The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-09-22
PUTNAM AND THE WOLF
How the Brave Old Rev0luti0nist
Killed the Monster i'm His Den.
A Story That Will Never Grow Old.

This uan Qsrael Patnam), who was
destined to attain the position of senior
major general ia the army OF the United
States, ranking second only to General
Washington himself, was born in Salem,
Mass, January z, 171S, and in 1888 he
moved to Pomfret, CT, where be went to
farming amid the toll, perils and disap-
poiErmen.s which teset pioneer life in
Windham county a century and half
ago. One of the dangers which enyir-
onsd the agriculturist of those days was
the menace 10 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. Tic sheepfoid 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
Sas she wolf, with remarkable sagacicy,
and had avoided the attempts of the
neighbOrs to kill her. At length the per-
nicious activity OF the marauder became
such an l1tUlernble nuisance that old Put
formed combine, SO TO speak, with five
neighbors, tor 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
IL the town of PCmfret, about three miles
from Putnam's house.
Here che people gathered with dogs,
guns, straw aud sui phur, and tried TO
smoke out the wolf. Bot In vain. The
dogs that were sent into the cave return
ed woun led ard cowed, and the fumes of
fire and birthstone failed tn dislodge che
enemy. At last Putnam determined TO
gfapple with the Zoe single banded. As
here are conflicting accounts of this ex.
Ploit, we will quote from n hi torical es
say written June ii, 1888, by ID. Hum
phrey7, for the State society of the Gin
cinnati III Connecticut (ior which We ex-
press our thanks to Mr.. Timothy Parker,
of this city).
"rhe aperture of The den, on the east
side of very high ledge OF rocks about
two fees square; thence i. descepds OBJ
lquely fifteen feet. then running hori-
zontaily about ten feet more, it ascends
gradually sixteen feet toward its termin-
alton. In no place j. il high enough for
man TO raise himself upright. Having
CROPPED his passage 70 the horizontal part
OF the den, the most terrifying darkness
appeared in front OF the dim circle of
iik ~ duotueL Dg MS tOFcn. IL Was silent
Is 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 eyehalls of the wolf, who was sit
ting III the extremity of the cavern.
Stertled at the sight OF fire, she CRASHED
her YrEt A
soon as he had III ads the necessary dis
covery, he kicked the rope as signal for
pulling him out. The people at the
mouth OF the den, who had listened with
painful anxiety, hearing The growl of a
wolf and supposing their friend to be in
the most imminent peril, drew him forth
with such celebrity that his shirt was strip
ped over his head and his skin severely
lsuerated. After he had adjusted his
clothes and loaded his gun with nine
buckshot, holding torch in one hand
aud the musket in the other, he decended
second time. When he drew nearer
than before, the wolf assuming a still
more terrible and ierce appearance,
bowling, rolling her eyes, swapping her
teeth aud dropping her head between
her legs was evidently ON the point of
springIng at him. A. this critical mo-
meut he leveled aud fred at her head.
Stunned with the shock ard suffocated
With the smoke, he immediately found
himself drawn on. of the cave. But hav
ing refreshed himself and allowed the
smoke 10 dIssipate, he went down third
time. Once more he came in sight of the
wolf, VINO appearing passive, hu applied
the torch 10 her nose, and perceiving her
dead, he took hold of her ears, ano then
kicking the rope, the people with no
small exuitation dragged them both out
together"