Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-01-22
THE HERALD.
FIGHT WITH WOLVES.

One of the most muscular, power.
full limbed settlers on tie old New
York frontier a century since, was
Henrsich Kaupman. His arms were
like piston rods, and he could drive
his huge mallet fist with such a tre-
mendous momentum as to fell an OK
az If stricken by thunderbolt. 1t is
said that he was once caught by two
iron muscled Mohawks, each armed
with knives, while Hsnreieh had
neither ; yet at the FIRST onset he
fractured the skull of the foremost
Indian, and lore the second one to
the earth az though he was nothing
but an infant. That Indian never
resumed the perpendicular again.
All this is by way of introduction to
an adventure that Kaupman once had
with o pack of wolves, and which
came fesrfully nigh having fatal re-
suit for him.
The winter Of Twas an unusu-
ally severe one throughout the
Northern States and many deaths
from exposure and starvation oc-
Cured before the opening Of spring.
The wolves, bears and other wild an.
finals became nearly famished from
hunger, and as consequence, were
unusually fierce and courageous.
They came down from the mountains
and woe to the sheep fold that was
left unprotected during the night.
They were sure to be invaded by the
starving animals, aud not a sheep
would live to tell the tale. There
were tracks around the barns where
the wolves had trotted all night in
their search for some means of en-
trance; their bowls could be heard
through the still hours, and more
than one housewife had been chased
to her very door by imprudently ven-
turing forth after nightfall. Many of
the settlers sat in the upper stories
of their houses, and amused them
selves by shooting the wolves, for
whose scalps the Government had a
standing bounty Of several shillings.
Henreich Kaupman remained at
home, only yenturing forth to attend
to his dumb animals and to see that
they were properly protected during
the night. But after while his
stock of groceries became low, and
finally gave out altogether. True, he
and his family could live upon the
poultry, sheep, end the animals they
owned, but it was rather unpleasant
to be without tea, coffee, sugar, salt,
and many other articles that were
more necessities than they were lux
uries. BY this time, too, the roads
had been traversed so much that
they were thoroughly broken, and
Henrsich concluded to harness up
his mare to his sled and go to the
village, about four miles distant, and
procure the articles 80 much needed.
With . want Of foresight which he
could never explain, be started on
his journey without a weapon, ex.
cept Q keen-edged Ratchet, which
was carried in case tho sled should
give out. In his house hung his
trusty rifle, but neither he nor his
wife seemed to imagine that there
would be any call for it, and he
drove cheerily away, bidding his
wife q merry good by as the mare
went at spanking gait down the
road toward the VILLAGE.
The latter plaoe-which more
properly might be termed q settle.
ment-was reached in good time, the
groceries all bought, and everything
was in readiness to start homeward.
Henreich had been storm-bound so
ong in his HOUSE. that he found the |
,ompanionship OF his friends at the |
village tavern extremely agreeable. |
There was 80 much to talk about, 90 |
much news to listen to, such guam.
ity Of gossip regarding the affairs of |
he neighborhood, that the time
Tipped unconsciously by,until when
le arose to 60, he found it was al
most dark. Still be had no fears, as
lis wife would understand that he
lad remained in the village, and
here was no necessity Of his imme-
late return. As he turned home
ward and LETT the village behind him,
md noticed that the dim light by
which he was travelling belonged to
he moon, it flashed upon him that
perhaps he would encounter danger
before reaching home, and he regret
I'd, for the twentieth time, that he
lad left his rifle behind.
The road, deep between the Drifts
Of snow, was of sufficient width for |
he little mare and sled, and the spir.
ted little animal went forward at q |
swift gait, while Henreich, somewhat
stupid and weary, was begulled into
irowsiness by the easy, gliding mo-
ton of the sled. He was half asleep
and half conscious when he became
sensible of rapid increase in the
motion Of the sled. He felt it jerk
several times beneath him, and all at
once q 6ercer jerk than usual, accom-.
panied by neigh of terror, effect
ually aroused him, and he sat bolt
upright and looked around. He
looked in front all wore its wonted
a wild struggling piece
of wood standing two feet deep in
the snow; the narrow track twisted
through it; the heavens cold and
clear, the earth white, but close be-
hind the sled were three gsunt ami
mails, cantering heavily, while a
fourth was fast gaining behind.
The jaws of the leading wolf, ow.
ing to the lewness of the sled, were
within reach of Henrsich's shoulder.
But the latter cared little for this.
Tho brutes were after the mare, and
upon her courage and fortitude de.
pended the escape of herself and
master. If the alarmed creature
could have the nerve to keep stead,
lily onward in the track, she had q
good chance of eluding her pur-l
suers for the moment the wolves
sprang outside the road to pass the
sleigh, the depth of snow so dlmin.
ished their speed that they fell be-
hind. But should the mare, 10 her
terror, spring aside and plunge into
the snow, Kaupmsn knew il was oil
night with them. Such o proceed
ing would disentangle her from the