The morning news., 1888-12-29
ALMOST EATEN ALIVE.
The Thrilling Hunting Adventure of
a Montana Music Dealer.

Montana Music Dealer.
From the Minneapolis Tribune.
G. W. jackson, the Helena music dealer,
had an experience last week which now
seems rather frightful nightmare than an
actual occurrence. He went out in the
Thunder mountains, about sixty miles north
of Townsend, to visit mine in which he
was interested. The mine is located in
secluded gulch far up among the hills, in
the midst of one Of the wilde-t sections of
the mountain land known in Montana. He
and companion, r. w. James of Helena
arrived at the mine about 3 o'clock one
afternoon and Immediately started out with
their guns to get some grouse for supper,
the neighborhood abounding with these
birds. They walked up the gulch a mile or
over a ridge to follow bird that had been
flushed.
On returning to the top of the ridge Mr..
James was out of sight, and Mr.. jackson
halioed to him, but got no answer. Mr..
James, in the meanwhile, had gone back to
camp, thinking his companion knew the
country and would follow him in. Not
being able to find James, jackson thought
it was about time to go back, and started in
the direction of the camp, as he supposed.
After walking about a mile hs found that
he had missed bis reckoning and started to
retrace his steps. IL was now growing dark
and at every step the country grew m IRE
strange. Finally he sat down to rest,
oppressed with the consciousness that he
was lost in the mountains. A feeling of
dread, of he knew not what, overpowered
him for moment, but that soon passed
away, and he said: "Pshaw A nigat in
the mountains In summer is nothing. l can
go to sleep under a tree and when morning
comes can easily find my way back to
camp"
Just as he finished his soliloquy loug,
deep howl arose i'll 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 infest
our mountains. The echo had scarcely died
away when another howl came in answer,
until the forest on all sides resounded with
the dismal cry. Then new fear presented
itself. The wolves were evidently on his
trail Suppose they should attack him in
numbers! His only means of defense was a
shotgun and few shells of bird shot.
What should he do9 He mad 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.
ENCIRCLED BY CLEANING FANGs.
His first thought was to climb 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,
giant of its kind, whose expansive b)ughs
seemed to invite him to their sweet embrace
Spurred on by the blood-curdling huns
that now formed a chorus of dismal, jang-
ling discordant walls, Mr.. jackson ian
with might aud main toward the tree. 1t
was race up hill, and he sank down at the
"a -. ,x.s. ~A~.. .f.I
state. He soon recovel cd his breath and
tried to climb the tree. Horror of horrors!
The nearest branch was 20 feet above the
ground, and tho base of the trunk was fully
| 1 feet in diameter. He could not scale its
smooth bark. and after several Inetfectual
attempts, sank back upon the ground is de-
| spair.
But the howls again aroused him from his
| lethargy. They were so loud now that he
knew that the wolves were near at hand.
| Then the thought struck him 10 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 those terrible lghtaing storms
| that have given these heights the name Of
| Thunder mountains, rose 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 proceeded the thunder. Then the wind
| blew perfect hurricane. Match after
match he struck, but the wind blew them
| out as fast as lighted
Finally, with some dry grass, a tiny flame
was communicated. aud welcome breeze
,prang up Famed by the breez, IL soon
envelopod the pile OF faggots and iilumn-
ated the scene for yards around. And IL
was just in time, for around the circle Of
| light cast by the flames Mr.. Jackson Jaw
tho gaunt and hungry forms Of Mt least a
dozen wolves-groat, big, gray beasts, with
flashing eyes aud swapping jaws Their
| bowling ceased for moment, but soon
another pack arrived and took 10 fighting
with the first. II was dog eat dog. Toe
battle raZed for few moments, the beasts
slappng aud snArling at each other, jump.
ing over their fellows aud all the time hoA J.
ing like a set .of demons. Mr., Jackson