The Opelousas courier., 1889-11-30
BIG WESTERN WOLF HUNT
EXCITING SPORT OF THE WYOMING
RANCEKEN.

A correspondent of the New York
World writing from Cheyenne, says:
Although hunting parties have tre-
quently gone out in Wyoming for the
royal sport of wolf-hunting, yet the idea
of a Systematic drive, having for its
scene of operations several hundred
square miles of territory, was a novel one
and attracted widespread attention
among Wyoming people.
The rapid settling up Of Nebraska has
driven many wolves and coyotes across
into Wyoming. The repeal Of a scalp
bounty law by the last Territorial Legis-
lature has removed much of the incentive
to killing the animals and has resulted IN
their increase to phenomenally large
numbers. The stockmen have been
heavy losers from this condition Of affairs.
Young calves and colts fall easy victims
to a pack Of hungry gray wolves or CO.
votes. Even yearling calves were pulled
down and killed if they strayed away
from the herd of cattle to which they
belonged. Hundreds of dollars have
been lost this season by the cattle end
horse raisers Of Southern Wyoming, and
q big wolf drive was the outcome.
At daylight, from every ranch In the
wolf-infested region, stockmen, herders
and cowboys, well armed and mounted
took the field against the wolves. They
were reinforced from Cheyenne by over
three hundred mounted men and boys.
Stockmen and cowboys from other parts
of the county joined the Cheyenne
party and brought horses and dogs to aid
in the chase. A large number of ladies
attended on horseback and in carriages
to witness the drive.
At z o'clock the long line of riders,
under command of ten captains of the
chase, spread out and moved forward.
From the hills near the Organ ranch,
where the extreme right wing of the line
started, the scene was unique and STIR
ring. As far eastward as the eye could
reach horsemen were riding to and fro
in the tall grass of the creek bottoms.
Mingling with the cornet calls of the
captains Of the different divisions was
the musical clamor of scores of yelping
and barking dogs of every description,
from the shapely hound to the yellow
cur, who was present to 60 under horses
heels and take stray shots into his an
atomy. All the haunts of the wolves and
coyotes were ridden through and beaten.
The occupants usually were scared by the
din of the approaching chase and raced
across the prairie toward the shelter of
the caves in Chalk Bluffs far in adYsace
of the line Of hunters. Occasion 1y a
sinking pair of coyotes or q snarling
gray wolf was I'll down and a fusilade
Of shots from the hunters cut them down
without mercy. Whenever a wolf came
into sight a bunch of riders would race
after him in true cowboy style, horses on
8 dead run, hats waving and every man
yelling In o style that would scare an
Indian.
A lively incident of the chase was when
the hounds turned a big gray wolf and
brought him at bay near the line Of riders.
Afraid to shoot at him for fear of killing
some of the dogs, expert cowboys set out
to rope him. A skillful roper threw his
lariat fairly over his wolfship's head. The
other ropers missed him and the success
full cowboy had a lively time bringing his
quarry to the death. The brute snapped
and snarled and made q savage rush at
his captor. Whirling his horse quickly
to n side and then giving him the
spurs the horseman rode at full speed
across the prairie, throwing the wolf off
his feet end dragging him to death
across the rough ground. Jack rabbits
and antelope were raised by the chase,
but were not disturbed, the rules of the
drive as laid nown by the captain, pro-
hibiting the killing Of game.
At the different points of rendezvous
along the bluffs ample preparations had
been made for the hunters. Tender year.
ling steers had been barbecued and big
kettles Of boiling coffee added an appe-
thing favor tempting to the hungry
riders. For a while the hunt partook of
the natuoe Of an immense picnic, and
while the COW ponies of the ranchers I'D
and the thoroughbred mounts of the
town sportsmen munched their oats In
common their riders formed picturesqe
groups under the cottonwoods, and over
their roast beef and coffee detailed the
adventures Of the mornings drive.
After dinner the real work Of the day
commenced. Along the line of bluffs for
their entire length the dens of the wolves
had been marked, and some of them
barricaded with stones to prevent the es-
cape of the occupants. From the four
point of redezvous along the valley the
hunters moved against the cliffs. Fires
were built at the entrance of the caves.
Green bushes and sulphur were thrown
in the flames to make a smoke dsagreea-
BILE enough to the wolves to force them
from their hiding places. Gordon Of
men and boys, armed wiSahetgu6s,
rifles and revolvers, formed around the
cave. When the blinded and bewildered
coyotes and wolves broke into view
through the smoke and flames they fell
easy victims to the volley of bullets which
greeted them. When fire failed to bring
out the wolves, charges Of dynamite and
giant powder were exploded in the caves
and the entire front of the cliffs blown
down, buFying the animals in the ruins.
ALI afternoon the work of determination
went on, and was only brought to q
close by nightfall. Several hundred
coyotes and gray wolves were killed
along the entire line. Many predicted
accidents from the handling of so many
firearms, and most Of the tewnspeople
who attended ths hunt took out twenty
four-hour accident policies. Over $110,.