The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-05-06
A Russian Wolf hunt.


extract frome one of his letters flo ST. Peters
burg
Wolf hunting and bear hunting are The fa-
vorite pleasures OF the Russians. Wolves are
hunted in this way in the winter, when the
wolves being hungry are ferocious. Three or
four huntsmen, zach armed with double bar
relied gun, get INTO troika, which is any sort
OF carriage drawn by three horSes-its name
being derived from It's 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 .he 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 are called the
Furious. The tfHka is driven by sure coach
man, If there is such thing in the world as
sure coachman. pig is tied TO the rear of
the vehicle by rope, or chain, (fnr greater
SecurIty.) some twelve yards long. The pig is
kept IN the vehicle until the huntsmen reach
The forest where the hunt is 10 take place, when
| he Is taken out aud the horses started The
pig, not beng accustomed 10 this gate, sQueas,
and his squealS soon degenerate into lamenta-
| lions. HIS cries bring out one wolf, who gives
| the pig chase then two wolves, then three,
then ten, then fifty wolves-aIrp Irposting as hard as
they can go after the poor pig, fighting among
themselves for the best places, swapping and
striking at the poor pig at every opportunity
who squeals with despair, thege squeals Of
agony arouse all the wolves 10 the forest,
within circuit of three miles, and the troika
IS followed by an immense flock Of wolves II
is now that a good driver is Indispensable The
horses have an instructive horror OF wolves.
and 60 almost crazy they run as fast as they
can go. The huntsmen fire as fast as they can
load-there is no necessity to take any aim
The pig squeaS-the horses neigh-the wolves
howl-the guns rattle it is a concert 10 make
MpphislopheIrs jealous. As long as the driver
commands his horses, fast as they may be run
ming away, there is no danger. But, II he
cea>e TO be master of them if they baulk if
the troika is upset, there is 10 hope. The
next day, or the day after, or a week afterwards,
nothing will remain Of the party but The 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 Of
these hunts, and il 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 90 on a wolf hunt. They
prepared large sleigh in which three could
move at ease, three vigorous horses were put
Il a
born in the country and thoroughly experienced
IN the sport. Every huntsman had pair of
double barrelled guns and hundred and fifty !
ball cartridges. 1t was night hen 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 scarcely inferior to Gay-light-
The pig was put out OF The sleigh and tn, hor-
ses whipped up. As soon the pig felt that he /
was dragged he began TO squeal. A wolf or
two appeared, out they Were timid, and kept /
a long way off, Thrlr number gradually in /
creased, and as their number augmented they
became bolder. There were about twenty
wolves when they came within gua range OF |
the rolka. One of the party fired a wolf |
Tell. The flock became alarmed and half fed !
away. Seven or eight hungry wolves re-
manned behind 10 'devour their dead companion {
The gaps were soon filled. On every side /
howis answered howls, On evey side sharp /
noses and brilliant eyes We're seen peerne.-
The guns Tatied volley after yolley. Bat the I
flock OF wolves increased instead of diminishing,
and soon it was no. Aock, but vast herd Of (
wolves in thick srrred columns which gave
chase 10 the sleigh. The wolves bounded for
ward so rapidly they seemed to Ay over the
snow, and so lightly, not sound was heard ;
their numbers continued 10 Increase, and in I
crease, and increase they seemed TO be silent I
tide drawing nearer and nearer, and on hich /
the guns OF the party, rapidly as they were dis
charged, had no effect The wolves formed |
vast crescent, whose horns began to encom-
pass the horses. Their number increased so t
rapidly they seemed TO spring out ofthe ground |
There was something weird 10 their appearance,
Tor where could three thousand wolves come
from IN such desert of snow The party had
taken the pig into the sleigh his squeal in I
creased the wolves boldness. The party con- |
iinued TO tre, but they had now used above I
hall their ammunition, and had but two hundred
cartridges lett, while they were surrounded by |
three thousand wolves. The two horns Of the |
crescent became nearer and nearer, and
threatened TO enveIop the party. II one of the
horses should have given out the fate OF the |
whole party was sealed. "What do you think |
Of this, Ivan % SAID Prince Repnine, speaking
to the driver. 81 bad rather be at home. |
Prince" care you afraid of any evil conse-
quences % s'The devils have tasted blood,
and the more you fire the more wolves you'll |
have" "What do you think is the best thing
TO be done !" "Make The horses 90 faster.''- |
care you sure of the horses eyes, Prince"
care you sure Of our safety 2" The driver
made no reply. He qulckened the horses and
turned thir heads toward home. The horses
flew faster than ever. The driver excited them
TO increased speed by a sharp whistle, and
made them describe curve which intersected
one of the horns of the crescent. The
wolves opened their ranks and let the horses
pass. The Prince raised bis gun TO his shoulder.
.'For Gods sake don't FIRE :" exclaimed the
driver, 4swe are dead men If you do =" He