The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-06-04

II ANI aAAA NNN ~ NAAa hRANNNtAAN W
keep up q hot fire or thecreatures would
descend the chimney upon me. now
thought Of the straw bed beneath the
feather tick, and lost no time in drag
ging it TO the floor; and quickly ripping
itopen drew out its contents, and threw
handfuls upon the fire. As the flames
roared up the chimney could hear the
wolves draw back from the heat and
smoke, and jump again to the roof.
But as the straw had hared up and
the smoke assembled, the creatures
sprang once more upon the top of the
chimney. Thus kept thom away un-
til the last handful of straw was consumed
and still, as if determined to gain en-
trance to the cabin, in spite Of all efforts
the wolves returned to the opening, and
were about to spring down upon the
nearly extinguished fire. 1 now had to
resort to the feathers, but these not only
put out the last spark of fire, but the
scent of them seemed to make the star
wing brutes more ferocious than ever.
Ny fears were now becoming terrible;
and desprring of keeping the wolves
longer from the house, cast my eyes
upwards towards the beams overhead,
determining as last resort to climb to
them and escape their murderous jaws
As 1 looked up 1 observed that 1 had
till then forgotten, my husbands squir-
rel gun. 1t was a single barrel, and I
knew it contained only small shot. But
1 remembered the effect of the rifeup
the cowardly animals and 1 hoped to
scare them from the chimney with this
weapon. Scarcely had the idea occur
red to me than I acted upon it; and
cooking the gun, 1 held up the chimney
and fred. The piece was more heavily
loaded than 1 suspected, or perhaps the
charge had been long time in it, and
with loud report it fell from my hands
among the ashes. At the instant I
heard growl of pain, then desperate
scratching and struggling upon the
chimney, and then the body of a huge
brindled wolf fell heavily on the earth
at my feet, and rolled upon the floor.
My first thought was to recover the gun,
and with the breech of it to batter out
the brains of the still painting creature.
But seeing the butcher knife still stick
ing in the venison ham from which |
had cut the stakes for supper, snatch
ed it and turued to where 1 thought the
wolf was lying. Butthe animal had on
been stunned by the fall, and, recover
ing, had leaped to theroom. was now
alone and shut up with savage beast,
in a little space scarce ten feet square.
I was about to drop the knife, and at
,empt to reach the beams overhead,
when the wolf, but slightly wounded
md entirely recovered from the fright
If his sudden descent, sprang upon me.
His red eye balls glared ferociously, and
With extended jaws, from which gouts
If blood were dripping, he was upon me.
felt his hot breath upon my face, and
hen his fangs closed with a burning,
earring sensation upon my bosom. 1
Vas frantic with terror and pain, and
Inew not what l did. Only 1 have a
of making, in my desper-
tie struggle with monster that was at
ny vitals, more than human efforts l
truck with my knife, and wrestled with
energy. have faint impress
ion of this, and that I fell powerless to
he floor, and experienced a sensation as
If streams of boiling water over my bo-
iom, neck and face-no more.
When I came to myself 1 was lying
ipon the bed; and Reuben, standing
'ver, was bathing my face, while the
'tains of blood were upon his hands,
lpon the bed-cloths, the floor, every
where, and by the hearth; there where
poor Putnam, my fearless dog, used to
lie was stretched the mangled body of
he huge, gaunt wolf.
This last sight recalled the terrible
events OF the past night, and recovering
ny voice, stretched forth my arms,
md twining them around my dear hus-
'and's neck drew his face to mine, and
Iskeds. him how 1 had been rescued from
ny ferocious assailants. He said he
,ad toiled all night through the snow to
each home, and as day was breaking
,ame in sight of blood and the dead bod
es of wolves scattered about he rushed
% the door and called my name. No
reply made and exerting all his strength
ne at last succeeded in breaking down
he door and entered the cabin. Here
! terrible sight met his view, me (the
hfeless form stretched upon
he hoor), with the butcher knife still
in my hand, and the dead wolf
IT'LL upon my bosom. He hurled the
object to the hearth, and
placing me upon the bed, discovered
hat l still breathed.
Under Reuben's affectionate and skill
iul nursing soon regained my health.
But such was the terrible shock of that
struggle with the wolves, that my hair