The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-01-17
SURROUNDED BY WOLVES.
A TERRIBLE NIGHT IN THE NOUN
TAINS OF MONTANA.

A Helena Man Has . FriGhtful Expert
ence While Visiting BIino In the Thun.
der Mountains - How He Saved Hi
Life.
G, W, jackson, the Helena music dealer
had an experience which now seems rather q
frightful nightmare than an actual occur
renee. He went out in the Thunder mountains
about sixty miles north of Townsend, to visit
a mine in which be ia interested. The mine i:
located in a secluded gulch far up among the
hills in the midst Of one of the widest sec
tions Of mountain land known in Montana.
He and a companion, R W. James, OF
Helena arrived at the mine about
o'clock one afternoon and Immediately
started out with their shotguns to get
some grouse for supper, the neighbor-
hood Astounding With these birds They
walked up the gulch o mile or two and
then separated, Mr.. jackson going over a
ridge TO follow q bird that had been flushed.
On returning to the top of the ridge MIR.
James was out Of sight, and Mr.. jackson
halloaed to him, but got no answer. Mr..
| James in tho meanwhile had gone back to
camp, thinking his companion knew the
country and would follow him in. Not be-
ing able 10 find James, Jackson thought it
was about time to 60 back, ar ! started in
the direction Of the camp, as he supposed.
After walking about a mile he found that he
had missed his reckoning and started to re-
trace his steps. 1t was now growing dark,
and at every step the country grew more
strange. Finally he sat down to rest, OPP
pressed with the consciousness that he was
lost in the mountains A feeling Of dread,
Of he knew not what, ovsrpowered him for a
moment, but this soon passed away, and he
said: "Pshaw A night in the mountains in
summer is nothing. | can go to sleep under
tree and when morning comes can easily
find my way back to camp"
LOOKING FOR REFUGR.
Just as he had finished this soliloquy O
long, deep howl arose in the woods to his
right and echoed with fearful strains through
the surrounding hills He reused himself as
he recognized the cry of the gray timber
wolf, one Of the fiercest wild beasts that in
fest our mountains. The echo had scarce
died away when another howl came in an
swer, until the forest on all sides resounded
with the dismal cry. Then new fear pre-
sented itself The wolves were evidently ON
his trail. Suppose they should attack him in
shotgun and few shells of bird shot. What
should he do9 He had not long for reflection,
for every moment the shades Of night were
deepening and the bowls of wolves were
increasing and growing louder, showing that
the beasts were 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 a lone pine tree
giant Of its kind, whose expansive boughs
seemed to invite him to their sweet embrace.
Spurred on by the blood curdling bowls that
now formed 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 horrorsI 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 several Intellectual attempts
sank back upon the ground in despair.
But the bowls again reused him from his
ethargy. They were so loud now that he
knew tho wolves were near at hand Then
the thought struck him to build fire. He
knew this would keep the beasts at bay, and
accordingly 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
these terrible lightning storms that have
given these heights the name Of Thunder
mountains arose in all its fury. Peal after
peal of electric artillery rolled out from the
angry clouds, drowning the bowls 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.
SAVED BY FIRE.
Finally, with some dry grass, q tiny fame
was communicated and a welcome blaze
sprang up. Famed by the wind it soon en-
veloped 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 MIR. Jackson saw the gaunt and
hungry forms of at least a dozen wolves
great, big gray beasts with flashing eyes and
snappin% laws. Their bowling ceased for
moment. ,sll soon another pack arrived and
took to L ing with the first. 1t was dog
eat dog no battle ragged for a few mo-
ments, to Geasts swapping and snarling at
each other, Jumping over their fellows, and
all the time bowling like q set of demons
Mr.. jackson could see the fight as the wolves
encircled within the circle of light, and his
blood turned cold as he thought how he
would fare before those terrible jaws. But
the battle soon ceased, and then all the
wolves, thirty or forty all told, began prowl
ing about the fire light, eying Mr.. jackson
with their flaming orbs, which looked like
balls of fire
Mr.. Jackson busted himself watching the
wolves and feeding the fire, which until now
had not lacked fuel, But Of horrorl At
about oc.ock in the morning, the darkest
part of the night, he saw that the fire was
growing low and that the embroidered wolves !
were pressing closer and closer in upon him
as the circles of light grew smaller. He had |
no more wood. Every twig and como within
reach had been heaped upon the fire.
Now there was almost nothing but embers |
left, and be could see the hungry wolves glar- |
ing at him not six yards away. With gun in |
hand he stood to fight and sell his life dearly |
Us soon as they attacked him. His heart beat |
like sledge hammer as he watched the near
est wolf, expecting every moment that the |
huge gray monster would spring at him.
Just as lie thought the beast was about to !
make the leap a column of fame shot sud- |
denly up into the air, sending its sparks !
twenty feet high and scattering the bowling |
wolves. They scampered back in evident |
terror A pitch soaked root near the base of |