Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13
PUTNAM AND THE WOLF
How the Brave Old ReyolutiOnist
Killed the Monster in His Den,
! Story That Will Never Grow Old.

This nan Israel Putnan1, who was
destined to attain the position of senior
major general in the army of the United
States, ranking second only to General
Washington himself, was born in Salem,
Mass, January z, Ills, and in 1873 he
moved to Pomfret, CT, where be went to
farming amid the toll, perils and disap-
polntments which beset pioneer life in
WIndhan county century and half
ago. One Of the dangers which enyir-
oned the agriculturist of those days was
the menace to human and brute lite that
proceeded from the wild beasts of the
forest, and this it was which evoked that
early evidence of intrepidity for which
Putnam has been celebrated the world
around. The sheepfold of the neighbor-
hood had been repeatedly devastated by
wolf, and one night Putnam had seventy
fine sheep and goats killed, besides many
lambs and kids wounded. The offender
was she wolf, with remarkable sagecity.
and had avoided the attempts of the
nelghbors to kill her. At length the per-
nicious activity of the marauder became
such an intolerable nuisance that old Put
formed combine, so to speak, with five
nelghbors, for the purpose of pursuing
the animal to death. The wolf led the
hunters to the Connecticut river and back
again, and finally sought refuge in den
in the town of Pomfret, about three miles
from Putnam's house.
Here the people gathered with dogs,
guns, straw and sulphur, and tried to
smoke out the wolf. But In vain. The
dogs that were sent into the cave return
ed woun led and cowed, and the fumes of
fire and birthstone failed to dislodge the
enemy. At last Putnam determined to
gfapple with the foe single banded. As
there are conflicting accounts of this ex-
plot, we will quote from hi torical es
say written June IA, 1888, by D. Hum
phreys, for the State society of the Gin
cinnati in Connecticut (tor which We ex-
press our thanks TO Mr.. Timothy Parker,
of this city,.
"The aperture of the den, on the east
side of very high ledge of rocks about
two feet square; thence is descends OBJ
liquely fifteen feet, then running hori-
zontally about ten feet more, it ascends
gradually sixteen feet toward its termin-
alton. In no place is it high enough for
a man to raise himself upright. Having
CROPPED his passage to the horizontal part
of the Gen, the most terrifying darkness
appeared in front Of the dim circle of
ligh afforded by his torch. 1t was silent
as the house of death. Nothing but mon
sters of deserts had ever before explored
this solitary marsion Of horror. He,
cautiously proceeding onward, came tc
the ascent, which he slowly mounted on
hands and knees until he discovered the
glaring eyeballs of the wolf, who was Sit
ting II the extremity of the cavern.
Startled at the sight OF fire, she gnashed
her teeth and gave su!len grow. As
soon as ne had made the necessary dis
coVery, he kicked the rope as q signal for
pulling him out. The people at the
mouth of the den, who had listened with
painful anxiety, hearing the growl of
wolf and supposing their friend to be in
the most imminent peril, drew him forth
with spch celebrity that his shirt was strip
ped over his head and his skin severely
lacerated. After he had adjusted his
clothes and loaded his gun with nine
buckshot, holding a torch in one hand
and the musket in the other, he decerded
second time. When he drew nearer
than before, the wolf assuming still
more terrible and fierce appearance,
bowling, rolling her eyes, mapping her
teeth aud dropping her head between
her legs was evidently ON the point of
springing at him. At this critical mo
ment he leveled and fred at her head.
Stunned with the shock and suffocated
with the smoke, he Immediately found
himself drawn out of the cave. But hav
ing refreshed himself and allowed thu
smoke to dIssi pate, he went down third
time. Once more he came in sight of the
wolf, who appearing passive, he applied
the torch TO her nose, and perceivipg her
dead, he took hold of her cara, and then
kicking the rope, the people with no
small exultation dragged them both out
together"