Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-08-20
aalnER,s RIpe Foa LIEE.

rnr~ued by a Pack Of wolves, the Wiz
cansin Man Makes "a Desperate Leap.
In one of the widest portions of
Wisconsin when 1t was wild frontier
state had settled the noted pioneer
Hank Grider, man whose wonderful
endurance of limb is in a measure II
lustrated by this sketch.
One dark and rainy night of the year
1856 the brave pioneer, whose reckless
nature had won for him the title of
Wild (irider. and by which he was
known far and wide, found himself
some fifteen miles from home and with
the Kakanook river, swollen and turbu-
lent from the recent rain, between him
self and his destination.
Wolves howled upon every hand, but
he paid no particular attention to
them, pressing steadily on In the
drenching rain
AT length, however, he noticed that
the grim scavengers of the forest were
beginning to congregate in large num-
bers into the trail behind him, and
drawing uncomfortably near, bowling
and snarling at one another as they
came.
This served to give him a slight un-
easiness of mind as he urged his horse
forward.
Steadily the horde of wet, shaggy
forms increased in number until 1t
seemed that thousand of them were
crowding along upon the pioneers
track, making the night hideous with
their babel of snarling voices.
How swiftly in pursuit came that
writhing mass of now thoroughly en-
ragged brutes and though the pioneer
was remarkably swift of foot he had to
put forth every effort to keep out of
their way, and there in the darkness of
the Wisconsin wilderness ensued des
perate race for life and death.
The ground was fairly smooth, and
this aided the desperate man some
what, but he was compelled to use the
spurs mercilessly to escape those clash
ing jaws
Like the very wind he sped along,
his only hope lying in reaching the river
in advance of his fierce pursuers, for
once across the turbulent current he
would be safe
But fully five miles lay between him
and the river, and it would indeed be
a miracle to reach it; but wholly un-
daunted the reckless fellow sped on,
his teeth closed firmly and his eyes
cleaning with all the fire of his wild,
excitable nature.
Mile after mile was cast behind, and
daylight was beginning to steal ovel
the land when the swift and swoller
Kakanook hove in sight.
The ground sloped toward It, anC
down this descent flew pursued anC
pursuers, with scarce six feet separating
them
For over five miles had that desperat,
race continued, and now, exhausted a.
he was by his superhuman speed, Gri
der performed feat that was simply
marvellous and almost unparalleled.
The banks of the stream were higf
and projecting and scarcely eighty rod!
below the river fell over a mass of jag
ged rocks that no one could hope tc
pass over alive, while it would be i'm
possible to effect landing when once
in the turbulent current.
With that horde of raging beasts
close behind him, and the dangerous
river below, and fully twenty-five fee
between its banks, the brave pionee
was truly in most desperate situa
ton. But, scarcely realizing his dan
ger, in his desperation and frenzy, b,
galloped down the slope, and, putting
every effort of his horses fast failing
strength in one mighty leap landed
squarely upon the other bank of the
| river.
The wolves were unable to CHECK
their headlong speed, and many oi
their number went over the bank an6
were swept away, while the exhausted
steed sank trembling upon the ground
Three hours later, however, he
reached his cabin in safety, and in q
few days had fully recovered from the
effects of that terrible ride for life
about the most extraordinary one in
the entire record of the west.
Orders life was one of remarkable
adventures, and now. man of superior
endurance, although nearly sixty years
of age, he resides at Moose lake, Mimi,
where his life is still a stirring and
eyentful one. Yankee Blade.