The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-11-28
FOUGHT THEM OFF.
HOW an Old Settler Unarmed Beat
Back Gang OF Wolves.

HOW an Old Settler Unarmed Beat
Back q Gang OF Wolves.
p. Mcclure was among the first set
,,srs in this ALLEN county. says Spencer
,-illa lO.) letter to the st. Louis Globe
Dsmoerat, and came here some time be-
-,rean the years 1910 and $780, He was,
,arbaps. as strong physically an any invi-
Rf;5,,ai in Northwestern Ohio. He was
sbsoluteIy without fear, and hadn't any
-solization Of the sense of danger. Day or
,igbt he went wherever duty or business in
,Lese early DAYS called a pioneer, aud
,bough there were many wild animals In
his portion Of the state at that time, such
a. deep. bear, panthers, and wolves. yet he
-~Libited no more Slgns Of terror at the
scrsanling Of panther or the bowling Of
LIT than one would now at the barking of
dog or the Growing of rooster in a neigh
bor's barnyard.
In fact. he used to say when cautioned
otout going away from home after night
sbet he wished the wolves or some other wild
snimals would attack him, for he would de-
Iigbt TO fight them. since he considered them
teocowardly to scarcely show themselves or
40 him the slightest harm. However. his
wish, though probably only intended as a
io,e was gratiied. 1t was one night
sarly in the spring after a severe cold
smell. and Mcclure had been boiling down
maDie sap to make sugar with a short
distance from his house. For two days and
nights there had been splendid run of the
sngar water, and the different members of
tie family had been kept 50 busily employed
taxing care Of it that they scarcely had any
time TO sleep. But Mcclure in particular
had become excessively fatigued. and he
vent TO the house to take short nap, leav-
ing Mrs. Mcclure and their son, who, at
ter own request, desired to remain and
watch the kettles and continue the boiling
For several hours, or until midnight, all
was quiet, and at that time the boy started
n 90 home and awaken his father for the
latter to 90 on watch and continue the
work. He had proceeded but few steps
when q succession of peculiar, though famil-
iar. wells came from the woods SO near
where he had left his mother that ne was
Startled. and it caused him to at once look
back. As he did 50 he observed his mother
coming and ran to meet her. He was but a
small boy and became so badly frightened
at the noise of the wolves that he caught
hold Of his mothers apron and held on SO
tightly that she was compelled to either
stop or drag her son with her, for behind
them both, and only a short distance away,
there followed the gang of wolves, snerl-
ing and swapping and showing their glaring
mined to overtake the boy and his mother
and devour them.
Mrs. Mcclure was frantic, but with true
maternal instinct she grasped the boy in
her arms, and though he was quite large
for his ago yet she hurried along swiftly,
but soon discovered that the burden was to
great and the probabilities of being over
taken too certain. She next put him in
front of her. and, CROPPING in the darkness,
r.s,. -. NJ oil or,I . ~
oncoming savage animals, and actually
awed them by fiourishing the wooden
weapon in a manner that would have done
honor to the bravest. BY this
time Mcclure himself had been awak-
ened by the noise and commotion, and
rushed out to the defense of his wife and
their boy. On the appearance of Mcclure
the wolves ceased their bowling, and
skulked out of sight But a few minutes
later they sought out young calf in
small field near by, and its bellowings in
dicated that it would soon be destroyed I'M
less aid came promptly. Mcclure, on hear
ing the cry of the calf, dashed out in the
darkness for its relief also, not even stop
ping to get his gun, and, in fact, without
any club or implement of defense what
ever, but unarmed and alone and relying
on his own courage and strength he chose
the most direct course to where he heard
pealed to be saved from the ferocious var
minis.
A few seconds later and Just as Mcclure
emerged from the brushes he met both the
calf and the wolves, tge latter being Just in
the act of Selling the former. Without
moments hesitation he sprang at the wolves
and gave them some smart kicks, and while
they were dazed at his second appearance
he caught up the calf in his arms and then
hurried back toward his log-cabin home.
Recovering from their amazement the whole
snarling pack of the vicious animals were
soon following close upon his heels, while
occasionally their great horrid fangs
cracked together at the side of his face
like the sharp clang of some huge steel traps
which were being closed together. Several
times, with the struggling calf in his arms.
he faced about in the darkness, and by the
only method he had of fighting his brutal
enemies kicked at them savagely causing
them them to halt and shrink backward, but
his dismay they again dashed forward
with greater earnestness than before. Once
Mcclure stumbled and fell headlong, and it
seemed that the whole pack of wolves
jumped over and around him, yet he held
on the calf, and sprang up and rushed
past or between their hldeOus black forms
and was still in the lead.
By this time Mrs Mcclure, fearing that
her husband was about to be seized by the
animals, picked up gun and hurried TO his
rescue The wolves now paused and again
began to retreat, but Mcclure, dropping the
calf, seized his rife and shot one of them
dead. The rest vanished and the fight was
over. But Mcclure was SO nearly exhausted
mat he did not recover for some days, but
Toured his desire for encounters with ami
afk