The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-01-07
CHASED BY COYOTES.
BY CROOKS.

seen or heard of coyotes. Therefore it
will be unnecessary for me to give mi
mute description Of the animal.
AS general thing they resemble the
dog; are, however, smaller than a COM
mon-sixod cur, and have long, pointed
nose; they arc inveterate towards, and
very rarely attack men, unless hard
pressed by hunger.
Many weary miner has had his slum-
bers ruthlessly broken by the unearthly
howlings of the coyotes, and in extreme
Indignation has seized his gun with the
intention of putting all end to some of
his tormentors, but sailed out only to see
the whole pack scamper off. ....s.-
However cowardlY coyotes may usual
ly be, I, for one, have just cause for bitter
hatred for the animal, as once had an
adventure with them that came near
costing me my life.
In the winter of '53 I was residing in
one of our mountain towns, and often,
by way Of recreation, would take my
gun and 60 to small stream called Dry
Creek, about three miles from the town,
in pursuit Of ducks-whlch article of
i game was very plenty there. .:..
One afternoon I took my fowling-piece
and sought my usual haunts for ducks.
l was very fortunate, and before nightfall
had bagged more than had anticipated
consequence was, 1 ran out of powder
Inwardly upbraiding myself for not
bringing more, [ started for home. By
this time it was PROBABLY an hour after
sunset.
1t was a glorious night. The stars
were out in all their brilliant magnlG-
cence; the moon scared high in an un-
clouded sky, affording me sufficient light
to travel with ease.
/ was charmed with the beauty of the
evening, and was walking at slow pace,
humming snatches of tunes I had often
heard from the lips of loved ones, when
suddenly / heard the familiar howl of a
coyote.
"Ah, you cowardly BEAST" I mentally
calculated, were you only within gun
shot, and l had my never-failing Old
Tom (that was the name always called
my gun) loaded, would send you into
the middle Of next week making differ
ent noise from that
AS I proceeded further, the howlings
increased, and occasionally coyote more
bold than the rest would venture out of
viz 'hiChOI, V"hO SoOo lOoh dl ule duu
disappear.
"Supposing they should attack me
now," thought I, 'here in this desolate
and lonesome place, with no powder to
use in my defense. Pooh" I laughed at
the idea. "What, coyotes attack man?
Those sulky devils that throwing stone
at would drive awaya Ha, hap
AS proceeded farther toward home
the howlings became more numerous, and
gangs of two and three would cross nv
pathsat a distance if probably one hun
dred feet, and scamper off at my throwing
stone at them.
| was probably mile and half from
where l was hunting when l noticed that
the coyotes began to throw off their tim
ldity,'and wonld approach quite near me.
Getting tame," thought undoubtedly
know 1 am out of powder, and think to
impress me with the idea that you are a
courageous set of hounds O, you
cant come that camel" and I threw q
stone at large, long-nosed fellow, which
struck him on the head, and had a tend
ency to accelerate his movements.
Nearer and nearer the ugly things
would come, till finally I noticed that
some were following at about fifty feet
distance. Still this did not excite any
sus picion that was IL be attacked
l was now about malt way home, and
began to feel uneasy, as the pack had
steadily increased, until they numbered
some twenty-five, all the while swapping.
growing, and fighting, and, as you may
imagine, making rather an I'm pheasant
noise for a lone traveller, at night, and
fully mile fromlany house
Closer and closer they pressed as 1
walked along at rather brisker pace
than when I started. They seemed to
really mean mischief by their actions.
l admit cold perspiration broke out
on my forehead; but still I would not
admit that was IN danger. True, had
heard of instances where men had been
killed by coyotes, but had never placed
faith in such stories.
Swapping and growing like lot of
hungry dogs over bone, the whole pack
were following close at my heels, md at
every step they seemed to gain upon me,
until they were within ten feet of me.
Turning round, 1 shouted with all NV
might and threw "a handful of small
stones at them, with the idea of frighten-
ing them away; but it wouldn't do; they
were not to be put to flight by either
loud words or stones. Nearer they ad-
vanced, stretching out in the form of a
semi-circle, and presenting very formid-
able front Occasionally one would
make a teint as though to fasten his
teeth in my leg. So, bringing nv gun
from my shoulder, used it as sort OF
club in defence.
Grasping it by the barrels firmly. |
would bring it down with considerable
force on the body of any coyote that
would make a dash at me-
BY this time they were very close to
me; so close, IN fact, that I could hit one
every time swung my gun; and now
the startling tact broke upon my mind
that was the game they were after. I
had read Of horrible adventures with
wolves, and here was species of ami
mails equally as formidable as any wolves,
and having as murderous intentions as
any wolves ever had.
0, the horrible thought of being made
food for this, at any other time, cowardly