Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-03-16

(Continued from last Week.
WOLVES.
While on the subject Of wolves, l will let
DR.. Brainard relate an incident, in which
he himself was the hero. continue to
quote from his manuscript:
GAS the account Of wolves is my present
theme, l cannot forbear telling you some
thing of my own experience with them, yet
at the starting ponti it will readily occur to
your supposition that | was not actually de-
voured. In the month of March, on q very
snowy day, | started on horseback to go a
distance of thirty miles. In the latter part
of the journey there was about twelve miles
of Wilderness, on entering which, of course
in the after part of the day, soon found
difficulty in keeping the road, if road III
could be called. 1t still continued to snow,
which loaded and bent down the saplings
across the way so l frequently had to turn
out and go round, which greatly delayed
my progress; but worse than all, | at length
lost the road altogether. In this predica
ment, the best could do, was to exercise
my judgment, not to trust to that of the
horse, which, had we been going towards
home, would undoubtedly have been the
best. Consequently we disagreed consider
ably in the point of compass proper to
pursue; however, after travelling about two
hours in this uncertainty, and making ma
ny zigzags and offsets, we Il say we, for
horse and rider seemed equally anxious to
bring out some where) came into a moro
plain road than we had yet seen in these
woods, but the question was, in my mind,
where would it lead to? and how far to some
house? These anxious thoughts increased
with me as dark was approaching; the snow
knee deep and continuing to fall, and my
hitherto spirited horse beginning TO lag
As in every other case of emergency tho
only way was to persevere, yet we progress
ed but slowly. Ny horse could not by any
means raise fair trot. Hour after hour
passed away in this manner-cold, hunger,
fatigue and anxiety, affected me-hunger
and fatigue the horse-but still we must
ego ahead" as Col. Crockett was wont to
say. The whip was more diligently used
but with little effect, speed nearly the same,
and l not knowing what part of the wilder
ness l was in, felt fearful forebodings that
might be attacked by wolves, or at the best
would have to travel all night, if nv faith.
full horse would holdou 1t was, Judged
about o'clock in the night, and while thu;
coniuring up scare crows, the distant but
well known sound of wolves struck my ear
The spirits and strength of my horse was
now tried with more strict attention, but
both were evidently failing. He was pa.
tient under the lash, and as there was nc
increased speed, fancied he reeled. The
wolves, by their bowling, seemed rapidly
advancing, nor was this Imagination, in ter
minutes they were but few rods in my
rear. You may well suppose / looked
anxiously ahead for light Of some dwell
ing, but none was to be seen. The nigh
was unusually dark with such bed o
snow, which thought gave sufficient ligh
to enable me to see the manner of thei
attack should they attempt it, for 1 coul,
5 see them, and Judge something of thoi
D numbers, as they passed back and fort
across the road, both in my front and real
' keeping about the same distance for awhile
G but at length circling nearer and neare
Y with more hidious howls. Ny attcntio
became about equally divided between ther
u and my horse whose speed could not be il
@ creased, nor did he seem frightened at the
! Ito me) terrific yels-a bad omen l though
S to myself-and soon imagination depicte
:. in my mind the awful calamity of his sinI
+: ing under me and becoming an easy pre-
d to our visitors, while would be attemptin
l. to climb some tree loaded with snow. Bl
, what could do but to climb in case
should fall exhausted, or they should mall
a resolute attack while we were so slow
d moving2 l had heard old hunters say thi
II the human voice on IA loud KEY would frigh
It en- them away. This tried repeatedly, bl
If it was drowned by their answering and il
,r creasing roar, while they drew at tim
nearer had heard hunters say, too, tn
IT one must be resolute, and meet them ma
NJ fully when they were about to make an a
Sc sault. But to meet gangof wolves sing
h handed without arms, was more than II
Is courage would admit. could not serious
think of making defence in any mannC
at and to endeavor TO make compromise al
I'd give them my horse, and then try to escaI
a appeared to me equally hazardous.
ne ~ am sensible, my patient reader, Ii
Ie my critical situation would alarm your fea
yh had you not known from the commen,
ment that l was not devoured. So nc
as nothing more than your curiosity can
ve excited, l may as we'll hasten to tell y
n't how did escape. This was by resolvi
to stick to my wearied horse as long as
nd could walk, and trust to Providence for I
,at event. The wolves appeared moro a
w. more threatening, coming so near col
plainly see their grin. Expecting the p,
We horse might suddenly fall, l actually ms
the necessary preparations for climb
he which in such case would be my only ear
ly salvation. / took very deliberately
nd my overcoat, and carried it before
al, though the weather was cold and my bC
alf shrunk under the storm. Well in this v
tie we all progressed together (the wolves
OIL tending TO the music) should Judge ab
he about four miles, constituting and form
hy asplendid Monagerie could it but have b.
all seen by vast congregation of spectat
ie all would have pronounced it worthy
zen Spanish or even Roman Amphithea
ION / still, in thissolemn and dreary marsh,
not reliDquished all hopes of sometime
inc, a ko,ht ahaad Hona tba s,,oot -,