The Dickinson press., 1884-10-18
CHASED BY WOLVES.

Dl w VL LSs
A Bn1alo Hunters Thrilling Ride
on h Pleins-Mile After Mile
Nftil the Hungry Brutes Swapping
atthe Horses Heels, Etc.
From the Denver News.
An incident related to a News repor-
ter by a MI. James Austin, just in from
Cheyenne Wells, proves that the popu-
lar idea that game is hard to find in that
State, and that wolves are things of the
past. is a fallacy. Said Mr.. Austin: CAT
tn" station, which is a collection of cab
ms &C upied by ranchmen and those
employed in putting down the govern
ment we'll, are a number of wealthy
yoan2 men from the East who are Gu
gagged in a hunting expedition. We
started last Thursday morning and rode
due east, then northeast, until when
eighteen miles out we discovered in
the distance an immense herd Of
buffaloes. Thinking to accomplish more,
We scattered, with the intention of circu-
ting them, or at least turning them from
their course. In this we were not sue
cess nj, as night overlook US before we
had downed u single bull. I had sim
gled out one that had become separated
from the rest Of the herd, and had fol-
lowed him some distance when i, had
became too darkto see, and l discovered
that had lost NV companions. There
being nothing else to do, and as it would
be Impossible to find my way in the
dark, [ resolved to camp where l was,
SO, unro!Iing the hide lariat, l secured
the animal to some stout sage brush,
md, after building q small fire of grass
and brush, rolled myself in my blanket
and prepared 10 make the best OF it. but
without much idea of sleep. In fact, in
spite OF the heavy overcoat and blanket
which covered me, it was uncomforta-
bly, cold. l lay four hours in a half wax
ing, half-dozing state, and it
was perhaps midnight !when
overcame me. Suddenly a sound, the
most horrible and blood curdling of any
l had eve heard, seemed to chill the
Very marrow in my bones. To my ex-
cited imagination it seemed like the
shrek Q! fifty demons. Jumping to my
feet. | discovered that my fire had gone
out, leaving but q few embers, but at q
distance of perhaps two hundred feet.
nearly forming a complete circle around
me. was a line OF bright points s:intilla-
ting like so many diamonds. INSTANTLY
realized my danger. l was surrounded
by wolves. To hesitate was death, and,
mounting my horse. that was trembling
with fri hit, | drove spurs into him and
we darted off through the only opening
in the Gordon which nearly surrounded
me, and sweep across the plains, without
regard to the direction, my only object
being to escape the fangs ofmy pursuers.
Tile wolves, as soon as they discov-
cred NV flight, with a renewed howl,
more full OF rage and horror than that
which had awakened me, started in full
cry and the terrible race began. AT the
start l gained considerably, as nv horse
was good one, and his fright seemed
to add to his lightning speed. Miles
seemed like feet, and, alter perhaps a
half hour passed, upon looking back I
saw that the distance from the foremost
of my pursuers was the same as at the
start. To keep this distance till daylight
seemed my only chance, yet what a
hopeless task! No horse could long
keep up the terrible strain which mine
wns enduring. Suddenly the faithful
animal stumbled over a low sand dune
and fell to mis- knees, throwing me TO
the ground. In an instant the hungry
felt their tangs already buried in my
$1,000 1S1u l. my 11OkC-
ments, however, and [ remounted and
was OF just as the leaders we're about
to pounce upun re. My horse
o began to show the effects of his ter
rible efforts, and thinking to gain time,
| threw away the blanket which 1 had
hastily thrown Over the horse at the first
alarm. This gave me a slight advantage
for a time, as no sooner dif it touch the
ground than it vas torn into shreds by
the hungry brutes. This delay
gave me q small advantage, but I soon
perceived that l was losing it, and my
horses movements became more la.
bored. I next sacrificed roy overcoat,
then the coat which l wore. which in
turn suffered the fate of the blanket.
The horse began to show signs of ex-
l realized in a short time that my fate
was sealed unless a miracle was inter-
posed to v me. The wolves were al
ready Swapping at my horses heels,
when upon looking up l saw lights in
front of me, perhaps a mile or 81 dis
tant. | endeavored to urge my horse to
further efforts, but without avail. The
poor animal was breathing heavily and
could hardly keep his feet. The mad
dened brutes were jumping and snab-
ping around me, and | had struck
several of them down with the
butt of my rifle, after having exhausted
the ammunition in shooting at them. l
t2rned and found myself within a few
hundred feet OF a house and an enclos-
ure. Making a last d~espairing effort, my
horse cleared the fence and fell dead on
the inside. AT the same moment sever
al men came out OF the door ofthe house
with lanterns, aroused no doubt by the
unearthly sounds. I was quickly drag
ged inside and Immediately swooned.
Upon recovering consciousness it was
broad daylight, and found myself in
the cabin of q ranchman, within half a
mile of the station whence 1 had started
in the morning, lying on a rude bed with
a man sitting near by and watching me.
1t seems that my horse, guided by in
stinct, had taken the s%traightest direc-
ton for the place from which we start
ed. | learned by inquiry that tile wolves
had surrounded the house all night long,
filling the air with their fearful howls.
and v departed until daylight. I
was too i'll from the effects of the fear
full experience l had undergone to leave
the house until yesterday, and 1 came
to Denver for rest and recuperation."
Starving a Cold.