The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-06-18
SURROUNDED BY WOLVES.
Ohio Not Yet Relieved from tho Unpleas-
ant Presence of Wild Beasts.


Ninety-nine persons in hundred.
says Toledo correspondent OF the
New York Times, would declare from
their general knowledge of the state that
there are not wolves enough in Ohio to
seriously threaten anybody. Had they
been with Mr.. e. L. Valois, of Toledo,
few weeks ago in ono of his hunting
trips to what is known as tho Oak
Openings, barren tract not far from
Sylvania and about twelve miles from
Toledo, they would have had abundant
reason to change their minds.
Mr. Valois is one of the best-lnown
insurance men in Toledo, and is widely
known as an enthusiastic and successful
sportsman. Nobody in northwestern
Ohio is moro familiar with the haunts
of grouse, squirrels and other small
game than he, and few marlssmen in
that region excel him In skill. One
morning several weeks ago he took his
best dog and started in n light one
horse spring wagon for the Oak Open
lngs. The region is peculiar. 1t is a
large, barren tract, partly prairie and
partly covered with stunted trees.
Nobody lives there, and for years it has
been hunters paradise. RULED
grouse, prairie chicken, with an oc-
casional deer, have been found in large
numbers, and only in the last two years
or SO have there been any signs of de-
crease. For miles there is not dwell
ing and 1t is often difficult for man to
ind his way. Indeed, it has not been
many years since wcll-known real
estate man Of Toledo was lost for five
days in this tanglc of stunted forest and
barren open.
The day Mr.. Valois had chosen proved
cloudy one, with frequent flurrics of
snow, but it was an unusually good day
for shooting, and before night Mr..
Nalois had the bottom of his wagon
filled with fine game. The clouds broke
toward evening and the moon rose full
and bright 1t was nearly seven
o'clock before he started for home.
The roads arc winding trails through
the woods and around ponds and
swamps, and slow progress was made.
IT. was an hour or more before he began
to get out OF the woods, for he had
pushed further than usual into the
widest parts of the tract
as he proceeded he heard strange
sounds in the woods about him, howl
ings and barl1ings, but gave them little
thought. He knew there were some
wolves of the common gray species in
the opening and myriads of foxes, but
had not the rcmotest fear of attack
until as he ncarcd the edge of the woods
he was startled by pitiful cries from
his dog under the wagon. He stopped
his horse and jumped to the ground,
gun in hand, to soc what was the mat
ter, and was surprised to find himself
surrounded by wolves. Throwing his
gun hastily to his shoulder, he fired into
the pack, killing what he took to be the
leader, but instead of being frightened
away us he had hoped, they rushed at
and dcvoured their dead leader and then
began to crowd closer around the wagon
in cvcr-increasing numbers.
The dogs courage deserted him, and
he started toward the open with part of
the pack after him. Valois fired right
and left rapidly, but the hungry crea-
lures crowded closer around him.
They lcapcd into the wagon and de-
vourcd the game, and then rushed at
the horse, swapping at his legs and
leaping at his throat. Before Valois
could climb back into the wagon the
horse started ut full speed and the hun
ter was left with score of hungry
wolves around him in as ugly prcdic-
amcnt as one could imagine. He had
only eight shells left in his belt, and
the barking, snarling pack around him
there in the stuntcd timber nearly I'M
manned him.
The first impulse was to seek safety
in Il tree, but lie soon discovered that
though the pack made Il fearful racket
and would occasionally rush toward
him, they lacked the fcrocious courage
of the great timber wolves. lie used his
eight shells carefully and judiciously,
meantime slowly working himself out
of the woods. After about an hours
fighting he got well away from the
whole pack and started on foot for Syl-
vania. the nearest railroad station.
There he got freight train about mid
night and arrived safely at home before
morning, where he found his horse
awaiting him considerably the worse for
its trip home. The dog has not yet put
in an appearance.
Mr.. Valois will not soon be caught
again alone at night in the Oak Open
ings, even if they are within about n
dozen miles of the corporation line of
city of $4,000 people, the fourth in size
in Ohio.
Sounds of tho Jungle.
lately made two shooting trips to
fla.,1 g