Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-05-04
JOHN auNN's ESCAPE from WOLVES.


Gatineau river, | set out on the NOR
ming Of the goth of February, in COM
pany with two Indians, to ascertain if
any trespasses had been committed on
limit owned by that firm. The dis
trict is remarkable only for its noun
famous character the range being called
Mont Diahle, or Devils Mountain.
took my horse along with me so long
as beaten track enabled me to do so,
when tied him up and continued the
the journey on snow shoes. We had
gone only about four miles when one of
the Indians, very cunning and ex-
perienced hunter, solemnly warned me
to turn back, as there were unmistake'
able indications of wolves being in
close proximity, but I made up my
mind to keep on my way, and my con-
tempt for the prophetic words of the
Indian came near costing NE dearly.
Approaching the foot of the monn-
tain, | beheld in full view, and only a
short distan ce away on a small emf
nence, pack of wolves, twenty-seven
in number, devourng the remains of a
deer. The only resource for safety was
retreat or to climb tree, but on turns
ing about I found that the two Indians
had gone. Isaw to my revolver i'm.
mediately. and determined to live as
long as l 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 bowling of the wolves
in pursuit. have always prided my
self on my fieetness of foot, as I have
seldom met my equal, but in this race
with wolves 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 tree, and though
it took me but very few moments to
reach convenient bough, I 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, COM
menced to blaze away at them with
deadly effect, no less than four falling in
answer to seven shots. This destruc.
tive fire did not abate there fury in the
least, and l proceeded to draw my
second revolver, when, unfortunately, it
caught in twig and was jerked out of
my hand to the ground.
My 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 helplessness, 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 leaplng, they began to
gnaw it down. Taking out my knife l
cut the longest limb I could reach, and
leaving a hook on the end of it I
caught hold of large cedar tree about
ten feet off, and as the wolves contin-
ued gnawing and my perch got more
and more unsteady, I palled in the pole
and drew the tree over toward the
cedar. With desperate exertion, and
after several minutes of deep anxiety, I
succeeded in gaining the cedar, and
took up safe position among the
branches.
The wolves uttered fierce howl and
took their departure, but I did not
venture to descend from my perch until
the last sound from them was family
heard from the distant hills. On reach :
ing the place where l had left my horse
| found that he had got frightened and
had gone. | was about striking out in
pursuit when | espied the two Indians,
who were endeavoring 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 IN
hurt. 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