The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-23
WOLVES IN MONTANA.
- Helena Miner Looks into the Jaws o
Death.

a Helena Miner Looks into the Jaws of
Death.
&. W. jackson, the Helena music dealer,
| according to the Helena Herald, had an eXpe-
| rience last week which now seems rather q
| frightful nightmare than an actual occurrence.
| He went out in the Thunder Mountains, about
| sixty miles north of Townsend, to visit a mine
| in which he is interested. The minis is located
in a secluded guch far up among the hills in
| the midst of one OF the widest sections of
| mountain land known in Montana. He and
| companion, r. W. James, of Helena, arrived
at the mine about three o'clock one afternoon
| and Immediately started out with their shot
! guns TO get some grouse for supper, the neigh
! borhood aboundiug with these birds. They
walked UP the gulch mile or two and then
| separated, Mr.. jackson going over ridge to
! follow bird that he had flushed. On return
| ing to the top of the ridge Mr.. James was out
| of sight and Mr.. jackson hallooded to him,
but got no answer. Mr.. James in the mean
| while had gone back to camp, thinking his
| companion knew the country and would fol-
| low him in. Not being able to find James,
jackson thought 1t was about time to go back,
and started in the direction of camp as he sup
| posed. After walking about mile he found
/ that lie had missed his reckonings and started
| to retrace hissteps. It was now growing dark
| and at every step the country grew more
! strange. Finally he sat down to rest, oppress-
ed with the consciousness that he was lost in
| the mountains. A feeling of dread Of he
| knew not what, overpowered him for q mo-
ment, but this soon passed away and he said;
"Pshawl night in the mountains in sum-
mer 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 this soliloauy long,
| deep howl arose in the woods to his right and
! echoed with fearful strains throughout the
| surrounding hills. He reused himself as he
recognized the cry of the gray timber wolf,
| one of the iercest wild beasts that infest our
| mountains. The echo had scarce died away
| when another howl came in answer from the
| other side of of him, then another, 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 i'll numbersl His only
| means of defense was q shotgun and few
shells of birdShot. What should he do! He
had not long for reflection, for every moment
| the shades Of night were deepening and the
| howls of the wolves were increasing and grow
| ing louder, STRIVING that the beasts were clos
| ing in on him.
His first thought was to climb a tree and bid
| defiance to the beasts Near the top OF the hills
| about in the center of the opening 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 curdlng howls that now
| formed chorus of dismal, jangling, discord-
| ant walls, Mr.. jackson ran with might and
main towards the tree. 1t was q race up hill
and he sank down at the roots of the giant
| pine in an exhausted state. He soon recov-
| Horror of horrors! The nearest branch was
| twenty feet above the ground, and the base of
! the trunk was fully four feet in diameter. He
could not scale Its smooth bark, and after sew
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 accord
ingly 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 lightning storms
that have given these heights the name of
Thunder Mountain arose in ali its fury. Peal
after peal of electric artillery rolled from the
angry clouds, drowning lthe 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.
Finally with some dry grass tiny flame was
communicated and welcome blaze sprang up.
Famed by the wind, it soon enyeoped the
pile Of fagots and Illuminated the scene for
yards around. And it was just time, for
around the circle of light cast by the flames
Mr.. jackson saw the gaunt and hungry forms
OF at least dozen woives-great, big, gray
beasts, with flashing eyes and swapping jaws.
Their bowling ceased for q moment, but soon
| another pack arrived and took to fighting with
tHo Atob' II WAS uOS eau cog. Inc DatJlo
| waged for few moments, the beasts
swapping and snarling at each
other, jumping over their fellows, and all tho
time bowling like set of demons Mr.. jack
son could see the fight, as the wolves en-
croached within the circle of light, and his
blood turned cold rs he thought how he would
fare before those terrible jaws But the bat
tie socn ceased, and then all the wolves, thirty
or forty all told, began prowling about the
freight, cycling Mr.. jackson with their
flaming orbs, which looked like balls of fire.
About midnight the storm ceased and
darkness impenctrable settled down or the
mountains. the illuminating the
distance Of forty yards. All this time the
gaunt figures of the wolves kept playing
around the circle Of light not daring to APP
proach the re. But their glaring eyes
and terrorizing howla proclaimed their fearful
Mr.. jackson busted himself watching the
wolves and feeding the fire, which until now
had not lacked fuel. But, oh, horror! At
about two o'clock in the morning,
that the fro was growing low and that
the emboldened wolves were pressing
closer and closer in upon him as the circle Of
light grew smaller He had no moro wood.
Every twig and cone within reach had been
heaped upon the fire.
Now there was almost nothing bgt embers
left and he could see the hungry wolves glar-
ing 1T him MOI six yards away. With gun In
hand nc STOOD 10 hEnl anu sell ms Alle dearly
Us soon as they attacked him. His
heart beat like sledgchammcr as he
watched the nearest wolf, expect
ing every moment that the huge, gray mon
| ster would spring at him.
just as he thought the beast w s about 20
make the leap, a column Of fame shot sud
| denly NJ into the air, sending its sparks tTcn-
~ feet high and scattering the bowling wolves.
They seampercd back in evident terror. A
pitch-soakcd root near tho base OF ~ tree had
ignited from the fire, and soon tie monster
trunk. which was coated with rd in On that
side, was Ia q bln1o. Saved saved /" thought
jackson ns he noted tho welcome blaze aud
saw the cowardly wolves shrink laway from
the fire. The mporilcd man thanh I'd Proyi-
deuoo for tho timely interference. and felt now
for the first time absolutely securo az be stood
IN the light Of the blazing tree. Soon daylight