The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-03-10
FIGHT WITH WOLVES,

One of the most muscular, powerful
imbed settlers on the old New York
frontier, a century since, was Henreich
Kaupman. His arms were like piston
rods, and he could drive his huge, mall
let fist with such tremendous momen-
tum as to fell an OK as if stricken by a
thunderbolt.
1t Is said that he was once caught by
two iron muscled Mohawks, each armed
with knives, while Henreich had neith-
er; yet at the first onset he fractured
The skull of the foremost Indian, and
GORE the second one to the earth as if
ne 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 bad
with pack of wolves, and which came
tearfully nigh having fatal result for
him
. The winter Of IT. was an unusually
severe one throughout the Northern
States, and many deaths from exposure
and starvation occurred before the
opening of spring. The wolves, bears
and other wild animals became nearly
famished from hunger, and, as conse-
quence, were unusually fierce and cour-
ageous. They came down from the
mountains, and woe to the sheepfold
that was left unprotected during the
night. They we're sure to be invaded
by the starving animals, and no., sheep
would live to tell the tale.
There were tracks around. che barns,
where the wolves had trotted all night
in their search for some means of
entrance; their howls could be heard
through the still, cold hours, and more
than one housewife had been chased to
her very door for imprudently ventur-
ing out after nightfau.
Many of tho settlers sat in the upper
stories of their homes, and amused
themselves by shooting the wolves, for
whose scalps the Government had a
standing bounty of several shillings.
Henreich Kaupman remained at
home, only venturing forth to attend to
his dumb animals and 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 fam
lily could live upon the poultry, sheep
and animals they owned, but it was
rather unpleasant to be without tea,
coffee, sugar, salt and many other arti-
cles that were more necessities than
they were luxuries.
BY this time, too, the roads had been
traversed 80 much that they we're thor
oughly broken, and Henreich concluded
to harness up his mare to his sled and
60 to the village, about four miles
distant, and procure the articles which
he so much needed.
With want of foresight which he
could never explain, he started out upon
his journey without any weapon, except
q keen-edged Ratchet, which was carried
in case the sled should give out. In
his house hung his trusty rife, but
neither he nor his wife seemed to i'm.
agine that there would be any call TO,
it, and he drove cheerily away, bidding
his wife a merry good-by as the mare
went at spanking gait down the road
toward the village.
The latter place-which might more
properly be termed settlement-was
reached in due time, the groceries all
bought, and everything was in readiness
to start homeward.
Hen -eich had been storm-bound sc
long in his house that he found the
companionship of his friends at the vii
lage tavern extremely agreeable. There
was so much to talk about, so much
news to listen to, such a quantity o.
gossip regal ding the affairs of the
neighborhood, that the time slipped I'M
consciously by, until, when he arose tc
go, he found it was almost dark. Still
no had no fears, as his wife would un.
derstand that he had remained at the
village, and there was no necessity Of
his Immediate return.
AS he turned homeward and left the
village behind him, and noticed that the
dim light by which he was travelling
belonged to the moon, it flashed upon
him that perhaps he would encounte,
danger before reaching home, and he
regretted for the twentieth time that he
had left his rifle behind.
The road, deep between the drifts OF
snow, was of just sufficient width TO,
the little mare and sled, and the spirit.
ed little animal went forward at swift
gait, while Henreich, somewhat stupe
led and weary, was beguiled into
drowsiness by the easy, gliding motion
of the sled.
lie was half asleep and half conscious
when he became sensible of q rapid in
crease in the motion of the sled. He
felt it jerk several times beneath him
and all at orce iercer jerk than usual
accompanied by neigh of terror, eff.
fectually aroused him, and he sat bolt
upright and looked around. He looked
In front; all wore it's wonted appearance
wild, struggling piece of wood stand.
ing two feet deep in snow; the narrow
track twisting through it; the heavens
cold and clear, the earth white; but
close behind the sled were three gaurt
animals, gathering heavily, while a
fourth was fast gaining behind.
The jaws of the leading wolf, owing
to the lowness of the sled, were within
reach OF Henreich's shoulder. But the