The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-27
A WOLF AS A FARM HAND.
It Has History and Is Now Running 4
Churning Machine.

It Has History and Is Now Running .
Churnins Machine.
MoCoNNx1IsBuRa, Nov. 1s.-Any ono who
may visit Richard Cunningham's farm,
which lies pretty we'll up In the Blue noun
tains in the northeastern part of this
county, will zee sight the like of which
was probably mover seen anywhere in this
country before. II is an immense black
wolf-one Of the last of its race in this
state-with eyes that glare 6eroely ct
all who come near him with
the exception of Farmer Cum
ningham himself, an accompanying
his glare with savage orowls, and yet
meekly treadinR the monotonous round Of
a churning machine, like some household
dog OF old eve sheep. This performance Of
q mental service by the wolf, singular ~ it
10, IL by no means the strangest thing about
him. He has a history.
Last spring, q year ago, Farmer Cunning.
ham discovered that something was oarry-
were born in his flock. He suspected that
tins was being done by wildcat, and he
set I trap to geo If he could not capture
the animal. When he went to his
trap next morning he was amazed to find
tured ! wolf. Il had been years since any
ono hud seem or heard Of wolves in that re-
zion, although they were at one time nu-
merous In the Blue mountains. Il was evil
dent to Cunningham, however, that II the
wolf he had caught in the trap belonged in
woods solitary. representative Of its race:
It vas a abe wolf, and. although the animal
was held fast BY both forefeet in
the trap, she was lying patiently on
the ground and giving suckle to baby
scene. When the Volt saw him she sprans
to her feet and savage!y confronted him.
He shot her through the head and captured
the whelp alive. Il was no more than three
weeks old. Cunningham took it home witq
the carcass Of the old one. The young
wolf moaned piteously for it's mother. and
would not hear OF the killing Of the whining
cub, and took charge of It herself. She
could not induce it to take sustsnanoe,
and it was in = good way to
starve to death, when Mrs, Cunning
before her husband set the trap one
of their ewes was robbed of her lamb. The
wolf undoubtedly stole it. Failing in all
her efforts to introduce food into the stom-
ach of the baby wolf, Mrs. Cunningham
still lamenting her loss, and held the cub
to the Sleeps udder. Instantly the wolf
began to suckle eagerly, and the kind.
hearted woman had the satisfaction Of
seeing the orphan wolf take a hearty
meal. The eve was at first greatly
submitted graciously. and seemed eat.
isfied to let it proceed. The success
of Mrs. Cunningham plan to feed the
young wolf being assured, the eve was
brought to tho pasture from the farmyard
and for weeks visitors TO the farm saw the
strange spectacle Of sheep sucking wolf,
the wolf beyond all doubt being the of,
spring of the one that robbed the sheen of
her own young The wolf throve amazingly
on sleeps milk, and tho strange foster
parent and child formed the strongest kind
Of an attachment for each other, which re-
manned until the death OF the sheep few
weeks ago.
As the wolf grew the unsociability il not
the entire savageness Of its kind manifested
itself, and he was kept securely chained.
Although it was Mrs. Cunningham who
saved his life, the wolf did not like her to
come near him. but he early showed the
greatest friendship to Farmer GINNING
ham. who handled him ~ easily az he
would house dog. The old eve sheep wa
the churn sheep Of tbs farm, and it was nc
uncommon sight to see her and the vol
son to believe that no other sheep on thu
farm could have approached within reach Of
him with safety. About . month ago barr
door fell ON tho eve and killed her. II val
churninR day and Cunningham was ct
loss to know what to do for power to ruI
the treadmill that operated his churns
Finally he thought Of the wolf, which 10 a
solved TO try the animal as ohurner, anl
Put him ON she mill. The wolf objected
strongly at first, but Vhon tho msohina
started he submitted, and ran on the churn
Ing in exosllsnt styla. Since then no hal
- rsgalariy enaaged IN running the ma