The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1880-11-17
WOLF HUNTING.
An n1oItInr chase in south Ru..Ia.

/
by wolves in one of our adjoining dis
tricts, about twelve versts distant, not
far from the village of Evanofka, in the
government of Ekaterinoslav, it was de-
termined TO have a days wolf hunting
in that neighborhood, and we formed
party Of four English gentlemen resi-
dent in the vicinity, and a native groom
in the service of one of the party, a
keen sportsman, and thoroughly familiar
svith the surrounding country.
Due preparations having been made
overnight, the next morning found us
stirring early, and at 10 A. NJ. we left
ours hospitable host, who had enter
tanned us the previous evening, for the
ground selected for the days sport, fol-
lowed by eight greyhounds of the Eng
lish and Russian breeds (which is of
stouter nature than the English dog
but without his high speed), and fine
young dog by a Russian wolf-hound
from a Russian and English mother,
which cross resembles the Scotch deer
hound. After two hours, occupied in
making detour to take advantage of
the wind and beat against it, as the
sense of smell and hearing are very
strong in the wolf, we reached the dis
trict we had determined to hunt through.
After quarter of an hours halt in the
shelter of dell to refresh ourselves and
horses, we took up our positions in the
line of beat, at an interval of fifty yards
apart, and thus formed, commenced
operations. After having ridden
through dense scrub and steppe grass,
in the height of expectation for over an
hour, suddenly the cry of "wolf " was
heard on the right of the line, and be-
fore we had scarcely pulled ourselves
together fine wolf was seen breaking
away about two hundred yards ahead,
and making gradually to the right of
our line Our hunters seemed 70 un-
derstand the sound, and we we're at
once in full pursuit, the dogs having
well sighted him and eager for the fray.
Our horses had only gotinto their stride
when second wolf was seen galloping
away to the extreme left, fast making
for the open, unnoticed by the dogs.
This was embarrassing; however, two
of our party were equal to the occasion,
and almost Immediately struck out after
him, Independently of the rest, who
were in hot chase after the first wolf.
The second, followed by M and
c., had now reached the open, and
was stretching along at rattling pace,
encouraged, no doubt, by the splendid
start he had obtained from the indecision
about following him. Fortunately one
of the strongest dogs, which had Jagged
on the extreme left, seeing some of the
party galloping in that direction, fol-
lowed them; soon. sighting the wolf, he
raced gamely in his wake, and at length
got up to him, making two or three
wrenches at his f1anks, without success,
and cleverly evading the VOLTS endeavors
to seize; him in return. By this time
both wolves were doing their best, and
after fast gallop of verst, the first
was overtaken and brought to bay, des-
perately defending himself against the
overwhelming attack of the dogs, who,
after five minutes hard tussel, succeeded
in pulling him down. and worried him
until apparently quite exhausted. One
of the party, wishing to put him out of
his misery, dismounted, thinking he
was helpless, and was about to give him
finishing blow when the wolf suddenly
rose and sprang at him. c. only
escaped the danger by jumping aside,
the animal going by him and falling
among the dogs, who so disabled him
that he was easily dispatched by one Of
the horsemen.
Meanwhile the second wolf was still
running hard, closely followed by NJ
and C. and one dog behind, when
after long stretch across the country
he took straight into deep barlka Oh
gulley full of very thick underground
where they lost sight of him, and pulled
up to consider what was best to do
Presently they again sighted him as
cending the side of the barlka some
eighty yards to the left of them. Down
dashed M, and on reaching the
opposite summit turned in his saddle tt
see whether c. were with him, but
to his intense modification, saw hin
still on the other side However, there
was nothing to be done but follow the
chase, though only attended by the
plucky but now much fatigued dog, whC
was unable to keep up the pace, the
wolf going on as gamely as ever, anC
seeming to grow stronger now that ht
had parted company from his canin,
! foe. M now made dozen ineffect
ual efforts to ride over the wolf, so a
to lame him if possible, but this strata
gem signally failed, as each time NJ
rushed at him, he swerved slightly
stopped short, and bolted away at righ
angles, getting a good start. Thi
+ severely taxed the powers of the horse
| which fortunately happened to be thre
parts bred English hunter, who had tn
) blood and turn of speed for the work
? AS a last resource, NJ decided t
try to turn the chase in tn
direction they had come, hoping tina
4 some of the party might have notice
3 the direction taken by him and c.
Z and having killed their own wolf, woul
a come to their assistance. After two O
4 three unsuccessful attempts to turn til
+ wolf, owing to following him too closely
0 which caused him to turn off either on
{ side OF another, M at last, follow
!: ing him at distance of twenty yards