The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1888-03-31
..NANCY'S WOLF STORY


Une evening after Uncle Jimmy Spen-
Ger, the old hunter of Cranberry Run,
w. Va, had told how bears had freed
his wife and generally demolished
things, we were sitting before blazing
fire of pitch-pinc, listening to the rain
as it battered and ratified against the
clap board roof, when the Enquirer cor
respondent asked him if there had not
been great many wolves in that neigh
borhood when he was a young man.
evolves said the grizzly old fell
low. ''They were roaming these mount
aims in droves, and there are still a
great many in the laurel thickets. I
will get Aunt Nancy to tell you Of an
experience we had with them in '43, if
you would like to hear it."
Ireplied that nothing would suit me
better, and the old man knocked the
ashes out Of his pipe and said:
SIN the winter of 1843 we were living
in this log house, which we had just
finished, and about the middle of De-
cember l found it necessary to go to the
nearest settlement, about forty-fve
miles distant, for supply of salt and
some other things. The weather had
been very cold, and the wolves-big,
gray fellows, not like those misera-
sAble, puny sneaks you have in
the west, which you call coy
otes-were nearly starved out, and had
become dangerous and bold. didn't
think there was much danger, however,
and left with nay two horses early in
the morning, leaving Nancy by herself
to take care of the house and COW and
our poultry. The stable in which we
kept our animals and poultry in hard
weather stood about one hundred feet
from the house, with the door at the
end facing the front door of the house.
1t was strong log building, with big
door which could be fastened with a
pin from the outside. In the lower
right-hand corner of the door was a
small hole cut out for the accommoda-
ton of the poultry; this little hole had
a big log wedge or a fastening. l
explain all this SO you can understand
J more readily just what happened. Of
course didn't know anything about it
Glntil I returned, when 1 found the
Stable half full of big gray wolves and
the COW and poultry devoured. Now,
mother" said Uncle Jim, 'tell your
part of the story"
Aunt Nancy, a pleasant-faced old
lady, laid aside her sewing and picked
ap her knitting, and while her still MIN
bic fingers rapidly manipulated the
bright steel knitting needles, took up
he sAary where Uncle Jimmy left off.
ssThe day after you left it turned cold
aud the snow began to fall until nearly
morning, when the ground was covered
over a foot deep, During the night I
heard the wolves bowling all around the
house in the woods, but I didn't think
much Of it, as it was no uncommon &C.
currence. The next morning I went to
the stable and fed the COW and the poul-
try, and came out and fastened the door,
but somehow forgot to close the small
kopening at the bottom of the door.
s Well, about three o'clock in the after
noon l saw a tremendous gray wolf trot
put Of the woods behind the house into
the opening. He sat dowa upon his
Launches, and seemed to be seeming
the wind. Directly he gave a long howl,
and then another. In a minute or two
heard a howl in the wood to the right,
and then another to the left,
Uptil the bowling appeared to come