The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-18
0REGON'S WHITE WOLF.
DESCRIPTION OF A BATTLE BETWEEN
WOLVES AND ELks.

The owners Of the large sheep rancho
IN the vicinity Of Linkville. Ore. bav,
oeen 50 much annoyed by the dcprcda
IONS committed by the white wolf /,
tlcir herds that grand hunt for tbes.
daring marauders was organized. tn,
white wolf Of southern Oregon is IN,
hercest animal-not even excepting IN,
oear-to befound in the country. and i,
formidable looking beast, often attain
ing five feet in length and nearly as larc,
re- a yeayJi0g COLI Ills stength and
fcrocity are remarkable, and his courage
undaunted.
knowing him to be q rather tough Gus
toner to tackle at close quarters. the
hunting party, which consisted of half q
dozen Of the neighboring stock owner,
ana correspondent Of The Independent.
went thoroughly armed against him with
hunting knives, revolvcrs and rifles. Tn,
cunning Of the animal in evading pursuit
is incredible, and after chasing n 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
q narrow glen between two rocky crags
about a quarter of mile or a little more
IN length and through which little shall
low stream tricklcd over a pebbly bottom
we Kept as quiet as possible, for the
tracks Of different animals i'm the sand,
banks OF the stream showed that il was
frequent resort Of wild beasts. and
sure enough before the meal was finished
we felt the ground begin TO tremble
under the tread of an approaching band
Of some large animals. Quick as thought
we had dispersed and taken ND station,
about two hundred yards apart in IN,
underbrush, which was dense enough tc |
conceal us completely, and yet admit OF |
us getting a good view Of the game.
We had scarcely time to freely breath, |
before the lower growth Of trees CLOSING
the entrance Of the little vale parted and |
the form of 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 antlers, such as tho
hunters Of the eastern states have NJ
conception Of, and his dainty tread and
sensitive nostrils, cannot well be i'm
agined. The fine fellow have spoker
of advanced cautiously. shifting the all
with the excitement of suspicion, but h,
had already passed our most distant out
post, 80, apparently thinking return
equally hazardous, he brushed forward
and was followed the next moment b,
a herd-one, two, six, tent was i'm
possible to count them.
But before our rifles could be brought
TO ule shoulder new actor appeared OF
the sceoe. A white wolf, 9nite six feel
in length, nd the largest the ,.~iter Of
this article eN,- saw, came bowling from
the belt OF small timber already spoken
of, bowling frightfuny and sprang on a |
fawn drinking near its other which
screamed loudly as the wolf IRE it f.
the ground. This seemed to be tn eie,
nal for the rest Of the band TO appeal |
and they came yelping down the glen il
pairs and threes, their bloOdshot eye.
and gaping mouths, with smoking, loll
ing tongues, proclaiming that they wer,
hungry. Inspired by the same feeling
of curiosity 10 see what would come o.
the wolves during the attack every mar
forbore to interfere and quietly watched
the combat that ensued.
For the elks, which had at first scarce
ly seemed 70 comprehend the intentions
of the wolves, soon collected themselves
and, tossing their great heads, began tc
paw the earth with their fore feet, max
ing the air resound with their wild anC
furious believing. They formed a circle |
about the wolves that had crowded
around the body Of the PROSTATE fawr
and presented TO them a formidable cram
part Of bristling heads. This circle mar
rowed and narrowed until it completely
inclosed the wolves, that now began C
realize their danger, for they left then
prey, plunging forward at q deer witt
swapping jaws and snarliug in 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 back for 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
few minutes the scene was one resem'
bling pandemonium. The plunging and |
leaping Of the maddened trapped wolves
and tho steady rising and striking Of the
bodies of the deer, with bowls OF pam
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
q desperate dash for liberty, broke at last
from the circle and fled down the valley,
Mr.. T, who was my next neighDoi in
the brush. sent shot after him, but II
was apparently without effect, and was
likewise wholly unnoticed by the elks.
In half an hour the combat was ended,
and the fury Of the clks being appeased
AS it might well have 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 dead fawn:
The deer began now TO betray their old
at our hidden presence, and
we. iudging it was time TO have some
snort in our own behalf, sent volley OF
shot into them. Three Of the beautiful,
stately creatures fell plunging to the
Ground in the death agony.-Helena
(Mont.) Enterprise.
nAnlelAN MEAL MARKETS.