The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-02-08
CHASED BY WOLVES,

on the Plains-Mile Affair MN
"!sa the Hungry Brutes snannl-
at the Horses Heels, Etc.
From the Denver News.
An incident related to a News ".
ter by a mir. James Austin, lust n nc !.
Cheyenne Wells, proves that the nos'
lar idea that game is hard to find II Il.
State, and that wolves are things II
past, IS a fallacy. Said Mr.. Austin.
the station, which is a collection of.sx
ms occupied by ranchmen and ss..
employed in putting down the cova,.
ment we'll, are a number OF weallE
young men from the East who ara s
gagged in q hunting expedition. Il
started last Thursday morning and ,na
due east, then northeast, until whss
eighteen miles out we discovered I
the distance an immense herd
butfaloes. Thinking to accomplish NM.
We scattered with the intention Of clyss
ting them, or at least turning them fros
their course. In this we were not ny
cesE(ul, as night overlook us before :.
had downed a single bull. / had ST..
gled out ono that had become separataS
from the rest of the herd, and I,
lowed him some distance when Il bsJ
became too dark to see, and | discovers
that had lost nv companions. Thers
being nothing else to do, and as il wonlS
be impossible to find my way IN IL
dark, [ resolved to camp where | wss
SO, unrOlling the hide lariat. I secntea
the animal to some etout sage brush
and, after building a small fire OF gras
and brush, rolled myself in my blanket
and prepared to make the best Of it, but
without much idea Of sleep. In fact Il
spite OF the heavy oyercoat and blanket
which covered me it was uncomfora.
bly, cold. I lay four hours in a half wax.
ing, halfdozing state, and II
was perhaps midnight when
something more like sleep
overcame me. Suddenly a sound. thu
most horrible aud blood eurdling Of any
| had ever heard, seemed to emu the
very marrow in my bones. To exs
cited imagination it seemed like tbs
shrek OF fifty demons. Jumping to nv
feet, | discovered that my fire had gone
out, leaving but q few embers, but at 4
distance of perhaps two hundred feet.
nearly forming a complete circle around
me, was a line OF bright points s~,intIa.
ting like SO many diamonds. / instantly
realized my danger. | 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 SWEPT across the plains, with0ns
regard to the direction, my only Object
being to escape the fangs Of my pursuers,
'"The wolves, as o as they diBcov-
cred nv flight, with q 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 | gained considerably, as nv horse
was q good one, and his fright seemed
to add TO his lightning speed Miles
seemed like feet, and, after perhaps q
half hour passed, upon looking back !
saw that the distance from the foremost
of my pursuers was the same as at the
start. 70 keep this distance till daylight
seemed my only chance, yet what q
hopeless task No horse could lone
keep up the terrible strain which mine
was enduring. Suddenly the faithful
animal stumbled owe a low sand dune
and fell to his knees, throwing me to
the ground. In an instant the hungry
pack were upon me, and / imagined ]
felt their tangs already buried In my
flesh. Fear lent swiftness TO my move
ments, however, and / remounted and
was off just as the leaders were about
~ rr1.,n 4H tN0n.n - "a hU morse
soon began TO show the effects OF bis ter.
rible efforts, and thinking to gain time
| threw away the blanket which, | nao
hastily thrown over the horse at the IRIS
alarm. This gave me a slight advantage
for a time, as nc sooner did 1t touch 'tne
ground than it was torn into shreds Dy
the hungry brutes. This delay
gave me a small advantage, but soon
perceived that | was losing it, and my
horses movements became more Ia
bored. / next sacrificed my overcoat
then the coat which / wore. which y
turn suffered the fate ofthe blanket
The horse began to show signs Of ex
haustion, but he still kept his feet, Du
/ realized in a short time that my iats
was sealed unless Il miracle was inter
posed to a v me. The wolves were 81
ready swapping at my horses heels
when upon looking up / saw lights u
front of me, perhaps q mile or 80 aus
tant. j endeavored to urge my horse z
further efforts, but without avail. IN!
poor animal was breathing heavily AMI
could hardly keep his feet. 1au
dened brutes were jumping andsFap,
ping around me, and. | had struc'
several of them down with th'
butt Of my rifle, after having exhausted
Tie ammunition in shooting at them.
turned and found myself within Q iel
hundred feet of o house and al enclos
ure. Making a last despairing effort "a
horse cleared the fence and fell dead O
the inside. AT the same moment sever
al men came out of the door oftho hous
with lanterns, aroused no doubt by ti
..e:-.s.;, sounds. / was quickly DRAG
| red inside and Immediately swoonec
| Upon recovering consciousness " wa
broad daylight, and / found myself 4
the cabin OF a ranchman, within ball
L NJ 49, ~ HL 49, w. o. r|M.