Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-03-30

that little town of Morgan. This we
conceive is partly owing to the social
habits, above spoken of, which made
1t easy to collect the people, and bring
them to act together, and partly to
the peculiar surface of the land. 1t
is one of the toughest towns in Yer
mont, but its roughness follows no
law. Its ridges run in every conceiva-
bic direction. 1t has no high noun
tains, but several hills which are al
most mountains. These are connect
ed with no mountain ranges, nor with
each other. 1t has ponds, large and
small, with the finest sandy beach, or
the muddiest, swampiest shore, or the
boldest rampant of rocks; and it has
swamps as impenetrable as the jungles
of Africa. The largest pond, or Sey-
mour lake, lies somewhat in the shape
OF boot. Rising in front of the in
step is a high hill, or mountain, with
a perpendicular wall near the shore
and some ten to forty rods from it
extending a quarter of mile, more or
less, nearly parallel to the shore,
though further from it at one end than
at the other Draw a line from the
south end of the lake, or the toe. of
the boot, towards the north west end
or the leg of the boot, and this hill
will be included between this line and
the lake at the instep, as it were. In
the Fall of 1886, we think it was
one morning about daylight, Wolves
were heard to howl On this hill. and
pretty early in the day it was found
that some of farmers sheep had been
kl-led during the night. Colriers were
at once started, the men gathered in
from all parts of the town. and some
from Holland, Salem, and Charleston.
A line was formed extending from the
toe OF the boot shaped lake, to the
leg, and at the word of command.
swept over the hill, down to the top of
the ledge, and then the portion of the
line from either end of the ledge to
the lake closed in upon each other care
fully. At this point of line shots were
frequent now at one end, and now at
the other, and then from the top of the
ledge, fired at something seen below.
or attempting to scale the ledge. This
was only the work of few minutes.
The lines ofmen met, broke, came out
shouting, and counted their game,
three wolves +! on each was a bounty
OF twenty dollars. There were found
to be about two hundred men, among
whom to divide the profits. A happier
company OF weary men, never went
home to tell their eager listening BOYS
of their exploits.
But stranger things were to come
the next day, in which some of these
boys were to have a hand, and to see
with their own eyes.
Wolves go III gangs you know. IL
seems that this was only part of the
gang; the rest were On their way from
the forests of Essex county, and on this
eventful day rested somewhere near
where Island Pond village now is
With coming darkness they resumed
their march, now and then sending up
their peculiar and far reaching howl.
Whether they were answered by any
remaining on the hill, and which had
eluded the hunters, we know not
But at any rate they made their way
directly towards the hill, crossed the
outlet of the lake, and assembled the
hill just before ay-light, their march
traced all the way by their bowling,
which was listened to by some of the
inhabitants of Morgan. Day had
scarcely broken when boys were riding
In hot haste to call for another hunt
over the same hill. These couriers
rode further than the day before, and a
larger number of men gathered, many
from Derby. A line was formed and
swept over the hill, and down upon the
ledge, as before. Two wolves were
shot at the foot of the ledge. One
very large black fellow dashed out in
to the shallow water, around the end
OF the line, and made his way across
the pasture of Ruel Cobb, seen by
many, and into clump of bushes on
the shore of the lake, not far from Mr..
Cobb's house. This shore was soon
surrounded with men, one of whom
Val. Raymond of Charleston, discov-
cred the great black fellow on log
that ran out into the water and put a
rifle ball through him. Thus ended
the second day of the hunt, with three
more wolves. If any one knows oil
bigger and more successful hunting in
Vermont, we should like to have him
send us an account of it. In the mean
time preserve this paper, if you cannot
give us a better account, for the story
will be a wonder to the children oil
Morgan when all those who partici- |
pated in those hunts shall have passed |
away.