Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-07-31

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Calculated to set crazy
Halt the giddy female craft.
Susan thought the service splendid
. AS she felt her bonnet loom, IS
Ana was sorry when it ended ..ts
And the bonnet ceased to boom.
st Louis ISmes-J Journal.
A NIGHT WITH WOLVES.
/. "a number of years ago." said an old
settler, whom / met on nv western
travels, II took my family to Wisconsin,
and located myself in the woods, about
ten miles from the nearest settlement, and
at least five from the nearest neighbor.
The country round was mostly forest; and
wild beasts and Indians were so numer-
GUS, that my friends at the east, to whom
I gave description of my locality, ex-
pressed great fears for our safety, and
said they should be less surprised to learn
of our having all been cut off than to hear
of our still being alive out there at the
end OF a couple Of years.
"However, I did not feel much alarmed
on my own accountant my wife was as
brave as hunter; but then we had three
children-the oldest only ten-and some
times, when I was away from home, the
sudden growl of a bear, the howl of a
wolf, or the scream of a panther would
make me think of them, and feel quite
uneasy.
"For while, at first, the night-screech-
ing and bowling of these wild animals
alarmed the children a good deal-and
sometimes my wife and unexpectedly
when we mlstook the cry of the panther
for an Indian yell; but we soon got used
| to the different sounds, and then did not
mind them so much; and after I had got
a few acres cleared around the dwelling,
they generally kept more distant at night
just as if they comprehended that the
place, now in the possession of their
enemies, was no longer to lie an abode fol
| them. Besides, now and then shot one
which thinned them little, and probably
frightened the others, for they gradually
became less bold and annoying.
"During the first year had two rather
narrow escapes-once from bear, and
once from panther; but the most re-
markable adventure of all was the one
which happened during the second win.
ter, and which I have always designated
as Night with the Wolves
zone bitter cold morning-the ground
being deeply covered with snow, sc
crusted ana frozen that no feet could sink
into i'll brought out the horse for nv
wife to ride to c., the nearest settle
ment, where she had some purchases to
make, which she wished to attend to her
self. Besides being we'll muffled up in
her own clothing, I wrapped large buff
falo robe around her; and admonishine
her that the woods were full of danger
| after dark, urged her to be sure and get
back before sunset, which she promised
to do.
"All day long, after her departure, from
some cause for which I could not account
I felt very much depressed and uneasy, as
if something evil were going to happen
and when I saw the sun about half an
hour high, and no 81 GINS Of my wife re.
turning, got out my pistols, rifle, am
munition and hunting-knife saddled a
young and rather skittish colt, and bid
| ding the children keep within doors, and
the house safely locked, mounted and
rode off to meet her, which I expected to
do at every turn Of the se-path. But
at every turn I was doomed to disap-
pointment; and when 1 had put mile af-
ter mile behind me, without seeing any
signs Of her, I became more and more
alarmed, and dashed on still faster.
cit was just about dark when saw the
lights of c. cleaning in the distance
but before I reached the town met my
wife Fastening homeward- she having
been unexpectedly detained by meeting
an old acquaintance, who had recently
come on from the eastward, and with
whom she had remained to gather the
news and take supper-the time passing
away so quickly as to render her belated
before she was aware of 1t.
II was greatly reioiced to find her safe
and unharmed-but not little puzzled
to account for my presentiments Of evil
which it appeared to me had taken place
without cause-though in this respect ]
was greatly mistaken, as the sequel viii
show.
"We now set off at a brisk trot home
ward through a dense, dark, gloomy
wood which lined our way on either side
and had safely proceeded about five
! miles, when we were somewhat startled
by a series of long, plaintive bowls, at {
considerable distance, and in different
directions, and which our experience tolG
us were wolves, seemingly calling and
answering each other through the grea,
| forest.
"The wolves OF this region were OF tho
larger and tiercer spices; and though
ordinarily and singly they might not at
tack human being, yet in numbers and
pressed by hunger, as they generally
| were at this season Of the year, I by NJ
means felt certain that we would not be
molested.
ACCORDINGLY we quickened the pace
| of our horses and as we hurried on grew
every moment more uneasy and alarmed
as noticed that many of the sounds grad
ually approached us. We had just en-.
tered deep hollow, where few large
trees stretched their huge branches ove1
dense thicket, when suddenly there
arose several loud, harsh, baying and
snarling sounds close at hand. The next
moment there was quick rustl1ng and
thrashing among tie bushes; and then
some six or eight large wolves-lean
gaunt and maddened with hunger
sprang into the path close beside US.
"This happened so unexpectedly that
my wife gave a slight scream and dropped
the rein: and the horse rearing and plung.
ing at the same moment, unseated her
and she fell to the ground, right in the
very midst of the savage beasts, whose
glazing eyes shone in the darkness like
so many Goals of fire.
"Fortunately her sudden fall startled
the wild animals a little; and as they
momentarily drew back, she, with rare
presence of mind, at once gathered he1
buffalo robe, which she had dragged with
her, in such manner about her person
as to protect herself from the first onset
Of their fangs. The next moment the
ferocious animals, with the most savage
orOWlS. spranp at her. at me. and at the