The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-02-15
CHASED BY WOLVES.

A Bnffalo Hunters Thrilling Ride
ON the Plains-Miie After Mile
With the Hungry Brutes Swapping
At the Horses Heels, Etc.
From the Denver News.
An incident related to a News repor
ter by a Mr.. James Austin, just in from
Cheyenne Wells, proves that the popu-
lar idea that game is hard to fad in that
State, and that wolves are things of the
past, is . fallacy. Said Nj. Austin: cat
the station, which is a collection of cab-
ms occupied by ranchmen and those
employed in putting down the govern
ment we'll, are q number Of wealthy
gagged In q 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
bntialoes. 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
cesaful, as night overlook US before we
had downed q single bull. 1 had sim
gIed out II that had become separated
from the rest of the herd, and had fol-
lowed him some distance when it had
became too darkto see, and l discovered
that 1 had lost my 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,
80, unrolling the hide lariat, / secured
the animal to some stout sage brush,
and, afte- building a small FIRE of grass
md hrt,ch ~o1nI ,~v--ntf -, 800, lIn-l-ok
and prepared to 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. ] lay four hours in a half wax
ing, half-dozing state, and it
was perhaps midnight when
something more like sleep
overcame me. Suddenly q sound, the
most horrible and blood curdling of any
/ hau ever heard, seemed to chill the
very marrow in my bones. To my ex.
cited imagination it seemed like the
SHREK OF fifty demons. Jumping to my
feet. discovered that my fire had gone
out, leaving but a few embers, but at a
distance of perhaps two hundred feet.
nearly forming a complete circle around
me, wa a line OF bright points sintilla-
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 fright, / 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.
The wolves, as Don as they discov-
cred my 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 my horse
a 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 l
saw that the distance from the foremost
of my pursners 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
was enduring. Suddenly the faithful
animal stumbled over low sand dune
and fell to his knees, throwing me to
the ground. In an instant the hungry
felt their tangs already buried in my
flesh. Fear lent swiftness to my move
ments, however, and l remounted and
was off just us the leaders we're about
to pounce upon nae. My horse
began to show the effects of his ter
rihle efforts, and thinking to gain time, |
| threw away the blanket which I had
hastily thrown over the horse at the first
alarm. This gave me a slight advantage
for a time, as no sooner dii it touch the
ground than it was torn into shreds by !
the hungry brntes. This delay |
gave me q small advantage, but I soon
perceived that / was losing it, and my
horses movements became more la |
bored. l next sacrificed my overcoat,
then the coat which / wore. which in |
turn suffered the fate of the blanket.
The horse began to show signs of ex-
haustion. but he still kept his feet, but
| realized in a short time that my fate
was sealed unless a miracle was inter-
posed to save me-. The wolves were al
ready snapping at my horses heels, |
upon looking up I saw lights in |
front of me, perhaps a mile or 50 dis
tant. | e~ndeavored to urge my horse to |
efforts. but without avail. The |
poor animal was breathing heavily and
could hardly keep his feet. The mad
dened brutes were jumping and snap
ping around me-, and I had struck |
OF them down with the
butt of my rifle, after having exhausted
the ammunition in shooting at them. II
t lrned and found myself within a few
hundred feet of a house and an encios-
ure. Making a last despairing effort, my
horse cleared the fence and tell dead on
the inside. AT the same moment sever
men came out of the door ofthe house
with lanterns, aroused no doubt by the |
uEearthly sounds. / was quickly drag
ced inside and Immediately swooned,
Upon recovering consciousness it was
broad daylight, aud found myself In
the cabin OF a rnnchn,an, within half a |
mile Of the station whence l had started
in the morning, lying on q rude bed with |
Q man sitting near by and watching me.
1t seems that my horse, Guided by in
stinct, had taken the s~traiehtest direc-
ton for the place from which we start.
ed. l learned by inquiry that tile wolves
had surrounded the house all night long,
Filing the air with their fearful bowls.
and never departed until daylight. l
tno i'll from the effects of the fear
fui experience | had undergone to leave |
house until yesterday, and / came
10 Denver for rest ana recuperation." !
st l
Starving a Cold.