The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-05-29
a Wolf Slayer.

William Wall, vcritablc wolf-sayer,
lived recently in Eaton county, Michigan.
An interview with one of his sons disclosed
some very interesting "reminiscences of early
pioneer life in Eaton county. For several
years but few settlements were made in the
county, but In 1912 Mr.. Wall could boast
| of quite 'clcaring" and four ncighbors in
radius of rs many miles. In that year
the settlers were annoyed by a mad wolf,
which would attack the stock in the night
and bite promiscuously all within reach,
the victim of tho bit" invariably going mad,
and suffering tcrril &c .gony until relieved
by death. 1t seen popularity of the
mad wolves, that tleI lenve the company,
or flock Of wolves, md, with remarkable
persistence 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 1t to no purpose One night in the
middle of June Mr. Wall was awakened by
the squcaling of his pigs and bark of his
dog. Jumping out of his bed he ran to the
pen, which was made of logs, and saw
wolf chasing and biting his hogs lie
leaped into the incosurt, took the wolf by
the hind legs, and attempted to dash its
head against the logs. The wolf had 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 aifray to get sew
cral bites, and with three of tho swine, went
mad and died. This adventure gave Mr.
Wall the name of "Whliam Wall the wolf
slayer" by which he was widely known.
Another time, while after his COWS in the
woods, he lost his way and wandered till
dark, when the wolves commenced 70 howl
and had soon surrounded him, and began
closing in from all sides. lie could hear
them running through tho undcrbrush and
bowling in frightful manner. The pros
pcct Of being compelled to spend the night
In the woods with these halt furnished
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 suggestive manner.
At length he was compelled to take refuge
i'll tree. lie climbed to a goodly height,
and was trying to settle himself in secure
pc3i:ion for the night, when he noticed
light not far distant, and after little cog
itation convinced himself that it was made
by burning log-hcap in Il clearing, where
he had been at work during the day. He
decided to make break for the clearing,
and for his protection cut II limb from the
tree and made very formidable weapon in
the shape of a large club. The wolves
were howling and digging around the foot
OF the tree in almost endless numbers
Taking off his coat, he made bundle of it,
and when he had descended near the ground
threw it rs far rs possible. 1t hardly touched
the ground before the wolves pounccd upon
if and began fighting, each attempting to
Gms G'WHpqGjGa GjGaahaRf "EH@er 9totHGG," ,whiGh
ming for the clearing had gained considcra-
bic ground before he was discovered by the
pack, when they all sprang after him. 1t
was n hard run and close race but he sue
cocdcd in reaching large burning log heap
built around a stump, and jumping over the
smouldering logs reached the stump. The
wolves came within Il few rods of the fire
and began circulating around it, keeping up
always their unearthly bowling. MIR. Wall
passed tho night perchcd Oh top of the
stump, but found no time to sleep, as he
was kept busy poking up the dying embcrs
in order to keep the wolves ut Il respectful
distance. At daylight they dispersed, and
the prisoner fastened home to his family
who had expected to hear that, civilian
Wall, the wolf-slayer," had been slain by
the wolves.