The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-10-24
CHASED BY WOLVES.

A Buffalo Hunters Thrilling Ride
on III Plains-Mile After Mile
With the hungry Brutes Swapping
Mt 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 find in that
State, and that wolves are things of the
past, is q fallacy. Said Mr.. Austin: CAT
the station, which is a collection Of cab
ins occupied by ranchmen and those
employed in putting down the govern
ment well, are a number of wealthy
young 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
butfaloes. 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
cessful, as night overlook us before we
gled out one that had become separated
from the rest of the herd, and had fol-
lowed him some distance when il had
became too dark to see, and 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 | was,
30, unrolling the hide lariat, | secured
the animal to some stout sage brush,
and, after building q small fire of grass
and brush, rolled myself in my blanket
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 sn,sa perhaps midnight when
overcame me. Suddenly a sound, the
most horrible and blood curdling of any
| had ave 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, was a line OF bright points scintilla-
ting like so many diamonds. l 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, n sweep across the plains, without
regard to the direction, my only object
being to escape the fangs ofmy pursuers.
1.-The 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 besau. At the
start | gained considerably, as my horse
was q 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 1
saw that the distance from the foremost
OF my p%ursuers "a 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
was enduring. Suddenly the faithful
animal stumbled over q low sand dune
and fell to his knees, throwing me to
the ground. In an instant the hungry
pack were upon me, and | imagined l
felt their tangs already buried in my
flesh. Fear lent swiftness to my move
ments, however, and l remounted and
was off Just as the leaders were about
to pounce upon me. My horse
soon began to show the effects of his ter
rible efforts, and thinking to gain time,
l threw away the blanket which l had
hastily thrown over the horse at the first
alarm. This gave me a slight advantage
for a time, as no ooner die it touch the
ground thar it was torn into shreds by
the hungry brutes. This delay
noua ma a email oIHarfouo i,i,f 7 cpnn
perceived that l was losing it, and my
horses movements became more la
bored. l next sacrificed roy 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
l realized in a short time that my fate
was sealed unless a miracle was inter-
posed to save me. The wolves were al
ready Swapping at my horses heels.
when upon looking up | saw lights in
front of me, perhaps a mile or sc dis
tant. endeavored to urge my horse to
further efforts, but without avail. The
poor animal was breathing heavily and
dened brutes were jumping and snap
ping around me, and 1 had struck
several OF them down with the
butt Of my rifle, after having exhausted
the ammunition in shooting at them. l
tlrned and found myself within a few
hundred feet of q house and an enclos-
ure. Making a last despairing effort, my
horse cleared the fence and Tell dead on
the inside. At the same moment sever
al men came out Of the door ofthe house
with lanterns, aroused no doubt by tho
unearthly sounds. / was quickly drag
ged inside and Immediately swooned.
Upon recovering consciousness it was
broad dayliEt t, and found myself in
the cabin of Il raiicl,,nan, within nalf a
mile of the station whence I had started
in the morning, lying or a rude bed with
a man sitting near by and watching me.
1t seems that my horse, guided by in
stinct, had taken the straightest 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. /
was too i'll from the effects of the fear
full experience l had undergone to leave
the house until yesterday, and I came
to Denver for rest and recuperation."
Starving q Cold.
DR.. O. E. in Popular Science Monthly.
Though a lifelong sufferer from the