The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-11-19
From the New Orleans Crescent.
HUNTED BY WOLVES.


man. His arms we're like piston rods,
and he could drive his huge fists with such
tremendous momentum as to fell an OK as
If stricken by thunderbelt.
It is said that he was once caught by
two iron-musclcd Moh.wts, eaoh armed
with knives, while Heinrich bad neither !;
vet at the first onset he fractured the skull
of the foremost Indian, and bore the Sec
ond 20 the earth as if he were nothing but
sn infant. That Indian never resumed
che perpendicular again.
All this by way of introduction to an
adventure that Kaupman once had with a
pack of wolves, and which came fearfully
nigh having fatal result for him.
The winter of II was an unusually
severe one throughout the northern states,
and many deaths from exposure and starv-
alton occurred before the opening OF
spring. The wolves, bears and wild ami
mails became nearly fan,ished from hunger
and, as a consequence, were unusually
fierce and courageous. They came down
from the mountains, and woe to the sheep
fold that was unprotected in the night.
They we're sure to be invaded by the starv-
ing animals, and not sheep would live to
tell the tale. There we're tracks around
the barns where the wolves had trotted all
night in their search for means of en-.
trance. Their howls could be heard all
through the still, cold hours, and more
shan one housewife had been chased to
her very door by imprudently venturing
forth at night.
Many of the settlers sat in the upper
story of their houses, ard amused them
selves by shooting the wolves, for whose
scalps the government had standing
bounty Of several shillings.
Heinrich Kaupman remained at home.
only venturing forth to attend to his
dumb animals, and to see that they were
properly protected during the night. But
after awhile his stock Of groceries became
low, and finally gave out altogether. True,
he and his family could live on the poul-
try, sheep and animals they owned, but it
was rather unpleasant to be without tea,
coffee, sugar, salt, aud many other articles
that were more necessities than they were
iuxuries.
With a want of foresight which he nev-
or could explain, he started upon his jour
nay without any weapon except keen
edged hatchet, which he carried in case
the sled should give out. In the house
hung his trusty rife, but neither he nor his
wife seemed to imagine that there would
be any call for it. and he drove cheerily
away, bidding his wife merry goodbye,
as his mare went at spanking gait down
tia road toward the village:
The latter place, which might more
properly be termed a settlement. was
reached IN due time, the groceries all pur
chased, and everything was in readiness tc
start homeward.
Heinrich had been storm bound so long
In his house that he found the companion
chip of his friends at the village tavern
very agreeable. There was so much te
talk about, so much news to listen to, such
quantity Of gossip regarding the affair.
of the neighborhood, that the time spec
unconsciously by. until, when he arose t.
30, he found it almost dark.
Still, he had no fears, as his wife woult
understand that he had remained at tn,
village, and there was no necessity for hi
immediate return.
As he turned homeward and left tn
village behind, and noticed that the dir
light by which he was travelling Belongs
to the moon, it flashed upon him that b
might perhaps encounter danger befor
reaching home, and he regretted, for .h
twentieth time, that he had left his riff
behind.
The road, deep between the drifts O
snow, was Of just sufficient width for tn
little mare and sled, and the spirited littI
animal went forward at a swift rate. Will
Heinrich. somewhat stupefsd and wear,
was beguilsd into drowsiness by the cas-,
gliding motion of sled.
He was half asleep and half consciou,
when he became sensible of the increa,
of motion of the sled. He felt i. Ter
several times beneath him, and all at one
hsrcer jerk than usual, accompanied b
neigh of terror, efectually aroused hin
and he sat botuprighs and looked aroun,
lie looked in front; all wore its vonte
appearance. wild, Struggling piece
wood, standing two feet deep in snow, th
narrow track twisted through it; the he.
vens cold aud clear, the earth white br
close behind the sled were three gaunt al
Imals, canteriug heavilu vb;Ior L..