Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1880-11-11
A Russian Wolf Hunt.

IT'S NUMBERS, 10 human Lie.
At an advanced period of winter, whel
the wolves become terocious for want O
food, three or four hunters, each possess
ed of light double barreled gun, tax,
their places In what is called troika-
a species of drosky-drawn by three
horses, from which and not from iti
shape, 1t gets Its name. The horse In
the middle is trained to run at trot
and the other two ION its right and left
never quit the gallop. The former trots
with his head low, and Is called the
snow eater; the other two prance with
their heads loose, and are named the
furies. The whole equipment, thus di-
rected in its course, presents the appear
ance of fan. A driver who can be reli-
ed upon conducts the troika.
To tine back of the carriage a young
hog is attached to cord, or, for more
security, to chain, between three and
four feet in length. 1t is quietly taken
in the vehicle to the entrance of the
forest where the chase is to proceed
there it Is put on the ground, and the
driver inc1tes the horses, which start off
at gallop and trot respectively, as we
have mentioned; while the hog, little
used to such an amusement, raises cry
which soon degenerates into what may
be called lamentation. At this noise
the nearest wolf shows its nose, and sets
itself to pursue the hog, soon followed by
two, then by three, and ultimately, it may
be. by fifty of its brethren. They all
make claim for the poor hog, and fight
among themselves to get at it; some OF
them stretching out to it blow of their
claws, and others endeavoring to bite it.
The lamentations of the poor animal
pass into cries of despair, which arouse
the wolves in the deepest recesses of the
forest; they presently congregate from
three leagues around, and the troika is
pursued by whole troop of them.
Then it is that the urgent need of a
good driver Is apparent. The horses,
which have an instructive horror OF the
wolves, become intractable; the trotter in
the middle tries to gallop, and the gal
loppers to get their bits between their
teeth. During all this time the hunters
fire at random, there being no need to
take aim. The hog cries, the horses neigh
the wolves howl and the guns fire, pro-
duclng hideous concert among them.
The equ. page, the hunters, the troop of
wolves and the hog are involved in a
whirlwind which scatsers the snow all
around, and looks like cloud in storm
dart1ng thunder and lightning.
If the driver is master of the horses,
wild as they may be, all goes well; but
should he lose command Of them, or the
harness slip or tie troika be overset, 1t is
all over. Next day. two days, or eight
days after, the debris of the vehicle is
discovered, with the guns, the carcasses
of the horses, and the large bones of the
hunters and of the driver.
Last winter, Prince R-undertook
one of these hunts, and it nearly proved
his last. He was, along with two friends,
at one of his estates, which borders on a
wilderness, and they resolved to have a
chase of the wolves, or rather, it may be
said, to be chased by them. A large sled
was got ready, in which three persons
could move at ease; three strong horses
were yoked to 1t, and 1t was intrusted to
driver of great experience-a native oi
the district. Each hunter had pair ol
double. .barrelled guns and five hundred
ball cartridges, and their places were SO
taken that the prince looked to the back
and his friends each to a side of the
sleigh.
At night they arrived at the ground
an immense desert covered with snow.
The full moon shone brightly, and its
rays, refracted by the white surface,
spread light like that Of day. The hog
was attached, and the train started
Finding itself drawn on in spite OF its
efforts, it raised cry, whereupon some
wolves appeared-not many at first,
timid, also, and keeping at great dis.
tance. Gradually their number lncreas.
ed. and they approached the hunters, who
commenced by giving their trolka an
ordinary melton, Notwithstanding the
trembling impatience of the three horses.
About twenty wolves came up, when the
party found themselves near enough to
begin the massacre. OFF went shot, and
wolf fell; the whole band appeared to
get alarmed, and diminished in number
by about half. In fact, contrary to the
general belief that wolves do not feed on
one another, seven or eight starving ones
had stopped to devour their dead COM
panion; but the vacancy was soon sup
piled. On all sides bowling replied to
howling, and all around were seen point.
ed noses and eyes sparkling like car
buncles. The animals were within gun
shot, and the hunters made running
fire: but though every shot took effect,
the band, so far from being diminished,
rather got larger. It soon ceased to be
band, and became troop. the close
ranks of which pressed on the hunters.
Their course was so rapid that they
seemed to fly on the snow, and so light
ly as not to make the smallest noise.
Like the flowing tide, they approached
increasingly, and did not retreat before the
fire of the three hunters, we'll kept up as
it was. They formed an immense cres-
cent at the back of the trioka, the two
horns of which began to get in advance
of the horses, and the number increased
so rapidly that it actually seemed as if
they sprans out of the ground. There
was something fantastic in their appear
ance, and it became quite impossible to
count the numbers now showing them
selves in desert where it was in general
difficult to see more than two or three in
q day. The hog had ceased to cry. and
had been taken again into the sledge,
where, its cries recommending, ,redeubled
the boldness Of the wolves. The firing
did not cease, and half the ammunition
was now expended. There remained
about two hundred balls. The two
horns of the crescent got higher and
higher, and threatened the formation OF
q circle, enclosing sledge, horses and
hunters.
should any one Of the horses fall, all
would be over; and, already terrified,
they seemed to breathe fire, and pranced
most furiously and wildly.