Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-12
How He made s1,5 In q WOif Fight
ON the Top of Roam Mountain.

tkno1Vtiie tIenn.) Tribune
Some years ago, but little hunting having
teen done for some time, the wolves became
very numerous as well as very destructive. not
only in southwestern Virginia. but fearfully so
IN western North Carolina; so much so that
tut few sheep had escaped them In the vicin-
iry OF the Black. Yellow and Roam Mountains.
In Rip Van Wrinkles dominiOnS The fame OF
wilbur Waters as an intrepid and successful
hunter and trapper having gone out into all
that country, number of farmers and stock
ra1sers whose folds had been broken UP
and scattered-some sixty In all-drew up an
obligation to give him one sheep each for
every wolf he would capture, 10 addition TO the
five dollars bounty given by the county for
each scalp. Wilburn accepted the proposition
and killed several wolves but the depredations
continued. lie again started on a hunt Ac-
cording to Coales life he held out faithfully
though the wolves led him from mountain to
mountain and from gorge to gorge, to great
distances and for weeks. But when he re-
turned he brought the scalps. not only OF all
that gang, but OF others, making In all forty
two wolves as Ms winters hunt. Resides
these he captured during the hunt a number
OF catamountS, few bears. an otter or two
and any number OF Wild turkeys and other
small game.
During the same general hunt he had an ex-
citing time with detachment OF five wolves
that had wandered Off TO some distance from
the main gang. He was entirely alone, with
out even dog, high up one OF the tall peaks
OF the Roam mountain and several miles away
from the nearest human hibitation. The five
wolves he was In search OF were two old ones
and three half grown. They had destroyed
great deal OF stock In the range as well as In
the adjacent valleys running out dogs that
had been put upon the trail aud even eVincing
disposition TO attack man when alone. VIE
burn had found sign" and had followed IL up
tall Cliff near the summit OF one OF the high
est and most inaccessible peaks In the range.
1t was sultry, drizzly day. and having greatly
fat1gued himself working his way up through
tangled vines and laurel Iungles and climbing
ever and around steep and ragged preciplces.
n n or q Shpl vi mo- rnply and
fell asleep. In about an hour he arose re-
freshed, and, crawling out of his resting place,
ne found that the old leader of the gang had
been reconnoitertng while he slept and had
passed along on ledge few feet below him.
Picking up bis gun and tomahawk, he took the
track, and, on approaching precipice, he saw
chops and apparently winding prey or an
enemy in the distance. Stealthily advancing
Within convenient range, Wilburn brought his
shotgun to bear and tired: when the largest
and most formidable wolf OF the gang fell and
died without struggle. Securing the skin. he
made bis way with great difficulty to the top
OF the precipce and there. just beyond the
turn OF the summit he saw the. four Others
three OF them gambling like puppies AROUND
the dam, not having heard the report of the
gun under the Cliff. They were In an open
place. and 1t was very difficult to get within
range without being seen. heard or winded
but he made out to SNAKE it to within forty
yards OF them and pulled down." Two OF
them dropped dead but the old dam and one Of
the cubs escaped into cavern near by.
Having started out with the determination
OF capturing the whole family, he went O dig
gtng with a sharpened stick; he soon reached
the old one, which was too large to get far
Into the hole. drew her out by the hind legs
and tied her feet together. de had TO widen
the passage for distance or ten or twelve
feet before he could reach the other. The hole,
after being thus worked out, was barely large
enough to admit his body, and, 1t being i'm
possible for the wolf to escape, he had to meet
1t face to face. All that he could see OF the ami
NAL was It's eyes, which ShOne like two balls of
| room to operate with gun or tomahawk. he
cautiously slipped his hand over the VOLTS
head, grasped it by the neck, brought 1t out
and tied II as he had the other. He then
marched out into the settlement with two live
wolves and three skins, without having re-
ceived scratch or wasting load OF ammu-
| milton. The days work brought him St75 made
| up by the settlers whose stock had been de.
! stroyed and whose lives had been meraced by
| the gang