The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-08-14
SURROUNDED BY wolves.
Ohio Not Yet Relieved from the npIesss
ant Presence of Wild IseassS-

Ohio Not Yet Relieved from the InpIeas-
ant Presence of Wild iseasi-.
Ninety-nine persons in hundred.
says a 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.. Z. L. Valois. of Toledo,
few weeks ago in one of his hunting
trips t. " hat is known as the Oak
Openings. "a barren tract not far from
Sylvania and about twelve miles from
Toledo. they would have had abundant
reason to change their minds.
Mr.. Nalois Is one of the best-known
insurance men in Toledo, and is widely
known as an enthusiastic and successful
sportsman. Nobody in northwestern
Ohio is more familiar with the haunts
Of grouse, squirrels and other small
game than he. and few marlzsmen in
that region excel him in skill. One
morning several weeks ago he took his
best dog and started in light one
horse spring wagon for the Oak Open
ings- The region i peculiar. 1t is a
large. barren tract, partly prairie and
partly covered with stunted trees.
Nobody lives there, and for years it has
been a hunters paradise. Rufflcd
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 it Is often difficult for a man to
find his way. Indeed. it has not been
many ycars since a well-lsnoyVn real
estate In:.n OF Toledo was lost for five
days in this tangle of stunted forest and
barren open.
The day Mr. Nalois had chosen proved
a cloudy one, with frequent Hur-i,s of
snow. but IL was IN unusually good day
for shooting. and before night Mr..
NalOis had the bottom of his WcEOu
filed with fine game. The clouds broke
toward evening and the moon rose full
and bright. 1t was nearly seven
o'clock before ne started for home.
Thr roads arc winding trails through
the woods and around ponds and
syva,l -. and slow progrc:,, was made.
II WAS an hour or more before hc began
to .sst oat of the woods. for he lad
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 Som,
wolves of the common gray species IL
the opening and myriads OF foNcs. bUt
had not the rcrnotest fear Of attack
until a. ne n.Ired the edge Of the wood.
hc Wa startled by pitiful cries from
his dog under the wagon. lie stopped
his horse and jumped to the ground.
gun n hand to see what was the mat
ter. and WAS surprised to find himself
suIrsaadsl by wolves. Throwing his
gun hastily h hiS shoulder. he fired into
the pack. killing what hc took u bc the
leadur. hut instead Of being frightened
away nc had hoped. tIey rushed 1T
and devOured their dead leader and then
began t. crowd closer around the yy-aar1n
in evcr-inercasinE numbers.
The dogs courage deserted him. and
he started toward the open with part OF
the pac'. after him. Nu'.is fired right
and leta II idly Dut t'Ic hungry cI-,.s.-
lures crowded closer around him.
They leaped into the wagon and de-
voured the game. and then rushed at
the horse, Slappiag at his LEGS and
leaping at his throat. Before Nalois
could climb back into the wagon tbs.
horse started at fun speed and the hun
ter was left with Il score of hungry
wolves around him IN a. ugly predic-
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 un-
manned him.
The first impulse was t. seek safety
in tree. bat he soon discovered that
though the pack made fearful racket
and would occasionally rush toward
him. they lacked the ferocious courage
of the great timber wolves. lie used his
eight shells carefully and juiiciously.
meantime slowly working himself ont
of the woods. After about an hours
fighting he got well away from the
whole pack and started on foot for Svl-
vania. the nearest railroad station
There he got freight train about mid
night and arrived safely II home before
morning where he found his horse
awaiting him considerably the worse for
its trip home. The dog has not vet put
in an appearance.
Mr.. Nalois viii not soon be caught
again alone at night in the Oak Open
iags, even If they are within about a
dozen miles of the corporation line of a
city of $4,000 people, the fourth in size
;r Ohio