The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-11-23
SURROUNDED BY WOLVES.
Pack of Starving Gray wolves on
Mans Trail

Mans Trail.
Helena HCrdid
G. w. jackson, the Helena music
dealer, had an experience last week
which now seems rather a frightful
nightmare than an actual occurrence.
He went out in the Thunder Mountains,
abount sixty miles north of Townsend,
to visit a mine in which he is interested.
The mine is located in secluded gulch
far up among the hills in the midst
of one of the widest sections Of noun.
tain land known in Montana. He and q
companion, r. w. James of II elena, ar.
rived at the mine about o. 'cl ock one
afternoon and Immediately started out
with their shotguns to get some grouse
for supper, the neighborhood abounding
with these birds. They walked up the
gulch mile or two and then separated,
Mr.. jackson going over Il ridge to fol-
low a bird that had been flushed.
On returning to the top of the ridge Mr.
James was out of sight, and Mr..
Jackson hallooed to him, but got no an
swer. Mr.. James IN the meanwhile had
gone back to camp thinking his COM
panion knew the country and would fol-
James, Jackson thought il was about
time to go back, and started in the di-
rection of the camp, as he supposed. AT
ter walking about mile he found that he
had missed his way and started to retrace
his steps. 1t was now growing dark,
and at every step the country grew more
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 a moment, but this soon passed
away, and he said "Pshaw! A night in
the mountains In summer is nothing. |
can 60 to sleep under tree. and when
morning comes can easily find my way
back to camp"
Just as he finished this soliloquy
long, deep howl arose in the woods to his
right and echoed with fearful strains
through the surrounding hills. lie
| reused himself as he recognized the cry
of the gray timber wolf, one of the
| ticrcest wild beasts that infest our noun
tains. The echo had scarce 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 shotgun and
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 werc closing in
! on him.
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 lone
pine tree, giant of its kind, whose eX-
pansive boughts seemed TO invite him to
their sweet embrace. Spurred on by the
blood-curdling howls that now formed n
chorus of dismal, jangling, discordant
walls, Mr. jackson ran with might and
main towards the tree. 1t was 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 20 feet above the
ground, and the base of the trunk was
fully 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 al
hand. Then the thought struck him Il
build a fire. 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 enveloped 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 Mr.
jackson saw the gaunt and hungry forms
of at least dozen wolves-great, bis
gray beasts with flashing eyes anC
swapping jaws, Their howllng ceased
for moment, but soon another pacl
arrived and took to fighting with tn,
first. 1t was dog eat dog.
Mr.. jackson busted himself watching
the wolves and feeding the fire, which
} until now, had not lacked fuel, But
oh horror At about o'clock in til,
, morning, the darkest part of the night, h
saw that the fire was growing low anC
that the emboldened wolves were press
ing closer and closer in upon him as tho
| circles of light grew smaller. He haC
no more wood. Every twig and con-
NlNlllll lItlNh llNi bCSI ullpl WV
} fire.
r Just as he thought the beast was abou
, to make the leap a column of fam
shot suddenly up into the air, sendin
the sparks twenty feet high and scatter
ing the bowling wolves. They scamp
cred back in evident terror. 4 pitch
soaked root near the base Of the tree ha
ignited from the fire, and soon the mon
ster trunk, which was coated with rosi
on that side, was in blaze. Saved
saved % thought Jackson, as lie note
the welcome blaze and saw the coward
wolves shrink away from the fire
The imperilled man thanked Prov
dence for the timely interference, an
felt now for the first time absolutel
: secure as he stood in the light Of til
blazing tree. Soon daylight appeared
the wolves skunk back to their dens, an
Just as the sky was reddening with th
dawn the last pack of the foiled mor
: sters disappeared over the hill. Whe
the sun rose Mr., jackson refreshed hin
self at a neighboring spring and starte
4 for camp. He walked till about nooi
when he met party sent out to scare
for him, and was safely conducted bac
to camp. He has had enough Of cam
o ing alone in the mountains.
A Inf