed Ivan. Tn,
wolves, astOnished by this unexpected act
remained motiOnless for 9 minute. Durinr
this minute the Groika was . verst from them
When the wolves started again after il It wa
too late, they could not OveFtako It A quar-
ter Of an hour Afterward they were in sight o.
home. Prince Repnine thinks his horses rar
at least SIX miles IN these fifteen minutes. II,
rode over the steppe the next day, and found
the bones Of more than two hundred wolves