The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-29


Cnase2 BY Hungry wolves.
4 r,pyAIo nuxrER's THRILLING RIDE ON
wrsrvpN pLArxs--MtLE AFTER MILE, WITH
vur uvNGgY BgurEs SWAPPING AT THE
poRsg's uEELs--sAvED BIZ RANcHMsN.
A t,cnver special says: An incident re-
ssecsf 10 Meas reporter BY a Mr.. james
Austin. lust in from Cheyenne Wells,
proves that the popular idea that game Is
hard 10 ind In that State and that wolves
are things OF the past Il faliacy. ssid
Mr.. Austirs !,
AT the station, which IL collection OF
cabins occupied by ranchmeu and those
smploved In putting down the Govern
cent well. are number OF wealthy young
,peu from the East who are engaged in
h,mting expedition. We started Thurs
day morning and rode due cast, then
northeast. until when eighteen mics
out we discovered In the distance
m immense herd Of bufaloes. Think-
ing 10 accomplish more, We scat
tered. with the intention OF csi-
cling them, or at least turning them from
their course. In this we were not success.
mi AS night overlook us before we nsd
S,owned single bull. had singled out
enc that had become separated from the
rest Of the herd. and had followed him
e.n,e distance. when It became too dark to
see. and l discovered that had lost my
s,omrauions. There being nothing else TO
S1c. and Us IL would be impossible TO una
my way In the dark, l resolved 10 camp
where was; 30, unroiling the nioc
tariat. secured the animal to some ssou.
saxc brush, and after building sma'i
Gre q, grass and brush rolled myself IN
NV blsnkef. and prepared TO make the best
OF II. but without much idea OF sleep. In
fact. in spite OF the heavy oyercoat ana
h,.pket which covered me, IL was uncoIn-
fertably cold. / lay four hours IN hall
waking, balf-dozing state. and 1t was per-
hans midnight when something more like
siecD oyercame me. Suddenly SOUND,
chr most horrible and blood-curdllug oil
suy i had ever heard, seemedfo chill the
very marrow in my bones. To my excited
imagination II
SEEMED LIKE TIE SHREK OF FIFTY DEMONS.
"Jumping to my feet, discovered that
my tire had gone out, leaving but Jew en-
hers but at a distance Of perhaps 200 feet,
nearly forming a complete circle around
me. was line OF bright points scintillating
ike so many diamonds. INSTANTLY realized
my danger. was surrounded by wolves.
To hesitate was death, and, mounting my
horse, that was trembling with fright i
drove spurs into him, and we dartcd OIL
through the only opening in the Gordon,
which nearly surrounded me, and swept
across the plains without regard to the di-
rccfion, my only object being to escape The
fangs OF my pursuers.
"The wolves. as soon as they discovered
ffffl
of racc and horror than that which had
awakened me, started In full cry. and the
terrible race began. at the start gained
considerably. rs my horse was good one,
and his fright seemed 10 add to his light
s;uc speed. Miles seemed like feet, and
after perhaps a half-hour passed, upon
looking back l saw that the distance from
The foremost OF my pursuers was the same
rs mt the start. To keep this distance till
daylight seemed nv only chance, yet what
\ hopeless task. No horse could
long keep up the terrible strain
which mine was enduring. Suddenly
the faithful animal stumbled over a low
sand-dune and fell to his knees, throwing
me TO the ground. In an instant the hun
gry pack were upon me, and imagined L
felt their fangs already buried in my flesh.
Fear lent sNiitness 10 my movements, how
ever, and remountcd and was of just ss
Che leaders were about to pounce upon me.
Nv horse soon began TO show the effects of
his terrible efforts, and, thinking to gain
time, threw away the blanket which had
hastily thrown over the horse mt the FIRST
alarm. This gave me slight advantage
for n time, rs no sooner did ii touch the
ground than 1t was
roRs INTO sHREDs BY THE HUNGRY BRUTEs.
..This delay gave me small advantage,
but soon perceived that / was losing 1t,
and INV bors.'s movements became more
tabored. | next sacrificed my oyercoat--
then the coat which / wore-which IN turn
suffered the fate OF the blanket. The horse
began TO show signs OF exhaustion, but he
sill kept his feet; but i realized in a
short time that my fate was sealed unless
miracle was interposed to save me. The
wolves were already swapping at my
horses heels, when, upon looking up.
saw lights in front OF me. perhaps mile
or so distant. ] eudeavored TO urge my
ho-.e 70 further efforts, but without avail
The poor animal was breathing heavily,
and could hardly keep his feet. The mad
dened brutes were jumping aud swapping
around me, and / had struck several OF
S0tul uOhu W I'LL iut Dutt vi iluSt AtNA
having exhausted the ammunition in shoot
Jog at them. turned and found myself
within few hundred feet OF house and
an enclosure. Making last despairing
effort, nv horse cleared the fence and fell
dead ON the inside. At the same moment
several men come out OF the door OF
the house with lanterns, aroused, no
doubt, by the unearthly sounds. l was
quickly dragged inside, and Immediately
swooned. Upon recovering consciousness
1t was broad daylight, and | found myself
In the cabin Of a ranchman, within half 4
mile OF the station whence had started la
the morning, lying on rude bed with a
man sitting near by and watching me. 1t
seems that my horse, guided by instinct,
had taken the straightest direction for the
place from which we had started. learned
by inquiry that the wolves had surrounded
the house all night long, filing the air with
their fearful bowls, aud never departed
until daylight. / WAS too i'll from the effects
of the fearful experience had undergone
90 leave the house until yesterday, and
came to Denver for rest and recuperation."