The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-12-31
A Michigan WoIf.sIayer.


of Eaton township living. He moved
from Ohio to this county In the fall Of
1886, coming from Ann Arbor with nn
OK team, and obliged for some distance
to cut road through the woods before
he could bring his goods and wife to
the log hut In waiting for them on the
present site of the brick residence In
which he died.
An. interview with one of his sons
disclosed some very interesting rem
iniscences of early pioneer life in Eaton
county. For several years but few set
Elements were made in Eaton township,
but in 1912 Mr.. Wall could boast of quite
" clearing" and four nelghbors in "a
radius of as many miles. In that year
the settlers were annoyed by mad
wolf, which would attack the stock In
the night and bite promiscuously all
within reach, the victim of the bite in
variably going mad, and suffering great
agony until relieved by death. 1t seems
popularity of the mad wolves that
they leave the company, or flock of
wolves, and, with remarkable per-
sistence, bite and destroy every animal
within reach.
The wolf in question had succeeded
in doing considerable damage, and
numerous attempts had been made to
destroy it to no purpose.
One night in the middle of June Mr.
Wall was awakened by the squealing of
his pigs and bark of lfis dog. Jumping
out of bed he ran to the pen, which was
made of logs, and saw u wolf chasing
and biting his hogs. He leaped into the
inclosure, took the wolf by the hind
legs, and attempted to dash its head
against the logs. The wolf had u firm
hold on one of the hogs and would not
let CO.
Wall ran to the wood-pile, got club,
and succeeded in killing the wolf, which
proved to be mad. The dog had taken
active enough part in the affray to get
several bites, and, with three of the
swine, went mad and died. This adj
venture gave Mr.. Wall the name of
William Wall, the wolf-slayer," by
which he was widely known.
Another time, while after his cows in
the woods, he lost his way and wander
ed till dark, when the wolves commence
him, and began closing in from all
sides. He could hear them running
through the underbrush and bowling in
q frightful manner. The prospect of
being compelled to spend the night in
the woods with these half-famished
wolves was anything but pleasant. The
wolves became more and more daring,
and occasionally one would dart past
him and snap at his legs in very sug-
gestive manner.
At length he was compelled to take
refuge in tree. He climbed to a goodly
height, and was trying to settle himself
in secure position for the night, when
he noticed light not far distant, and
after little cogitation convinced him
self that it was made by a burning log
heap in clearing, where he had been
at work during the day. He Alecided to
make break for the clearing, and for his
protection cut limb from the tree and
made very formidable weapon in the
shape of club.
The wolves were bowling and dig
ging around the foot of the tree in al
most almost endless numbers. Taking
off his coat, he made a bundle of it,,
and when he had descended near the
ground threw 1t far as possible. 1t hardly
touched the ground before the wolves
pounced upon it and began fighting,
each attempting to get chance at the
garment, during which time Mr.. Wall
jumped to the ground, and running for
the clearing had gained considerable
pack, when they all sprang after him.
1t was hard run and close race, but
he succeeded in reaching large burning
log-heap built around a stump, and
jumping overthe smouldering logs reach
ed the stump. The wolves come with
in few rods of the fire and began
circling around it, keeping up always
their unearthly bowling. Mr.. Wall
passed the night perched on top of the
stump, but found no time to sleep, as he
was kept busy poking up the dying
embers, in order to keep the wolves at a
respectful distance. At daylight they
dispersed, and the prisoner hastened
home to his family who had expected tc
hear that &C William Wall, the wolf