The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-02-28

as wild cats, catamounts, foxes and
coons,
1t would be now impossible to
come within hundreds in computing
the number of the deer and ferOciOus
beasts he destroyed in his long SER
vice in the woods. In his early days
the beasts Of prey were the terror of
the sparce population, and the
scourge of domestic animals. When
foray would be made upon
the fold by these animals, Christian
Farlitz would be sent for as a matter
of course, just as a doctor would be
Palled for sick person, and he would
always respond and generally afford
'elief with his rifle or traps. He
zilled great many deer in his time,
but only enough for his table and
slch as he could conveniently sell.
He never would Stay this beautiful
animal WantOnly, or out Of season.
II has been protected by many stat
utes since 17S9-the first. But he
Was the untiring foe of the bear, pam
tier and the wolf-the latter he hated
the worst. These animals have had
aprice upon their heads for almost
8SSanany yeats as their gentle victim
has been protected. There was not a
season in which he did not destroy
more or less of these troublesome
beasts
Once Jesse Tomlinson had lot of
sheep killed by these night providers
in view of his house. Christly was
sent for and in due time he and his
traps were on hand, and in short
time the whole pack (9i was caught {:
and on another occasion the same
good old mans favorite dog was mis-
sing, with strange tracks upon the
premises. Naturally the same bene-
factor was consulted, who heard the
old mans plaintive story, and eX-
claimed at once, GA painter, sure as
you lift" MOmentarily the trusty
rifle and hOt-pouch were in place,
and he and his iWeIl trained dogs
were on the war path, and panther
tracked to his lair, and there, too,
was found the missing dog, partially
devOured. The surprised animal, to
save himself, sprang up a large spruce
tree, las is their habit in time Of dam
ger,) but the unfailing rifle brought
down his body crashing through the
boughs to the ground.
Again, poor beginner, far off in
the woods, had one of his two cows Kill
led by the hated wolves. Forthwith
the sufferer came down to Christly.
The story was no more than half
told till his ire was up. Three traps
were brought forth, creased and
smoked, ready for the campaign.
One of the cuIprits was captured the
first night, and so on till the whole
gang Of seven were destroyed.
1t ought to be remarked that great
skill and strategy is requisite in
trapping WolYes-the widest Of quad
rupeds.
About the year 1925 these animals
became exceedingly troublesome and
demonstrative from their base of op-
erations, the famous Wolf Swamp
and Meadow Mountain. They had
the audacity to venture upon the
premises of their old enemy and kill
one of his COWS. This was an insult
and an injury not to be overlooked.
If he failed to swear on this excited
occasion, it was simply because he
could not fairly do justice to the sub
iect. The slaughtered animal was
hauled out to a gushing spring on the
side of the mountain already named,
and a Gordon of traps set in the most
strategic manner. The campaign
lasted a month, resulting in the cap
ture of the whole brigade, sixteen in
number, the last one being a phe-
nomena in color Get black and size,
The balance of the account in this
transaction was on the side of the
trapper. There was considerable less
disagreeable music on the mountain
thereafter to the bovines. About this
time the law provided bounty of
SIS for the scalp of an old wolf, IS for
young one and So for a panther.
Some years later the amount was in
creased to $50 for the first named.
1t can now be stated as certainty
that for the last twenty-five years the
wolf has been an extinct animal in
Garrett and Allegany counties. The
late Holmes Wiley used to insist that
the railroads and the iron belonging
thereto drove them off, Every year
we hear of few bear being captured,
and occasionally panther, but for
many years they have been neither
destructive or feared. The ast,panth-
lyiIIaJ an fiji. npH ,F thn on,r "