Connecticut western news., 1884-01-09
CHASED BY WOLVES. 4 BCFFALO HUNTERS THRILLING RIDE ON WESTERN PLAINS.
  Milo hitter Mile with the Hungry Brutes SnnppinG Rt the HoTseis Heels-A Binn- ket Torn Into shrcds-Savcd by Ranch. men,
From the Denver News.l

An incident related to Ne,pS reporter by Mir. James Austin, just in from Cheyenne Wells, proves that the popu- lar iden that game is hard to find in that State, and that wolves are things of the past, is q fallacy. Said MT. Austin 'At the station, which is collection of cabins occupied by ranchmen and those employed in putting down the Govern ment well, are @ number of wealthy young men from the East who are en- gagged in Q hunting expedition. We started last Thursday morning and rode due east, then northeast, until when eighteen miles out we discovered in the distance m immense herd of buffaloes. Thinking to accomplish more, we scat. tered, with the intention of circling thom, or at least turning them from their course. In this wo were not suc- cessful, as night overlook us before we had 'downed a single bull I had singled out one that had become sepa- rated from the rest of the herd, and had followed him some distance when it be- came too dark to see, and discovered that had lost my companions. There being nothing else to do, and as itwould be impossible to find my way in the dark, resolved to camp where 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 uncomfortably cold. I lay four hours in e half-waking, half-dozing state, and it was perhaps midnight when something more like sleep overcame me. Suddenly a sound, the most horrible and blood. curdling of any I had ever heard, seemed to chill the very marrow in my bones. To my excited imagination it seemed like the shriek of fifty demons. Jumping to my feet, I discovered that my fire had gone out, leaving but few embers, but at c distance of, perhaps, 200 feet, nearly forming a complete circle around me was line of bright points scintillatine like SO many diamonds. I instantly realized my danger. was surrounded by wolves. To hesitate was death, ant mounting my horso, that was trembling with fright, drove spurs into him ant we darted off through the only opening in the cordon which nearly surrounded me, and swept across tho plains withou regard to tho direction, my only objec being to escape tho fangs of my pursu CTS.
 "The wolves, as soon as they discoy cred my flight, with renewed howl more full of rage and horror than tha which had wakened me, started in ful cry, ma the terrible race began. At th, start gained considerably, as my hors, was Q good one, and his fright seemed to add to his lightning speed. Mile seemed like feet, and, after perhaps half hour passed, upon looking back saw that the distance from the foremos of my pursurers was the same as at tn, start. To keep this distance till day light seemed my only chance, yet wha 0 hopeless task No horse could lonl keep up the terrible strain which min, was enduring. Suddenly the faithfu animal stumbled over low sand dun, and fell to his knees, throwing me {, the ground. In an instant the hungr, pack were upon me and imagined felt their fangs already buried in m1 flesh. Fear lent swiCtness to my move ments, however, and I remounted anC was of just as the leaders were about (, bounce upon me. My horse soon began to show the effects of his terrible ef forts, and thinking 10 gain time, I threw away the blanket which I had hastil, thrown over the horse at the first alarm This gave me a slight advantage for [ time, as no sooner did it touch th, ground than it was torn into shreds b, the hungry brutes. This delay gave m, a small advantage, but soon preceivet that I was losing it, and my horsei movements became more labored. next sacrificed my overcoat, then tht coat which wore, which in turn sui fcred the fate of the blanket. The hors, began 10 show signs of exhaustion, bu he still kept his feet, but I realized in [ short time that my fate was sealed, un less miracle was interposed to save me The wolves were already snapping al my horses heels, when upon looking up saw lights in front of me, perhaps [ mile or SO distant. I endeavored 10 urg, my horse to further efforts, but without a-ail. The poor animal was breathing heavily and could hardly keep his feet Tho maddened brutes were jumping ano snapping around me, and had strucl several of them down with tho butt o my rifle, after having exhausted th, ammunition in shooting at them. turned and found myself within Q few hundred feet of n house and an enclos ure. Making a last despairing effort my horse cleared the fence and fell deat on the inside. At tho same momen several men came out of the door of th, house with lanterns, aroused no doub by the unearthly sounds. was quick, dragged inside, and immediatel, swooned. Upon recovering conscious ness it was broad daylight, md I fount myself in tho cabin of n ranchman, with in half milo of the station whence had started in the morning, lying on rude bed, with man sitting near by am l watching me. It seems that my horse guided by instinct, had taken th