Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1859-08-17
miscellaneous.
A Russian Wolf Hunt.


news papers Tt is an extract from one of
his letters from ST, Petersburg.
Wolf hunting and bear hunting are the
favorite pleasures of the Russian, Wolves
are hunted in this way in the winter, when
the wolves being hungry are ferocious. Three
or four huntsmeu each armed with double
barrelled gun, which is any sort of carriage
drawn by three herses-its name being de-
rived from its team and not its form. The
middle horse trots always: the left hand and
right hand must always gallop. The mi ddle
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 in the middle of the body. and
gallop, their, heads frees they are called the
Furious.
The troika is driven by sure coachman,
if there is anything in the world as sure
coachman. A pig is tied to the rear of the
vehicle by rope or a chain, Cfor greater
security, some twelve yards long. The pig
is kept in the vehicle until the horsemen
reach the forest where the hunt is to take
place, when he is taken out and the horses
started. The pig, not being accustomed to
this gate, squeals, and his squeals soon de-
generate into lamentations His cries bring
out one wolf, who gives the pig chase; then
two wolves, then three, then ten, then fifty
wolves-all posting as hard as they can after
the poor pig, fighting among themselves for
the best places, swapping and striking at the
pig at every opportunity. who squeals with
| diSpair These squeals of agony arouse all
the pigs in the forest, within Circuit of three
miles, and the troika is followed by an i'm
mense flock of wolves.
1t is now good driver is indispensable.
| The horses have an instructive horror for
wolves, and go almost crazy ; they run as fast
as they can 60. The huntsmen fire as fast
as they can load-there is no necessity to
take aim The pig squeals-the horses nigh
the wolves howl-the guns rattle it is a
concert to make Mephistopheles jealous. As
long as the driver commands his horses, fast
as they may be running away, there is no
danger. But if he ceases to be master of
them, if they balk, if the troika is upset,
there is no hope. The next day, or the day
after, or a week afterwards, nothing will re-
main of the party but the wreck of the troika
the barrels of the guns, the bones of the
| horses, huntsnan and driver.
Last winter, Prince Repnine went on one
of these hunts, and it came very near being
| his last hunt He was on visit with two
| of his friends to one of his estates near the
steppe and they determined to go on a wolf
hunt. They prepared large sleigh in which
three persons could move with ease, three
vigorous horses were Put into it, and they
selected man born in the country and thor
oughly experienced in the sport. Every
huntsman had pair of double barrelled guns
and hundred and fifty ball cartridges. 1t
was night when they reached the steppe that
is an immense prairie covered with snow
The moon was full and shone brilliantly; its
beams refracted by the snow gave light
} that scarcely inferior to daylight.
The pig was put out of the sleigh, and the
, horses whipped up As soon as the pig felt
that he was dragged he began to squeal. A
) wolf or two appeared, but they were timid,
J and KEEP. long ways off. Their number in
. creased and as their number augmented they
: became bolder. There were about twenty
} wolves when they came within reach of the
troika One of the party fired wolf fell.
Seven or eight hungry wolves remained be-
hind to devour their dead companion. The
7 gaps were soon filled On every side, howls
answered howls, sharp noses and brilliant
eyes were seen peering. The guns rattlec
/ vollev after volley. But the focks of wolves
increased instead of diminishing. and soor i
was not flock but vast herd of wolves il
] the thick serried columns, which gave chase
t 30 the sleigh.
The wolves bounded forward so rapid,
they seemed to fly over the snow. and s.
: lightly not sound was heard /; their mum
bers continued to increase and increase, ant
the guns of the party, rapidly as they wer
!, discharged had no effect upon them. Th
d wolves formed vast crescent, whose horn
began to encompass the horses. Their mum
e ber increased SO rapidly that they seemed t
e spring out of the ground There was some
: thing wierd in their appearance, for wher
a could three thousand wolves come from i
d such desert of snow. The party continue
: to fire, but they had now used above ha
1t their ammunition, and had but two hundre
!: catridgas left. while they were surrounded o
ID all sides by three thousand wolves.
al The two horns of the crescent came neare
and nearer and threatened to develope th
rt party. If one of those horses had given GU
y the fate OF the whole party would have bee
t. sealed .What do you think of this, Ivan
10 said Prince Rapuine. speaking to the drive
t. Il had rather be ct home, Prince" ''Al
" you afraid of any evil consequences ?" ''Tl
is devils have tasted blood. and the more yc
,e fire. the more wolves you'll have"
of What do you think is the best thing
es be done p make the horses 90 faster"
le care you sure of the horses 2" '.Ye
lg Prince Are you sure of our safety 2"
n, The driver made no reply. He quicken
to the horses, aud turned towards home
The horses few faster than ever. L
ou melted them to increased speed by a sha