The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-12-21
THE WOLVES OF THE MAGALLOWAY.
Anecdotes of Metalluk, the Avenger,
and his Adventurous Raids.
a Return of the Wolves to Maine not
Likely.
Some Interesting Illustrations of the
Habits of the Pack.


wolf in Oxford. Mr.. Gould intimates that
this may be the harbinger, of a return of
these marauders from the north regions. Not
at all, as we mentioned at the close of our
article on the subject; these are merely
refugees from beyond the st. Lawrence
where they retired in body many years ago.
These refugees have formerly been leaders
Of packs, which always maintain regular
organization as the bandits of Italy and
Mexico. When the leader of a pack has
become feeble and decripid by reason OF age
or other disability he is generally vanquished
in fight with some young and vigorous
male, after which he is pitched upon by the
entire pack and either torn in pieces and
devoured or driven out to die alone, while
the conqueror takes his place. This practice
is said to have ever been in vogue among wild
horses, buffaloes and all wild animals which
travel in droves. Neither can they be re-
ceived in any other pack as they are known
at once as refugees and are driven off.
When prey Is discovered by pack of wolves
an alarm is at once sounded by peculiar
kind of howl, as the entire pack generally
keep within hailing distance. This cry is
repeated by each in turn until all are as
sembed in lody. The war whoOp is then
the entire pack. This is known as the cry of
the chase and the Inflated victim seldom
escapes. If a false alarm is given the Of
fender is pitched upon and torn to shreds
almost instantly. One of these refugees was
often seen a few years since in the vicinity
Of West Poland during the entire winter and
at the time was thought to be some stray dog
as his straight upright ears, shaggy coat and
bushy tail strangely resembled that specie Of
the canine race now become so common
known as the shepherd. He was after seen
during early twilight but was in no case
known to attack any person or domestic
animal
Sometime during the ensuing summer his
remains were discovered by some children
in back pasture. The attention of the
writer was called to the fact who on visiting
the spot, pronounced 1t to be struggling
wolf Most of the teeth were missing and the
| claws were worn very short No one need
| fear an attack from one of those as they are
naturally cowardly especially after their
| isolation when they scarcely possess suffi
| cient courage to attack rabbit or turkey.
The above facts the writer learned from an
| old hunter named Criras while travelling liz
| Canada several years ago. During The early
| life Of Old Metalluk, extensively known as
the lone Indian, of Magalloway, (he was a
| member of a powerful tribe who lived at
| what is now known as the Indian Stream
settlement ?. @ one day his young squaw
Kaoka, with her pappoose strapped upon her
back. went to neighboring clearing for the
| purpose of digging roots and gathering
herbs for winter use. While busy about
her occupation she. was suddenly
confronted by two of these savages which
| Selling pitch knot near at hand she dealt
| furious blows in defence of her life and that
| of her child. A lucky blow upon the head
| laid one of them PROSTATE but while stOop-
ing for the purpose of repeating the blow his
| companion leaped upon the back of Kaoka
seized the child by the throat tearing deer
cash and severing the juglar vein. The FOND
mother now gored to desperation by feeling
| the life blood of her darling trickling down
her bosom, dealt telling blows more furiously
| than before until both wolves lay dead upon
the dry leaves with their heads beaten to q
pumice. After this the hatred of Metalluk
bounds. He spent a large portion of hi:
| time in hunting them. He studied theil
habits and nature until his skill and cunning
was a marvel not only among his OWL
people. but his fame spread far and wide
One winter day he entered loggers' camp
where he was made welcome as he was 9
general favorite among the settlers. Soon
the conversation turned upon wolves and
their depredatlons and habits. Then
Metalluk laid heavy wager that he would
cedar swamp, three-fourths of a mile distant
catch wolf by the tail and drive him into
camp alive and unframed. Taking a stout
axe handle in his hand, Metalluk departed
on his enterprise. Going to dense thicket
near the center of the swamp he lay down
fiat upon his back, feigning death, mean
while taking care to retain good grip upon
his shillaly. Presently he heard the soft
tread of wolf as he came creeping through
the thick underbrush, stopping now and
that no danger lurked nigh. Gradually he
| approached the sleeper, and after smelling
about him until he was fully satisfied, com
menced to paw snow oyer him until he was
upon the breast Of his intended victim, com.
menced to howl for his companions With
the rapidity of flash and as If by a single
impulse Metalluk seized the varm1nt by his
large, bushy tail, leaped to his feet and rails
ing the wolf upon his forward legs dealt furi
GUS blows right and left on either side Of his
head and paws until he ceased his struggles
and being completely cowed commenced tC
whine most piteously.
Metalluk then started for camp with hi:
captive in front, driving him wneelbarrow
fashion but still holding his grip upon hi:
tail, the while administering an occasiona
reminder ON the paws. In this comical fash
ion he entered camp to the great diversion Of
the inmates. After maneuvering the vol
for their amusement for while, he cast hin
actually burned him alive but for the inter
ruptlOn OF the foreman, who out Of sheer
pity knocked out the poor animals brain:
With the poker. Late in the ensuing autumn
Metalluk while on a hunting tour became
aware OF his proximity to an uncOmmonly
large pack OF wolves. and being well sup
piled with ammunition, decided on having
good time. The ground was still bare anC
heavily covered by leaves. Laying himsel
down and feigning DEATH as before, b,
waited like Mcawber for something
to turn up. He did not have long to wait
Soon he heard the soft and stealthy tread o.
wolf which after reconOitering in the usua
manner commenced to paw the dry leave:
over him until he had completely covered
him, after which he vanishes over an ada
cent bluff and commences to howl MetalluB
leaped to his feet and after replacing thu
leaves in the exact, form as left By
his back and, climbing up tall fl
tree, seated himself among the branches
Meanwhile the bowling continued until i
seemed to come from almost myried o.
threats, then, suddenly 1t ceased as If 1t wa
well understood to be no chase. The Indiar
soon deserted the pack approaching at ra
pid pace, headed by his late voluntary un
taker. When about rod from the leafy
mound the entire pack suddenly halted
while their conductor leaped upon the mount
and scattered the leaves in all directions.
Finding nothing under him the vol
seemed fairly paralyzed with fear and shame
Dropping his head and tail and giving utter
to most pitteous whines he made feeble at
Lempts to flee from his disappointed and en-
ragged comrades as though well aware of BIZ
impending fate, but in vain, the pack all a
one leaped upon him and with loud cries an,
angry snarls, tore him limb from limb and il
few moments few scattered bones wer
allthat remained of their former leader.
Now was the Indians time for fun; Ii
commenced to shoot as fast as he cosld loa
and fire; whether his aim was deadly or no
1t was all the same, as a slight wound wa
only to subject its victim the same treatmen
as deadly wound, as he was quickly de
youred by his fellow cannibals, In this wa.
the pack continued to fall until but two o
three remained. These being completely gorg
ed with blood ATTEMPTED to retire but fell be
fore the unering aim of their inveterate en-
envy, Metalluk, the avenger. Soon after thi
the wolves, finding the country too densel
populated, retired in body beyond the 81
Lawrance where in that vast unbroken wild
erness they can roam from the mysteriou
Soguenay river TO Baffins Bay undisturbe,
byman. VIM. A. EMERY.
UNMARRIED PRINCES.