The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1875-06-04
9tlistEllaueuns.
A STRUGGLE WITH A WOLF.
A Rcminiscencc Of the wilderness

hcmAHlSCtnCt VI tHe WHueTHeSs
The following incident, related by al
old lady, who has seen a rich and flour
ishing city spring up, as if by magica
art, about the spot where her SOLITARY
shanty once stood, illustrates one among
the many perils to which the pioneers o.
the Far West are exposed.
My husband and myself were among
the first of the Connecticut people who
settled in Northern Ohio. He had se
lected this place (now Sandusky City,
because portion of the shore of Lake
Erie reminded him of his native home
on Long Island Sound. Accompanying
us were several other young families;
but these, dreading the rough autumnal
winds of the lake chose to make their
locations at considerable distance from
ours, and upon higher ground.
1t was in the spring of 1916 that we
reached our location; and my husband,
being young and athletic man, had
soon prepared few acres of land, and
got in a crop of potatoes for our winter
provision. He also, with the aid of our
distant neighbors, erected a log cabin
for shelter, and another for two COWS, a
yoke of oxen, and few head of sheep
We had driven with us from Pennsylva-
MIA, as we came west
Late in the autumn, after my husband
harvested his corn and secured his fod-
der, he and turned to, and devoting
our evenings to it, shelled out quaint.
ty of it sufficient for our winters supply
of food. With this he prepared to go to
the nearest mill, which was on the Yer
million river. There was then only q
trail, or marked route, through the
woods; and with our slow footed oxen,
it was journey of several days. But,
leaving me good wood-pile, and eau
tioning me to see that the sheep were
housed every night out of the reach of
wolves, he started away.
We had large mastiff-a noble ami
NAL which my father had given me the
day we started from our homeland
Reuben Chat was my husbands name)
told me | could not be very lonesome
with so brave and faithful compan-
ion.
But notwithstanding old Put was one
of the most intelligent and social dogs 1
ever saw, did feel very lonesome. 1t
was the first time my husband and /
had ever been separated since we were
married, and the days and nights of his
absence seemed very long indeed.
However, Put and I got along very
well. The fifth day discovered the
ground white with snow; the thick,
heavy flakes were falling fast. Towards
evening the weather moderated; the
snow turning TO sleet, saturated the sur
face of that on the ground; and it be-
coming colder, hard icy crust, was
formed sufficient to bear my weight up
on it. This knew would detain Reu-
ben; for with his loaded wagon it would
have been impossible for him to reach
home before he had to break his way
ahead of the team. There were settlers
along the trail, 80 was not much con
eerned on his account.
had milked the COWS and fed them
in the stable, and with the help of Put
had secured the sheep; and returning to
the house, proceeded to prepare my
supper, and make myself as comfortable
as possible for one more solitary night.
There were hanging in the wide throat
of our chimney several hams of fresh
venison, from one of which cut steaks
nfficient for myself and the dog, and
ooked them. The fragrance of the
uicy meat steamed upwards through the
ide chimney, and filed the air, as
perceived whenever went to the door.
Put and 1 made hearty supper, and
clearing away the things, went to bed;
while the dog, coiling himself in his us
ual corner upon the hearth, was soon