The Shasta courier., 1859-06-18
A Russian Wolf-Hunt.


The following is an extract from one of Alex
ander Dumas letters from st. Petersburg:
Wolf-hunting and bear-hunting are the favor
ite pleasures of the Russians. Wolves are hunt
ed in this way in the winter, when the wolves
being hungry ferocious. Three or four
huntsmen each armed with double barreled
gun, get into troika, which is sort of car
riage, drawn by three horses-its name being
derived from its team and not its form. The
middle horse trots always, the lett hand and
right hand horses must always gallop. The
middle horse trots with his head hanging down,
and be is called the snow-eater. The two 9TH
ers 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 troika is driven by sure coachman, if
there is such a thing in the world as a sure
coachman. A pig is tied in the rear of the ve-
hicIe by rope, or chain, (for greater securi-
ty) some twelve yards long. The pig is kept in
the vehicle until the huntsmen 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 gait, squeals, and his
squeals soon degenerate 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 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. These squeals of agony arouse all the
wolves in the forest within circuit of three
miles, and the troka is followed by an immense
flock of wolves. 1t is now good driver is in
dispensible. The horses have an instructive
horror of wolves, and go almost crazy; they run
as fast as they 90. The huntsmen fire as
fast as they can load-there is no necessity to
take any aim. The pig squeals-the horses
neigh-the wolves howl-the guns rattle it is a
concert to make Mephistophyles jealous As
long as the driver commands bis horses, fast as
they may be running away, there is no danger.
But, if he ceases to be master of them if they
baulk, if the troika is upset, there is no hope
The next day, or the day AFTER or a week after
wards, nothing will remain of the party but the
wreck of the troika, the barrels of the guns, and
larger bones of the horses, huntsmen and driver.
Last winter Prince Rupert went on one of
these hunts, and it came very near being his
last hunt He a visit with two of his
friends to 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 for driver
man born in the country and thoroughly expe-
rienced in the sport. Every huntsman had a
pair of double barrel 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 scarcely inferior to daylight.
The pig was put ont of the sleigh and the horses
whipped up. As foon as the pig felt that he
was dragged he began to squeal. A wolf or
two appeared, but they were timid, and kept
Of Thar numbers oraIua1l, in
creased and as their numbers augmented they
became bolder There were about twenty wolves
when they came within gun range of the troika.
One of the party fired wolf fell. The flock |
became alarmed and half fed away. Seven or
sigh5 hungry wolves remained behind to devour |
their dead companion. The gaps were soon fill |
ed. On every side howls answered howls, on |
every side sharp noses and brilliant eyes were |
seen peering. The guns ratified yolley after VOL
ley. But the stock Of wolves increased instead |
of diminishing, and soon it was not flock but
a vast herd Of wolves in thick serried columns
which gave chase to the sleigh. The wolves
bounded forward so rapidly they seemed to fly
over the snow, and SO lightly not sound was
heard; their numbers continued to increase
and increase and increase; they seemed to be
silent tide drawing nearer and nearer, and which
the guns Of the party, rapidly as they were dis
charged, had no effect on. The wolves formed
4 vast crescent, whose horns began to encom-
pass the horses Their number increased so
rapidly they seemed to spring out ofthe ground
There was something wierd in their appearance
for where could three thousand wolves come
from in such desert of snow. The party had
taken the pig into the Sleigh; his squeal in
ceased the wolves bodness The party con-
tinued to fire, but they had now used above
half their ammunition, and had but two hundred
cartridges left, while they were surrounded by
three thousand wolves The two horns of the
crescent became nearer aed nearer, and threat
ened to envelop the party. Ifone of the horses
should have given. cut, the fate of the whole
party was sealed.
'eWhat do you think Of this Ivan?n said
Prince Rupert speaking to the driver.
'' had rather be at home, Prince"
"Are you afraid of any evil consequences "
"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 go faster.n
Are you sure of the horses ?"
Yes, Prince
''Are you sure of our safety ~
The driver made no reply. He quickened the
horses and turned their heads towards home
The horses flew faster than ever. The driver
SANitOA thViu ~ luSltdStQ Speeu UF u 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 his gun to his shoul-
der.
"For Gods sake don't frew exclaimed the
driver, I'VE are dead men if you dol"
He obeyed Ivan. The wolves astonished bv
this unexpected act, remained motionless for
minute. During this minute the troika was a
verst from them. When the wolves started
again after, it was too late, they could not over
take it. quarter of an hour afterwards they
were in sight of home. Prince Rupert thinks
his horses ran at least six miles in these fifteen
minutes. He rode over the steppe the next day
and found the bones of more than two hundred
wolves.
NJ Some idea of the immense emigration to
the Pixies Peak gold mines may be gathered
from the fact stated by the Boston Traveller's
correspondent at St. Joseph, No, that no less
than ten thousand emigrants had passed through
that city, while the number had been as large,