The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1884-02-08
CHASED BY WOLVES.

CHASED BY WOLVES.
a BafEalo Hantee.s Thrilling Ride
ON tho Piains-Nile A1esr Milo
With the hungry Beutes enapping
&C the Horse's Heels, Etc.
From ths. .Dsnvr Nsws.
An Incident related TO Q News repor.
tor BY Mr.. James Austin; juss in from
Cheyenne Wells, proves that tho popu-
lar idea that game d hard to find in that
State, and that wolves are things Of the
pest, b . fallaey. Said Mr.. Austin: "At
the station, which 10 Q collection Of cab
tns occupied by ranchmen and those
employed Ia putting down the govern
ment well, are Q number Of wealthy
young mon from the East who arc en-
gagged In . 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
budaloes. Thinking to accomplish more,
No scattered with the intention of circu.
ting them, or at least turning them from
their course. In this We we're not sue.
cesstul, as night overlook us before We
had downed . single bull. I had sin.
gted out one that had become separated
from the rest Of. the herd, and had fol.
lowed him some distance whom IL had
became too dark to see, and I discovered
being nothing else to do, and a. it would
be impossible to lind my way in the
dark, I resolved to camp where 1 was,
80, unrolling the hide lariat, I secured
the animal to some stout sage brush,
and, after building 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 half wax.
was perhaps midnight when
something more like sleep
overcame me. Suddenly q sound, the
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 few embers, but at
distance of perhaps two hundred feet.
nearly forming a complete circle around
me. was q line of bright points seintilla-
ting like 80 many diamonds. Instantly
realized my danger. I 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, 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 began. At the
start gained considerably, as my horse
was good ono, and his fright seemed
to add to his lightning speed: Miles
seemed like feet, and, alter perhaps
half hour passed, upon looking back I
saw that the distance from the foremost
Of my pursuers was the same as at the
start. To keep this distance till daylight
seemed my only chance, yet what
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
pack were upon me, and / imagined I
felt their tangs already buried in my
flesh. Fear lent swiitness to my move
ments, however, and I remounted and
was of just as the leaders were about
to Pounce upon ne. My horse
soon began to show the effects Of his ter.
rible 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 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 I was losing it, and my
horses movements became more la.
bored. I next sacrificed my overcoat,
turn suffered the fate of the blanket.
haustion, but he still kept his feet, but
I realized in short time that my fate
was sealed unless 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 mile or 80 dis
tant. endeavored to urge my horse to
further 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 had struck
several Of them down with the
butt of my rifle, after having exhausted
the ammunition in shooting at them. !
turned and found myself within Q few
hundred feet Of Q house and an enclos-
ure. Making last despairing effori, my
horse cleared the fence and fell dead on
the inside. At the same moment sever
al men came out of the door ofthe house
with lanterns, aroused no doubt by the
unearthly sounds. was quickly drag
ged inside and Immediately swooned.
Upon recovering consciousness it was
Fbroad daylight, and found myself in
the cabin OF ranchman, within halks 9
mile Of the station whence had started
In the morning, lying on rude bed with
9 man sitting near by and watching me.
It seems that my horse, enided by in.
stinct, had taken the straightest direc-
ton for the place from which We start
ed. ! learned by inquiry that tile wolves
bad surrounded the house all night long,
filling the air with their fearful howls.
and never departed until daylight. I
was. too III from the effects of the fear
ful experience had undergone to leave
the house until yesterday, andI came
to Denver for rest and regeneration"