The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-12-16
WOLVES FIGHTING STATIONS
Terrible Night Combat in the
Nevada Mountains.
A Hovfing Horde Of Gray Demons
Fearful work of the Horses
Heels.


which give ample shelter, while afford
/ ing the seclnsion which the wild band:
Of horses seek. The Indians used q
! live on the nuts, and they do yet t.
some extent, bu; IN the valleys below
the pines. and growing at intervals
among them. Is a very nutritious
grass. IL il on this that the wild
horses live.
The real mountain wild horse is a
mustaag Of large size. His shoulders
are untitled for the collar, not being
20 heavy as those Of the American
horse, and he Is a mountain climber,
scarcely excelled by the Wild goat.
Every color, from bright bay to iron
gray. white and black, can be found.
For steady running nothing Of the
equine breed can equal him. The
racers which run on our tracks would
ogtFun him for couple Of miles. per
haps, but they have not the staying
qualities OF the wild ones.
/ am inst in from the Pine-nat
range. | went over there hunting deer
on the sth Of November, in company
With William Mckendree and John
Thursfon OF Phoebe. We fell afoul OF
a band of about 20 wild horses on the
10Th ult., that dashed INTO our camp
and liked TO have made Us walk more
than 100 miles. IL was about 10 O'Clock
aud we had just turned in.
oar campfire was yet brightly blaz-
ing. and ! heard a roar off to the
northwest Ike the tread OF an advanc-
ing army. We were on the southwest
size OF the range, and there was a
steady incline right down 10 Us for a
couple Of miles. gazed ont into the
diui light, but could see nothing, as
the fire into which had previously
been looking and thinking blurred my
eyes.
The roar continued and | called to
Thurston and McKendree TO get up,
aud that something was going to hap
pen. One said il was a storm brewing
away of in the hills and the other
thought it was an earthquake
All three Of Us pccrcd forth into the
darkness Oar four horses grew I'M
easy aud dashed around and pulled al
their iariats.
In minute he saw the band emerge
from a stretch of pines and come on
toward us. They we're running at 4
fearful rate their nOstrils were dilaied
and their long names and tails flying
in the wind. Their eyes flashed fire,
and none OF US could understand the
reason of their flight. On they came.
seemingly seeking protection, and
dashed right up to US.
We saw we we're to be ground under
their heels unle - we did something,
and we began 10 shout and halloo for
all we were worth.
Our horses we're meantime dashing
and charging, and il looked as if every
instant they would break away. We
grasped our guns and fired over the
heads OF the horses. for they were so
pretty that we didn't want to kill
them.
Finally, Just at the last second OF
time, when we thought We were to be
borne down by the Wild throng, they
turned and dashed down the hill into
the darkness.
By this time we began TO hear weird
howls and neighing and stamping.
Every once in while we heard a
whaek as though something was hit
ting something else with terrific force,
combined with founder howls. The
noise was Just behind the spur of
pine nut trees quarter of amile away.
IL continued louder than ever, and
two OF rs concluded to push on out
and see what the rumpus was.
Judge of our surprise when We saw
thnee old stations surrounded by a
pYsk of big mountain wolves and kick
~ and biting for all they were worth.
fhree or four of the wolves had been
sent to grass, their ribs broken and
disabled in other ways.
Around the stations were the able
bodied wolves. swapping an growing
and showing their long, white, vicious
teeth. Their eyes cleaned wickedly
In the darkness. The side of one OF the
horses was bitten and bleeding.
The horses stood almost head to
head, and planted terrific blows on the
heads and bodies OF the wolves.
Every oncei in a while Il wolf described
"a parahola in the air. II was scene
long @ be remembered. Out there in
the keen, crisp night air OF the mount
aims. the three wild horses were fight
ing not only for their lives, but for the
live, OF the younger and weaker mem
hers OF the band, who we're being de-
tended from the wolves, who, hungry,
had stolen in upon them.
We fired on the wolves, and for
minute there was a. interesting fu-ii-
Jade as YOU could wish TO see. We
shot right into the pack, to the right
and let of the horses, and several II
the big. gray wolves hit the dust.
They did not give up right OF. though.
They still eyed and snapped vicious
ly % she horses, and even when we
bad disrupted the band by our firing
ami the horses turned TO run away,
some Of the wolves followed ihem. \
shot from Thur,tun's gun, however.
fixed the old lead wolf. and another
ball crippled the next, and the Wild
horses lied far away 90 Join the band
which they had SO vigorously de
Tended.
Ina mamept there was nothing but
tae Olstau resouuding OF houf, a. the
horses lied far down the edge OF the
little stream in the distance. The
wolves took the hack-tracS 10 the
trees far back in the PiHc-nut range
AMI We say no more OF them that
night, though yuu may be sure that
one Og the other OF Us was awake un-
~ broad Jayji ,ht.
Early in the morning We pgt Oft 70
the battle-ground T. c. how many We
had killed. Within a radius Of about
90 tyct the ground was all tr.lmued and
torn up.
Five dead wolves lay without the
cir,ic. kilej by our rifle ba Is and -
Nart~ away iay an old wolf. hi> side
literally c3yrd In hY the heels OF one
oi tbo stIl ions. Thirty yard- away
there i4v another wolf similarly de-
G.ur1liHei, and on a little further was
stje wolf that seemed Go have been
kirsci fsr over al the rest IN The pack
lie was gust able 70 drag himself
along. Near him was another al
prv;tE good ice who was smashed al
lo V,Cty~ b8ck Of the fureleEs.
lhtsv wolves looked be,ecchinCiV AT
u- ia their help4essueSs. bat, rs may
, Pee surpo-e3. We made short work oi
them. The state Of Nevada PAYS $
. bosnty .rcaCh wolf scalp and there,
fore We made haste 10 rake them In
We took the sCalps and hide, % the
whole nine. and then, noticing bloo,j
leading off toward the pines, we tol
lowed the trail
just over Little knoll We fosud q
wolf stone dead. which had run that
far after being shot Itwa. then get
tinR late ana We did not pursue tht
I track of the wolves any farther, els,
we might have got one or two more
Fifty dollars made M night how
. ever. 40 uneNp cctcily Was goo,
/ enough Tor as. and We drew OF auc
went CA hooking for deer.
We followed IN the tra1 at iae vii,
hor-es, and. after three holrs can5e {,
! Mh.-r- .h.. I'D r.r.-L---L IL NH n