The Iola register., 1891-07-17
Fighting a Mad Wolf.


I had been working little too hard
and my physician advised few weeks
rest so went out to my b-other-in-
laws ranch and prepared to ENJOY my
self. But l give you my word that
something happened at the end of the
first week that not only made any fur
ther enjoyment impossible, but upset
any benefit might already have de-
rived from the trip. Ny brother-in-
law, you know, who used to run a pas
senger train in North Alabama, was
away from home that night, and his
wife took the two children and went to
spend the night with the nearcss neigh
Dor. who was sick. After the evenings
work was done the servants went off to
their quarters and I was left alohe in
the house. read until pretty late, and
then put the light out and went to bed.
l didn't go to sleep as early as usual
though. Somehow felt uneasy. vas
not in the least afraid, but there w.is a
silence and lonliness about the house,
and was sorry that my sister and the
children had gone away. How glaa /
was afterward that they were not at
home. 1t was about midnight shoeld
think, when / heard some commotion
among the goats in a lot adjoining the
house. They were racing furiously
around the lot. and their voices shov ed
that there was trouble. spraug out of
bed and dressed myself hurriedly and
without waiting to light the Ian p,
seized the gun and made for the lot. |
could dimly see that some animal mas
chasing the goats and l was sure IL 1t
some of them were already badly bitten.
| risked a shot at the animal which |
took to be wolf, but without effe It.
1t left off pursuit, however, and, to ray
astonishment, skunk through the gats |
had just entered and disappeared around
the corner OF the house. Some of The
servants had come by that time aroused
by my shot, and we searched thorough
ly under the house and through the
shrubbery and about all the gard,.ns
out-buildings. 1t was not to be foand
and we came to the conclusion that it
had vaulted over the low front fence s.nd
escaped into the prairie. We
finally gave up the search and
the servants went back 70 their quar-
ters, while went into the house again.
had left every door open behind me as
l went out. Going in closed them all,
My room was at the end of long hall.
was familiar with every crook and
turn about the house and didn't need
light, so passed into my room and
closed the door. 1t occurred TO me then
to take smoke as long as l was up, 20 l
felt around in the dark and found a ci-
gar, and struck match to light il. 'rhe
next minute I think you could have
knocked me down with feather. A Say
down in the darkness, under the bed,
two fiery eyes shone out like burning
Goals just for that brief moment thai the
match was burning and then went out.
Before | had time to think. even, the
creature was upon me and was spring
ing at my throat, the most savage An.
imal had ever met l felt rather then
saw what it was. The creature was a wolf.
and it was mad. Several animals af.
fiicted with hydrophobia had been seen
in the neighborhoCd during the past
few months. There is no animal more
than wolf when it tai ra-
bies, and | know with what had to
contend. l had to struggle with a
large wolf shut up ia dark room and
that when the slightest wound from its
sharp teeth meant certain and hon rible |
death to me. As it came at me first |
threw out my hands, and by sorie good
fortune happened to strike its nscli. l |
got both my hands about Its throat and |
to hold it away from 10y face,
but it was all that could do. | was
nervous, l suppose, and the wolf was
ar stronger then it would have been
lnder ordinary circumstances. The
roth was dripping from it's mouth and
lew into my face as it struggled twas
,he most desperate struggle of my life
ust to hold that wolf and keep II from
ny face and throat, at which II con-
SANITY leapeI in the most furious man
Ter. All tho time, from the moment il
Ind calling OF the top OF my voice. There
vas very Ii. lie hope OF doing any good
With it as tie servants were too far away.
md my room was on the opposite side
u the housH from their quarters: but
hat was tbs only chance. 1t was very
'vident that l couldn't let 20 my hold
or single Instant. 1t was just as evil
lent that | couldn't hold out this way
ong. and that unless help came after
while my strength would eventually
i've away and the wolf could tear my
hroat, as it was struggling then to do. I
And how long do you think this keut
p? For two hours, two mortal hours i
y the clock. l stood there, fighting +,
Or my life with that savage wolf. and
houting for help every moment of the ,
ime, A hundred times 1 thought my ;
trength was gone and that my arms
Iould surely sink down powerless the
he next moment, and yet l always {
1anaged to hold him off little longer. I
It last, just as l was in complete des- e
air. one of the servants was aroused by '
~ continued shouting and came run /
ing with his gun in his hand. l man. ,
ged to hold the wolf until he made a
ght, and then 1 held him while the :
ian put the muzzle of his gun against ,
ne VOLTS head and killed him as dead !.
; Hector. And then after that l went
, my sisters room and had a spell of n
that would have been hys- a
,rics if had of been a woman. Being T.
man, it was nothing but case Of ner-
ous prostration.-From the Globe
'emocrat.