, 1890-01-29
OREGONS WHITE WOLF.
DESCRIPTION OF A BATTLE BETWEEN
WOLVES AND ELKS.

Several Ranchers of Southern Oregon Start
Out on n Hunt After h -Marauders Of
Their Sheep FIocks and Meet with an En-
citing Adventure.
The owners of the large sheep ranches
in the vicinity of Linkville, Ore, nave
been so much annoyed by the depreda-
ions committed by the white wolf in
their herds that a 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 is
a formidable looking beast, often attain
ing five feet in length and nearly as large
as a yearling calf. His strength and
ferocity are remarkable, and his courage
~undaunted.
Knowing him to be a rather tough Gus
toner to tackle at close quarters, the
hunting party, which consisted of half a
dozen of the neighboring stock owners
and a correspondent of The Independent,
went thoroughly armed against him with
hunting knives, r~evolvers and rifles. The
cunning of the animal in evading pursuit
is Incredible, and after chasing a couple
all night we found ourselves no nearer
than before, so just at daybreak a halt
was decided upon and breakfast was
eaten under an immense pine growing in
n narrow glen between two rocky crags
about a quarter of n mile or a little more
in length and through which a little shall
low stream trickled over a pebbly bottom.
We kept as quiet as possible, for the
tracks of different animals in the sandy
banks of the stream showed hat it was
a frequent resort of wild beasts, and
sure enough before the meal was finished
we felt the ground begin to tremble
under the tread of al approaching band
of some large animals. Quick as thought
we had dispersed and taken up stations
about two hundred yards apart in the
underbrush, which was dense enough to
conceal us completely, and yet admit of
us getting n good view of the game.
We had scarcely time to freely breathe
before the lower growth of trees closing
the entrance of the little vale parted and
the form of a huge elk appeared, advanc-
ing proudly toward the stream we had
just left. A nobler looking creature
than the elk found on the Pacific coast,
with his stately a%ntlers, such as the
hunters of the eastern states have no
conception of, and his dainty tread and
sensitive n~ostrils, cannot well be i'm
agined. The fine fellow l nave spoken
of advanced cautiously, shifting the air
with the excitement of suspicion, but he
mad already passed our most distant out
post, so, apparently thinking return
equally hazardous, he brushed forward
and was followed the next by
a herd-one, two, six, tent was i'm
possible to count them.
But before our rifles could be brought
to the shoulder a new actor appeared on
the scene. A white wolf, quite six feet
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 yelping down the glen in
pairs and threes, 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 their Wild and
furious believing. They formed a circle
about the wolves that had crowded
around the body of the PROSTATE fawn
and presented to them u formidable ram
part of bristling heads. This circle mar
rowed and narrowed until it completely
inclosed the wolves, that now began to
realize their danger, for they left their
prey, plunging forward at a deer with
swapping jaws and snarliug in a fright
full manner that revealed their sharp,
cleaning teeth. But their ferocious ON.
slaught was received on the lowered ant
lers, that in turn struck at them and sent
them bowling pack for a few moments,
but only to return again to the attempt
to break through the bristling wall of
their antagonists. This performance was
repeated again and again, the elks clos.
ing together nearer and nearer at each
repetition, until they finally assumed the
offensive altogether and began to attack
the wolves with hoof and horn. For a
few minutes the scene was one resem-
bling pandemonium. The plunging and
leaping of the maddened trapped wolves
and the steady rising and striking of the
bodies of the deer, with bowls of pain
intermingled with the shrieks of rage and
fearful snarling, made it an occasion
never to be forgotten by any who were
present. As one of the wolves, making
a desperate dash for liberty, broke at last
fron the circle and fled down the valley,
Mr.. T, who was my next neighbor in
the brush, sent a shot after him, but it
was apparently without effect, and was
likewise wholly unnoticed by the elks.
In half al hour the combat was ended,
and the fury of the elks being appeased
as it might well rave been, for they
had killed the last one of the wolves
they withdrew SO that we could see the
torn and bleeding bodies of the wolves
that lay scattered about the lead fawn.
The deer began now to betray their old
uneasincss at our hidden presence, and
we, Judging it was time to nave some
sport in our own behalf, sent a volley of
shot into them. Three of the beautiful,
stately creatures fell plunging to the