The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-02-03
CHASED BY COYOTES.

As a general thing they resemble the
dog; are, however, smaller than com
mon-sized cur, and have long, pointed
nose; they are inveterate towards, and
very rarely attack men, unless hard
pressed by hunger.
Many wearied miner has had his
slumbers ruthlessly broken by the un-
earthly bowling of coyotes; and IN his
| extreme indignation has seized his gun
with the intention of putting an end 10
some of his tormentors, but sailed forth
only to see the whole pack scamper off.
However cewardly coyotes may usu-
ally be, |, for one, have just cause for
bitter hatred for the animals, as L once
had an adventure with them that came
near costing my life.
in the winter of SO was residing in
| one of our mountain towns, and often by
way of recreation would take my gun and
| 90 to a small stream, called Dry Creek,
about three miles from the town, IN pur-
suit of ducks-which article of game was
very plenty there.
One afternoon took my fowling piece,
and sought my usual haunt for ducks.
| was very fortunate, and before night
fall had bagged more than l had antici-
pated; the consequence was 1 ran out OF
powder. Inwardly upbraiding myself
for not bringing more, l started for home;
by this time it was probably an hour
after sunset.
It was glorious night; the stars were
out in all their brilliant magnifcence;
the moon scared high in the unclouded
sky, affording me sufficient light to travel
| wish ease.
| was charmed with the beauty of the
evening, and was walking at slow pace
-humminG snatches of tunes [ had
often heard from the lips of loved ones
when suddenly | heard the familiar
howl Of coyote.
''Ab! you cowardly BEAST" mentally
calculated, ''were you only within gun
shot, and [ had my never failing Old
Tom Chat was the name I always called
my gum loaded, would send you into
the middle of next week, making differ
ent noise from that"
AS L proceeded further, the howlings
increased, and occasionally coyote more
| bold than the rest would venture out of
| the thicket, take good look at me, and
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! 1 laughed
at the idea. What, coyotes attack mani
Those skulking devils, that throwing a
stone at would drive away, ha, ha!
As l proceeded farther toward home,
the howlings became moro numerous,
and gangs of two and three would cross
my path at distance of probably one
hundred feet, and scamper off on my
throwing a stone at them.
[ was probably mile and half from
where [ had been hunting, when l no.
ticed that the coyotes began to throw
off their timidity, and would approach
quite near me. Getting tame" thought
I; undoubtedly you know [ am out of
powder, and think to impress me with
| the idea that you are a courageous set of
hounds. Oh! you can't come that game, y
| and l threw stone at large, long-nosed
! fellow which struck him on the head,
and had q tendency to accelerate his
movements.
Nearer and nearer the ugly things
would come, till finally, [ noticed that
some We're following, at about fifty feet
distance. Still this did not excite any
suspicion that [ was to be attacked.
was now about half 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, you may i'm
agine, making rather an unpleasant noise
for lone traveller, at night, and full a
mile from any house.
| Closer and closer they passed as I
walked along, at rather a brisker pace
than when 1 started; they seemed to
really mean mischief by their actions.
1 admit, a cold perspiration broke out
upon my forehead, but still would not
admit that was in danger. True, l 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
dogs over a bone, the whole pack were
following close upon my heels. and at
every step they seemed to gain upon me.
Turning round, shouted with all my
might and threw a handful of small stones
at them, with the idea of frightening
them away; but it wouldn't do; they
were not to be put to flight by either
loud words or stones. Nearer and near
er they advanced, stretching out in the
form of a semicircle, and presenting q
very formidable front. Occasionally one
; would make a feint as though to fasten
bis teeth in my leg. So bringing my gun
from nay shoulder, used it as sort OF
club in defense.
Grasping it by the barrels firmly,
would raise it over my head and bring ii
down with considerable force on the BODY
of any coyote that would make dash al
me.
BY this time they were very close tc
me, SO close, in fact, that | could hit one
every time l swung my gun; and nov
the startling fact broke upon my mind
that was the game they were after.
, nad heard of horrible adventures Will
/. / wolves, and here was q s,,eoias of animals