Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-03-12
FIGHTING WOLVES IN A
TEXAN
BY J. TEirLRs.

It's not generally known how
very dangerous an animal the Tex.
an Grey Wolf may become when
driven TO desperation by the pangs
Of hunger. 1t lisa mistaken notion
that this animal Is at all times COW.
ardly aud ready TO fly the presence
Of man! On the contrary, he has
been known to attack hunters, not
only in large bodies, or packs as
they are called, but singly and
alone TO brave the deadly rife or
still more fatal hunting knife.
This species must not be contour
dcd with the Coyote, or Prairie
wolf, than which no more cowardly
animate live. The Grey wolf is q
large, stroBg, and at times, exceed
ingly fierce and blood-thirsty crOa-
ture.
Promising this much, l will at
once enter upon the details Of an
incident in connection with the
above named quadruped, that not
only caused me forever after to
hold him In wholesome dread, but
at the same time TO make me an
unrelating enemy TO the entire race,
30 that frequently have l left the
trail o fnobler game that | had been
stalking, TO take that OF q grey Wolf
who had CHANGED 10 cross the
track.
In l849, l was with q party of
hall a dozen companions, survey
ing government lands in North.
Western Texas, having been detail
Ell for that purpose by the powers
at Austin.
Ny party were all, not only "well
upp In the difficult aud arduous
duty in which we were engaged,
but having lived-or rather existed
upon the border Tor several years,
they were thoroughly versed lu ali
the in~tricacies OF wood, or more
properly, prairie Graf. There was
not one OF them, no; even except.
ing black Sandy Goblet, but who
could pick up a trail aud carry it to
the end as well as the best scent on
the line.
II was The middle ofJAnuary, and
a bitter norther having been blow
ing all day, we were heartily g!4d,
after a spell Of harder work than
usual, to get into camp, and start
the pots and kettles boiling. The
spot chosen for the nights resting
place, wa ~ a sheltered vAlly, or
ravine, running east and west, the
precipitous Wall of which ehectul..
ly protected US from the cutting
blast that came with Il sullem roar
from out the great chain of snow
mountains that lay far 10 the north.
ward.
During the day, while running
over courses along the eastward
slope Of q succession ofhills, a part
of the Guadalupe range, | had
stumbled ubon the trail Of a brown
bear, and leaving my comrades
for o short time. had followed and
freed the animal In a cavern that
penetrated the side OF a preoipitous
cliff. At least l presumed the
bear had here taken shelter, hav-
ing lost the trail in q small stream
that ran at the foot Ofthe rock. In
crossing this, Of course our trace
had disappeared.
Upon the near, or eastward side
OF the water lay an immense bowl.
der that at some distant day had
rolled down from above, and i'm.
bcdded In the soft loan of the
prairie. 1t had struck me that from
this detached rock | could readily
watch the mouth OF the cavern, and
get affair shot, ii the bear should
venture forth during the nigth,
which was more than probable.
j kept my own council ; and after
supper, which, by.the.by, was more
than usually frugal, on account Of
the bad luck the hunters had on.
countercd, quitcly made prepara-
tons for my nights campaign.
where now, H--!" asked one
OF the fellows, az / threw my rife
in the hollow Of my arm, as | leis.
urely strolled down the ravlnc.
Going for o walk was my
rather unsatisfactory reply,
Il should think you'd had walk
ing enough forOne day" called my
friend butas I did not tender a re-.
ply, he dropped the subject, and |
went without further questioning.
The moon, ! knew, would not
rise until towards midnight, and