The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-01-24
AN EXCITING HUNT.
Unexpected Aid in discriminating
the Savage White Wolf.
A Bloody Fight by EIJ1s-Desperate
ROugh-and-TumbIe Encounter Be
tween a Hunter and a
Wounded Animal.

Wounded Animal.
The owners of the large sheep ranches
in this vicinity, says a Linkville (Ore.)
dispatch 10 the Helena (Mont.) Inde-
pendent, have been 50 much annoyed
lately by the depredatious committed
by the white wolf in their herds that a
great hunt for these daring marauders
was organized recently. The white
wolf Of southern Oregon is the ficrcest
anlmal-not even excepting the bear
70 be found in the country, and it is a
fornida ble-looking beast, often attain
ing five feet in length, and nearly as
large yearling calf. His strength and
ferocity are remarkable, and his cour-
age undaunted, for he will frequently
attack full-grown COW. knowing him
70 be rather tough customer TO tackle
at close quarters, the hunting party
which consisted OF half-a-dozen of the
neigh boring stock-owners and your cor
respondent, went thoroughly armed
against him, with hunting-knives, re-
voIyers and rifles. The cunning Of the
animal in evading pursuit is incred-
ibie, and, after chasing couple all
night, We found ourselves no nearer
than before, 50 just at daybreak a halt
was decided upon, and breakfast was
eaten under an immense pine, growing
n narrow glen, between two rocky
crags, about a quarter OF a mile or q
little more in length, and through which
a little shallow stream tricklcd over a
pebbly bottom. We kept as quiet as
possible, for the tracks OF different
animals in the sandy banks of the
stream showed that ii was a frequent re-
sort Of wild beasts, and. sure enough, be-
fore 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 up stations abouttwo
hundred yards apart in the underbrush,
which was dense enough to conceal Us
completely, and yet admit OF our get
ting 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 huge elk appeared, advanc-
ing proudly toward the stream we had
just left. a nobler-lool1ing 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
sensitive nostrils, can not well be i'm
agined.
The fine fellow 1 have spoken of ad
vanced cautiously, smiling the air with
the excitement Of suspicion, but he had
already passed our most distant out
post, so, apparently thinking return
equally hazardous, he brushed forward,
and was followed the next moment 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 trightfully, and sprung on
fawn drinking near its mother, and
which screamed loudly as the wolf bore
it to the ground This seemed TO be a
signal for the rest of the band TO ap-
pear, and they came yelping down the
glen in pairs and threes, their blood
shot eyes and gaping mouths, with
smoking, lolling tongues, proclaiming
that they were hungry.
Inspired by the same feeling of Curl
ositv TO see what would come Of the
wolves during attack, every man forbore
TO interfere, and quietly watched the
combat that ensued- For the elks,
which had at first scarcely seemed to
comprehend the intentions of the wolves,
soon collected themselves, and tossing
their great heads, began TO paw up the
earth with their fore feet, making the
air resound with their wild and furious
believing. They formed circle about
the wolves that had crowded around the
body of the PROSTATE fawn and pre-
sented to them a formidable rampant
of bristling heads This circle mar
rowed and narrowed until IL completely
inclosed the wolves, that now began to
realize their danger, for they left their
prev, plunging forward at a deer with
swapping Jaws and snarling in a fright
ful manner that revealed their sharp,
cleaning teeth But their ferocious on
slaught was received on the lowered ant
Iers that in turn struck at them and sent
them bowling back for a few moments,
but only TO return again 10 the attempt
20 break through the bristling wall of
their antagonists This performance
was repeated again and again, the elks
| closing together nearer and nearer at
! each repetition, until they finally as
sumed the offensive altogether and be-
1
horn. For a few minutes the scene
/ was one resembling pandemonium. The
! plunging and leaping of the maddened
trapped wolves and the steady rising
| and striking of the bodies of the deer,
with howls of pain intermingled with
shrieks of rage and fearful snarling,
/ made it an occasion never to be forgot
Sen by any who was present As one OF
! the wolves, making a desperate dash
| for liberty, broke at last from the circle
! and fed down the valley, Mr.. T
who was my next neighbor in the brush,
sent a shot after him, but IL was ap
! parently without effect, and wa
/ likewise wholly unnoticed by the elks
! In half an hour the combat wa
ended, and the fury of the elks beini
appeased-as it might well have been
for they had killed the last one of tn
wolves-they withdrew, so that we coul
see the torn and bleeding bodies of tn
wolves that lay scattered about the dea
fawn. The deer began now " oeJra