Johnstown weekly Democrat. (Johnstown, Cambria County, Pa.) 1889-1916, 1890-01-24
0REG0N'S WHITE WOLF.
DESCRIPTION OF A BATTLE BETWEEN
WOLVES AND ELKS.

| Inc owners OF the large sheep ranches
| in the vicinity Of Linkville, Ore, have,
been so much annoyed by the depreda-I
tions committed by the white wolf in
their herds that grand hunt for these
! daring marauders was organized. The
white wolf of southern Oregon is the
fiercest animal-not even excepting the
bear-to be found in the country, and Isl
4 formidable looking beast, often attain
ing five feet in length and nearly as large,
as a yearlirg calf His strength and,
| ferocity are remarkable, and his couragey
undaunted
Knowing him to be a rather tough cus-s
toner to tackle at close quarters, theI
hunting party, which consisted Of half al
dozen of the neighboring stock owners!
and a correspondent OF The IEdependent,s
went thoroughly armed against him with.
hunting knives, reyolvers and rifles. Thes
cunning of the animal in evading pursuit.
is incredible, and after chasing q coupled
all night we found ourselves no neareTS
than before, so just at day break halts
was decided upon and breakfast wass
eaten under an immense pine growing in
narrow glen between two rocky cragsE
about quarter of = mile or a little mores
in length and through which a little shall !
low stream tricl,led over pebbly bottom.
We kept as quiet as possible, for thes
tracks of different animals in the sandyE
banks of the stream showed that it was
a frequent resort of wild beasts, andE
sure enough before the meal was finished
FOL la, IL
under the tread of an approaching band
of some large animals. Quick as thought
we had dispersed and taken up stations
about two hundred yards apart in theH
underbrush, which was dense enough to
conceal us completely, and yet admit of :
us getting good view of the game.
We had scarcely time to freely breathez
before the lower growth of trees closingE
the entrance of the little vale parted and
the form of huge elk appeared, advance
ing proudly toward the stream we had !
Just left. A nobler looking creature
than the elk found on the Pacific coast,
with his stately antlers, such as the
hunters of the eastern states have no!
conception of, and his dainty tread and
agined. The fine fellow / have spoienS
of advanced cautiously, shifting the air [
with the excitement of suspicion, but he |
had already passed our most distant out i
post, so, apparently thinking returnI
equally hazardous, he brushed forwards
and was followed the next moment bys
herd-one, two, six, tent was im-l
possible to count them.
But before our rifles could be brought
to the shoulder new actor appeared on
the scene. \ white wolf, quite six feeti
in length, and the largest the writer of
| this article ever saw, came bowling from
the belt Of small timber already spoken
of, bowling frightfully, and sprang on a.
fawn drinking near its mother, which
screamed loudly as the wolf bore it to
! the ground. This seemed TO be the sig-]
nal for the rest of the band to appear,
and they came yeiping down the glen in
! pairs and threcs, their bloodshot eyes
and gaping mouths with smoking, loll-
ing tongues, proclaiming that they were
hungry. Inspired by the same feeling
of curiosity to see what would come of
the wolves during the attack every man
forbore to interfere and quietly watched
the combat that ensued.
For the elks, which had at first scarce
| ly seemed to comprehend the intentions
of the wolves, soon collected themselves,
and, tossing their great heads, began to
paw the earth with their fore feet, max
ing the air resound with Hleir wild and
furious believing. They formed circle
about the wolves that had crowded
around the body Of the pro rate fawn
and presented to them form .aUleram-
part of bristliug heads. This circle mar
rowed and narrowed until il completely
inclosed the wolves that now began to
realize their danger for they left their
prey, plunging forward 1T Ceer with
swapping jaws and snar'.dg in d fright
ful manner that revealed their sharp,
cleaning teeth. But their feracious on
slaueht WAS received on the lowered ant
lers that in turu struck at them and sent
them bowling back for few moments,
but only TO return again TO the attempt
to break through the bristiing wall OF
their antagonists. This isperformance was
repeated again and again, the eiks clos
ing together nearer and nearer at each
repetition, until they finally assumed the
offensive altogether and began to attack
t1,g ...... ,t-fl1, and horn For q