Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-28
SURROUNDED BY WOLVES.
A TERRIBLE NIGHT IN THE MoUN-
 FANS OF MONTANA.

A Helena Man Has & FrightfuI Experi-
 ence While Visiting Mine in the Thun-
 der Mountains - How He Saved His
 Life.
 G. W. Jackson, the Helena music dealer, had an experience which now seems rather a frightful nightmare than an actual occur renee. He went out in the Thunder mountains, about sixty miles north of Townsend, to visit mine in which he is interested. The mine is located in a secluded gulch far up among the hills in the midst of one of the widest sec tions of mountain land known in Montana. He and a companion, R. W. James, of Helena, arrived at the mine about 8 o'clock one afternoon and immediately started out with their shotguns to get some grouse for supper, the neighbor- hood abounding with these birds. They walked up the gulch mile or two and then separated, Mir. Jackson going over @ ridge to follow bird that had been flushed On returning to the top of the ridge Mir. James was out of sight, and MT. Jackson halloaed to him, but got no answer. MT. James in the meanwhile had gone back to camp, thinking his companion knew the country and would follow him in. Not be- ing able to find James, Jackson thought 1t was about time to go back, and started in the direction of the camp, as he supposed. After walking about mile he found that he had missed his reckoning and started to re- trace his steps. It was now growing dark, and at every step the country grew more strange. Finally he sat down to rest, op- pressed with the consciousness that he was lost in the mountains. A feeling of dread, of he knew not what, overpowered him for @ moment, but this soon passed away, and be CaiA PSh Shox ,irI,& s,, summer is nothing. I can go to sleep under a tree and when morning comes can easily find my way back to camp"
 LOOKING FOR A REFUGE.
 Just as he had finished this soliloquy a long, deep howl arose in the woods to his right and echoed with fearful strains through the surrounding hills. He reused himself as he recognized the cry of the gray timber wolf, one of the fiercest wild beasts that tn- fest our mountains. The echo had scarce died away when another howl came in an swer, until the forest on all sides resounded with the dismal cry. Then new fear pre- sented itself. The wolves were evidently on his trail Suppose they should attack him in numbers! His only means of defense was a shotgun and 0 few shells of bird shot. What should he do? He had not long for reflection for every moment the shades of night were deepening and the howls of wolves were increasing and growing louder, showing that the beasts were closing in on him.
 His first thought was to climb a tree and bid defiance to the beasts. Near the top of the hill, about in the center of the open which he was in, he espied a lone pine tree, a giant of its kind, whose expansive boughs seemed to invite him to their sweet embrace Spurred on by the blood curdling howls that now formed a chorus of dismal, jangling, discordant walls, Mir. Jackson ran with might and main towards the tree. It was a race up hill, and he sank down at the roots of the giant pine in an exhausted state. He soon recovered his breath and tried to climb the tree. Horror of horrors! The nearest branch was twenty feet above the ground, and tho base of the trunk was fully four feet in diameter. He could not scale its smooth bark, and after several intellectual attempts sank back upon the ground in despair.
 But the howls again reused him from his lethargy. They were so loud now that he knew the wolves were near at hand. Then the thought struck him to build fire He knew this would keep the beasts at bay, and accordingly set about the task. The ground was strewn With dry branches and cones that had fallen from the tree, and soon he had heap gathered together. But now one of these terrible lightning storms that have given these heights the name of Thunder mountains arose in all its fury. Peal after peal of electric artillery rolled out from the angry clouds, drowning the howls of the wolves and Illuminating the weird scene by vivid flashes of lightning that preceded the thunder. Then the wind blew perfect hur- ricane. Match after match he struck, but the wind blew them out as fast as lighted
 SAVED BY FIRE.
 Finally, with some dry grass, @ tiny flame was communicated and welcome blaze sprang up. Famed by the wind it soon en- veloped the pile of fagots and illuminated the scene for yards around. And it was just in time, for around the circle of light cast by the flames Mir. Jackson saw the gaunt and hungry forms of at least a dozen wolves great, big gray beasts with flashing eyes and snapping jaws. Their bowling ceased for a moment, butSoon another pack arrived and took to fighting with the first. It was dog eat dog. The battle ragged for few mo ments, the beasts snapping and sparling at each other, jumping over their fellows, and all the time bowling like & set of demons MT. Jackson could see the fight as the wolves encircled within the circle of light, and his blood turned cold as he thought how he would fare before those terrible jaws But the battle soon ceased, and then all the wolves, thirty or forty all told, began prowl- | ing about the fire light, eying Mir. Jackson Wltn tnelr naming orbS, which looked like balls of fire.
 MT. Jackson busted himself watching the wolves and feeding the fire, which until now had not lacked fuel. But Oi horrorl At about o'clock in the morning, the darkest | part of the night, he saw that the fire was growing low and that the emboldened wolves | were pressing closer and closer in upon him l as the circles of light grew smaller. He bad ! no more wood. Every twig and cone within ! reach had been heaped upon the fire
 Now there was almost nothing but embers left, and he could see the hungry wolves glar- | ing at him not six yards away. With gun in ! hand he stood to fight and sell his life dearly | as soon as they attacked him. His heart beat ! like sledge hammer as he watched the near ! est wolf, expecting every moment that the | huge gray monster would spring at him.
 Just as he thought the beast was about to | make the leap column of flame shot sud | denly up into the air, sending its sparks | twenty feet high and scattering the bowling | wolves. They scampered back in evident | terror. A pitch soaked root near the base of | the tree had ignited from the fire, and soon the monster trunk, which was coated with resin on the side, was in blaze. "Savedl | ! TYA AL