Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1859-03-03
EIttrarp Misttllanp
Prem grave to Eay-from lively 10 severe"
THE SNOW EATER.
A TALE OF WOLF-HUNT IN RUSSIA
BY F. CLINTON PARPTNcToN

wolves ferOciOuS, it is an exciting anC
skilltul piece of business to hunt them
Three or four hunters, armed witt
double-barrellsd rifles, place themselye
in the Ir0k0, sort of carriage, draw
by three horses, and receiving its name
not from its form, but from the name
IN which they are driven-the middle
one being trotter, and one on eacl
side always on a gallop, the whole o
them harnOssed abreast.
The middle horse trots with his hea(
very low, and is called the " Snow
Eater" while the others gallop will
elevated fronts, and are called the "fur
les" because they are always leapine
and plunging, and work "of'' SO much
that the advancing equipage presents
the appearance of an open fan.
"A sure coachman, if any coachman is
sure, is always chosen to drive the moko
on these hunting expeditions.
Behind the carriage is attached 8
young kid, by rope or chain some ten
or twelve feet in length, and it is thus
conducted carefully into the forest where
IL Is intended to commence the hunt.
The kid is then put out of the carriage,
and the driver whips up his horses, which
bound away at full speed, the middle
one trotting, and the other two gal
Looping.
The young kid, not being used to this
sort of treatment, sets..up the most pl ain
tive and earnest lamentations at his
fate. AT the first cry a wolf thursts his
nose out Of the bushes, and starts in
pursuit of the kid; then three wolves,
and soon there are fifty of the ferocious
animals bowling in pursuit.
They dispute with each other for the
possession of the kid, fighting to see
which will get the nearest one dashing
at him with a stroke of the claws, the
other with a snap of the teeth, till the
poor victim, from lamentations, passes
to cries of despair, which arouse more
OF the brutes from the distant depths of
the forest. All the wolves within the
circumference of a league, hasten to the
banquet, and the carriage is soon pur-
sued by countless troop. 1t is then a
very agreeable thing to have a good
driver.
The horses, who have an instructive
horror for the wolves, becoming madly
excited, amp dash onward at a furious
rate. The trotter would like to gallon.
the gallopers would like to take the bits
in their teeth.
/ Away they go and the hunters have
nothing to do but to load and fire, at
random, it being unnecessary to take
aim. The kid cries, the horses whinnv.
the wolves howl, and the rifles roar !
the whole forming a concert that might
make Mephistopheles jealous. Equip
age, horses, kid, troops Of wolves, hunt
ers-all is whirlwind, driving furiously
over the snow, and making it fly in ev-
cry direction, like storm cloud glistcr-
ing in the air.
! w lille the driver remains master of
his horses, however excited they may
be, all goes we'll But if reign breaks
or escapes his grasp-if trace gives
way or the tr0c0 is upset-all is said |!
The next day, the day after, a week or
ten days later, somebody will find the
ruins of the carriage, the barrels of the
rifles, the carcasses the horses, and the
large bones of the hunters and the dri-
yer.
1t was during Alexander Dumas's first
winter in Russia, that he went wolf.
hunting with the Prince Garousky and
another friend-the affair coming very
near being the last wolfhunt to all con
cerned.
A large sledge was prepared and at
tached to three horses, who were con-
tided to driver born in the vicinity,
and full Of experience. Dumas placed
himself face to the rear, the prince on
one side, and their friend on the other.
Thus they arrived on the steppe,
which Is nothing more nor less than an
immense desert, covered with snow
the time being night, and the moon
shining brightly over the scene; its re-
hectedrays on the snow almost equalling
the light of day.
The kid was thrown out, and the
sledge started. No sooner did the ami
NAL feel himself drawn away, in spite of
himself, than he commenced his com
plants.
A few wolves soon appeared, but
seemed fearful, remaining at some dis
lance from the sledge. But their num-
Der gradually drew near to the hunters,
who proceeded at only ordinary speed
as restless as were their Steeds. When
the number had increased to about
twenty, they were near enough to the
sledge for the work of destruction to
commence. A single report, and wolf
fell, somewhat disturbing the equanimity
OF the survivors, many of whom fell off
from the chase; but, it must be remark
ed, that the greater part of them, not
withstanding the proverb, "that wolf
viii not eat WOLF" threw themselves up
on their unfortunate relative, and tore
him to pieces.
These backsliders, however, were
soon replaced, Howlings responded to
howllngs ON all sides, and sharp noses
We're seensucking out from behind near
~ every bush, while cleaning ewes were
as thick below the horizon, as the stars
were above, If not half so pleasant
enough OF them We're constantly within
reach OF the rifles, and the hunters kent
firing with all possible dispatch.
But although every shot told tho
troop Of wolves, instead of diminisbinn
continued to increase. Their progress
was so rapid that they seemed to fv
over the snow, SO light that thew did
not create the slightest noise-their I'D.
vanelng wave, like silent tide, draw.
ing nearer to the sledge, and never for
moment retreating, as rapidly as the
hunters loaded and fred.
They formed behind the prince and
his friends, an immense demi. circle the
two corners of which commenced to
bend around the sledge, as far in front
as the heads of the horses ,,,h;1a -