The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1884-03-27
Chased BY Wolves.

. that wolves are things of the past
. is fallacy. Said Mr.. Austin: A
! the station, which is a collection
of cabins occupied by ranchmen an
{ those employed in putting dow
the government well, are q numbe
, of wealthy young men from tn
east who are engaged in a huntin:
expedition. We started last Thurs
, day morning and rode due eas,
) then northeast, until when eighteel
, miles out we discovered in the dis
tance a herd of buffaloes. Think
2 ing to accomplish more, we scat
tered, with the intention of circline
them, or at least turning them from
their course. In this we were no
successful, as night overlook US
before we had downed a single bull
l had singled out one that had
become separated from the rest OF
the herd, and had followed him
some distance when it became too
dark too see, and 1 discovered that
[ 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, so unrolling the hide
lariet, l secured the animal to some
stout sage brush, and after build
ing a small fire of grass and brush,
rolled myself in my blanket and
! prepared to make the best oft, but
without much idea of sleep. In
fact, in spite of the heavy overcoat
and blanket which covered me, it
was uncomfortably cold. L lay
four hours in a half-dozing state,
and it was perhaps midnight when
something more like sleep overcame
me. Suddenly a sound, the most
horrible and bloodcurling of any
l had ever heard, seemed to chill
the vary marrow in my bones. To
my excited imagination it seemed
like the shrek of fifty demons.
Jumping to my feet, discovered
that my fire had gone out, leaving
buta few embers at distance of per-
haps 200feet, forming a complete cir
Gle around me, was line of bright
points scintellating like so many
diamonds. instantly realized
my danger. was surround by
wolves. To hesitate was death,
and, mounting my horse, that was
trembling with fright, 1 drove spurs
into him and we darted off through
the only opening in the Gordon
which nearly surrounded me, and |
swept across the plains, without re-
gard to the direction, my object be-
ing to escape the fangs of my pur
suers.
The wolves, as soon as they dis
coved my flight, with renewed |
howl, more full of rage and |
horror than that which had awak-
ened me, started in full cry, and the
terrible race began. At the start 1
gained considerably, as my horse
was a good one, and his fright
seemed to add to his lightning
speed. Miles seemed like feet, and
after perhaps half hour passed,
upon looking back 1 saw that the
distance from the foremost of my
pursurers 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.
the faithful ami
NAL stumbled over low sand bank
add fell to his knees, throwing me
to the ground. In an instant the
hungry pack were upon me, and
l felt their fangs already
buried in my flesh. Fear lent
swiftness to my movements, how
ever, and 1 remounted and was off
just as the leaders were about to
pounce upon me. Ny horse soon
began to show the effects of his ter
rible efforts, and thinking to gain
time, l threw away the blanket
which 1 had hastily thrown over
the horse at the first alarm. This
gave a slight advantage for time,
as no sooner did it touch the
ground than it was torn into shreds
by the hungry brutes. This delay
gave me small advantage, but
soon perceived that was losing it,
and my horses movements became
more labored. / next sacrificed my
overcoat then the coat which 1
wore, which in turn suffered the fate
Of the blanket. The horse began
to show signs of exhaustion, 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 al
ready swapping at my horses heels
when upon looking up saw lights
in front of me, perhaps mile or so
1 endeavored to urge my
horse to further speed, but with
out avail. The poor animal was
breathing heavily and could hardly
keep his feet The maddened
brutes were jumping and swapping
around me, and had struck sever
al of them down with the but end
of my rifle, after having exhausted
the ammunition in shooting at
them.
I turned and found myself with
in a few hundred feet of house
and an enclosure. Making last
desperate effort, my horse cleared
the fence and fell dead on the in
side. At the same moment several
men came out of the door of the
house with lanterns, aroused no
doubt by the unearthly sounds.
1 was quickly dragged inside and
Immediately swooned. Upon re-
covering consciousness it was
broad daylight, and 1 found myself
in the cabin of ranchman, within
a half mile of the station whence /
had started in the morning, lying
on rude bed with a man sitting
near by watching me. 1t seems
that my horse, guided by instinct,
had taken the straighest direction
for the place from which we star
ted. 1 learned by inquiry that the
wolves had surrounded the house
- II ,,;~I,t lorn Gllinn tho oir NTH |