The Mineral argus., 1884-02-14
CHASED BY WOLVES.

From the Denvc- 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 find in that
State, and that wolves are things OF the
past, is a fallacy. Said Mr.. Austin: AT
the station, which is a collection of cab
ms occupied by ranchmen and those
employed in putting down the govern
ment well, are a number OF wealthy
voung men from the East who are en-
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-
tine them. or at least turning them from
their course. In this we were not sue
cesSfuI, as night overlook as before we
had downed a single bull. 1 had sim
gled out one that had become separated
| from the rest of the herd, and had fol-
lowed him some distance when it bad
became too darkto see, and | discovered
that | had lost INV companions. There
being nothing else to do, and as it would
be impossible to find my way in the
dark, [ resolved to camp where | was,
SO. unrolling the hide lariat, | secured
the animal to some stout sage brush,
and, after building a small hre OF grass
and brush, rolled myself in my blanket
and prepared to make the best OF 1t, but
without much idea of sleep. In TACT, 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 1t
was perhaps midnight when
something more like sleep
oyercame me. Suddenly a sound, b
most horrible and blood curdling OF any
l had 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, blu at a
distance of perhaps two hundred feet
nearly forming a complete circle around
me. was a line OF bright points scintilla-
ting like SO many diamonds. l instantly
realized nv danger. / was surrounded
bv wolves. To hesitate was death, and,
mounting my horse, that was trembling
with fright, I 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
regard to the direction, my only object
being to escape the fangs of my pursuerS.
ssThe wolves, as soon as they dlscoy-
cred nv flight, with q renewed hoWlY
more full of rage and horror h that
which had awakened me, started in full
Q CRY and the terrible race began. At the
d start l gained considerably, as my horse
q was a good one, and his fright seemed
to add to his lightning speed. Miles
. seemed like feet, and, alter perhaps 9
0f half hour passed, upon looking back ]
IL saw that the distance from the foremost
70 of nv pursuers was the same as at the
a start. To keep this distance till daylight
n seemed my only chance, yet what
4 hopeless taskl No horse could lonI
keep up the terrible strain which min
h was enduring. Suddenly the faithful
animal stumbled over q low sand dun
and fell to his knees, throwing me q
an the ground. In an instant the hungr.
pack were upon me, and l imagined
felt their tangs already buried In N.
ar flesh. Fear lent swiftness to my move
ht ments, however, and l remounted ant
h. was off Just as the leaders were abou
to pounce upon nae. My hors
on soon began to show the effects Of his tel
rible efforts, and thinking to gain time
1 threw away the blanket which l ha'
hastily thrown over the horse at the trS
alarm. This gave me a slight advantag
for a time, as no sooner di6 it touch tn
ground than it was torn into shreds b
the hungry brutes. This della
gave me a small advantage, but l 500
=" perceived that l was losing it, and m
ID horses movements became more Il
ers bored. / next sacrificed my overcoa
civ then the coat which / wore which i
- turn suffered the fate of the blanke
- The horse began to show signs of e1
usl haustion, but he still kept his feet, bl
Its, I realized in a short time that my fat
the was sealed unless a miracle was intec
M posed to save me. The wolves were q
mn ready swapping at my horses heel
when upon looking up l saw lights
liz. front of me, perhaps a mile or 80 di
snt tant. l endeavored to urge my horse
~ further efforts, but without avail. I'll
bot poor animal was breathing heavily an
could hardly keep his feet. The ma
ex- dened brutes we're jumping and sna
ping around me, and l had strut
butt of my rifle, after having exhauste
80 turned and found myself within a fe
the hundred feet of a house and an enclo
his ure. Making a last ~despairing effort, n
ant horse cleared'the fence and tell dead
the inside. At the same moment seve
, 81 men came out of the door ofthe hou
limo with lanterns, aroused no doubt by Il
uRearthly sounds. | was quickly drs
ged inside and Immediately swoone
ally Upon recovering consciousness 1t "
broad daylight, and | found myself
first the cabin of a ranchman, within hall
for mile of the station whence | had start
airs. in the morning, lying on a rude bed WI
an 4 man sitting near by and watching n
1t seems that my horse, guided by