The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-03-30

John GUMS Escape From Wolves,
A Pretty Tight Place for Mana
Thrilling Adventure on
Devil Mountain.

Being euler in the employ OF Messrs.
McLaren & Co., on the Gatineau river, l
set out on the morning of the 29th OF
February, in company with two Indians,
to ascertain il any trespasses had been
committed on limit ow ned by that firm.
The district is remarkable only tor its
mountainous character, the range being
called Mont Diable, or Devils Mountain.
l took my horse along with me so long
as beaten track enabled me to do SO,
when tied him up and continued the
Journey on snow shoes. We had gone
only about four miles when one of the
Indians, very cunning and experienced
hunter, solemnly warned me to turn
back, as there were unmistakable indlca-
tions of wolves being in close proximity,
but l made up my mind to keep on my
way, and my contempt for the prophetic
words of the Indian came near costing
me dearly.
Approaching the foot Of the mountain,
l beheld in full view, and only short
distance away on small eminence, a
pack, of wolves, twenty-seven in number,
devouring the remains of deer. The
only resource for safety was retreat or to
climb tree, but on turning about l found
that the two Indians had gone. l saw to
my revolver Immediately, and deter
mined to live as long as | could, and to
sell my life as dearly as possible. -,
| began the retreat, however, with all
the haste that my physical powers were
capable of, but was soon alarmed by
hearing the howling of the wolves in pur-
suit. | have always prided myself on
my heetness of foot, as | have seldom
met my equal, but in this race with
wolves l lost ground very fast. | quickly
realized that the attempt to escape was
vain, for at the rate of going | could not
hold out long, and concluded to climb a
tree, and though it took me but a very
few moments to reach a convenient
bough, | was none too quick, for the
pack was nigh on hand. They drew up
in line about ten yards from the tree,
and, considering the opportunity good
one, commenced to blaze away at them
with deadly effect, no less than four fall
ing in answer to seven shots This de-
structive fire did not abate their fury in
the least, and | proceeded to draw my
second revolver, when, unfortunately, it
caught in twig and was jerked out OF
my hand to the ground.
Ny buffalo coat had left in the cutter,
and, being very thinly clad, | began very
soon to experience the effects of the cold.
The wolves, l believe, realized my help
lessness, and became bold accordingly.
They walked up to the foot Of the tree,
which was a very small one, and as they
could not reach me by leaping, they be-
gan to gnaw it down. Taking out my
knife | cut the longest limb l could
reach, and leaving a hook on the end of
it, | caught hold of large cedar tree
about ten feet off, and as the wolves con- |
tinued gnawing, and my perch got more
and more unsteady, | pulled in the pole |
and drew the tree over toward the cedar
With desperate exertion, and after sew
eral minutes of deep anxiety, | succeeded |
in gaining the cedar, and took up safe
position among the branches.
The wolves uttered a fierce howl and
took their departure, but | did not ven
ture to descend from my perch until the
last sound from them was family heard
from the distant hills. On reaching the
place where / had left my horse, found
that he had got frightened and had gone.
l was about striking out in pursuit when
l espied the two Indians, who were en-
deavoring to secure two young moose,
which they had got into kind Of
crevasse at the base of a high rock. |
turned in with them, and we succeeded
in taking them alive and unhurt. We
carried them to Mr.. Valent's shanty,
where they will remain until we can get
them down to Ottawa The Indians had
courage enough to go back and skin the
wolyes.-OHaWG Free Press.