The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1864-10-29
Written expressly for the Montana Post.
How I Caught the Wolf.

'r Tf.EIs a", T ELF-- ..|...t 4
EDITOR Posr Noticing that nv FIRST
communication has found favor in your
eyes, will give you, from time to time,
such incidents of my life among the In
dams as l think will be interesting to your
readers, and as an earnest of this promise. |
now propose to tell your readers &c How /
caught the Wolf.' :. r-.i III rsr-SD'
One bright winters morning, if re-
member right, it was the day before Christ
mas, myself anu several men, at that time
employed at Fort B, started to inspect
our traps, set the night previous. The
place we had selected for our operations
was about half mile from the Fort, and
when we arrived on the ground, we found
we had done good nights work. Seven
w.elVes and five foxes had forfeited their
liberty as a penalty of their curiosity in
examining the bats. In my strongest trap
found beautiful specimen of the regular
white wolf, which, on my approach, came
to meet me, as far as the chain would ad-
NIT, showing his teeth, and promising to
be an ugly customer, if intent on making
an attack. Before going any further, /
will here state, that in order to preserve
the skins of animals caught in traps, it was
customary with us to kill the animal with
a long pole. instead of shooting, which
latter would have been the most convenient
and handy method Of disposing of an ami
NAL in trap.
1took the pole which we always kept on
the ground for that purpose, and aimed a
blow at my exasperated captive, but, mis-
sing him, struck the hard, frozen ground,
and shivered the pole to pieces. The ami
NAL became furious, and charged several
times at the nearest man, fortunately, how
ever, the chain prevented him from doing
any harm. Nothing was now left but to get
| a gun at the Fort, which did, in double
quick time. On returning to the scene of
action, met the rest of the men coming
back, who told me that the wolf had broken
the chain, and had gone off with the trap
hanging to his fore foot. They pointed out
t the place where the rascal had descended to
the river bottom, urging me to attempt the
recovery of the wolf and also the trap. 1t
was plain that if lost the wolf, should
certainly never see the trap, which was an
item Of considerable importance to me, as
| the Company charged ten dollars apiece for
steel traps. The gun | had brought from
the Fort was film locks and was known as
a trade gun, such as the Fur Companies fur
nish to the Indians. This weapon was Of
a large bore, and first rate in close en-
counter, but nearly worthless at long range
Every man was furnished with one of these
guns. If he was not possessed of one him,
self, and ten dollars was to be paid to the
Company if it was lost or broken.
The boys urging me on concluded to try
to oyertake and kill the wolf, so, following
his track, soon found myself in the Mis-
souri, bottom among the thicketS of the tall
est kind of willows, keeping tho tract
closely. / soon arrived at on opening il
, the willows, and on the other side of it,
deserted my wolf, with the trap hanging t.
his forefoot. On the impulse of the mo
ment I fred my gun without taking aim
and of course missed him. The wolf nov
| struck into the willows, and followed hin
as fast as possible, the brush every momen
becoming closer under foot, and found
: was beginning to gain on the animal, unit
we both emerged from the brake and enter
ed upon timber road, cut through tn
willows for the purpose Of hauling wood
I now slackened my speed, and commence
loading my gun, going along, however, a
fast rs circumstances would permit. As
was driving the ball home, broke my ram
rod, the ball not getting home by six
eight inches. Now was in fix, but be
, inc excited, and having the wolf in view,
4 clnsched my gun and started at as fast
=. Gait as ever l did in my life. Soon, m
snead comm enced to tell on the wolf, whic
stili kent the road, giving me the advar
' tace. On we vent, for nearly half mill
l., till was close upon him. His tongue VIZ
> hanging out, and he Was barely able
y drag himself along, cncumberel as he WI
n bv the trap which was hanging to his foo
l. Suddenly he stopped and faced me, pr.
8. senting as good q set Of teeth as one migl
lie either wish to see or possess. 1t strikes IN
r on reflection, that my hair began to chans
in it's angle of elevation, until it left the no
er izontal, and assumed the vertical N
ly hand also trembled little. To find one
4 self alone in the woods with such par
ner, is not very agreeable, reader, 8hi'
: statement you can verify by trial, in CO
Of unbelief. No time was left for indul
ing in such considerations, so dubbed II
Gun and aimed tremendous blow at n
g adversary, which he, by a quick NOV
: eyaded, and as the stock struck the grouI
to'ese to him. he made one spring and clutc
ed it. The barrel broke off, while parts
: the lock few in all directions, nothing hol
ING the stock and barrel together but t
guard. The wolf held fast, and SO did
- Finally, by twisting, l detached the barr
from the stock, and raising it high abo
nv head, with one blow laid the wolf owe
8 Following up my success, beat the amin
= until | was tired, and then, according
immemorial custom in such cases, 6
down and contemplated my work: l W
Il about mile and O half from the Fort, a.
after | shouldered the wolf, his hind lie
" would drag the ground, which will give
- idea of his size, especially when say :
Eve feet four inches in height. got b
~, safely to the Fort, where received 81
al al for the skin and paid $40 90 for the gu
ow On close calculation found the hu
rather an Improbable operation. "A
A SPANKING JoKE.--A lady corresponds
n L. a