The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-27

huASC4S'
From the Boston Commercial Bulletin.
Many are the stories told Of tie savage
wolves in the sparsely settled portions OF
the Russian territory. The stock stories Of
their following sledgeS in vast packs until
horses were tired down ere reaching O place
Of safety and devouring travellers and steeds
are familiar to the reader. In fact, one
looks to Russia as the locality for anything
wonderful in the way Of an encounter with
these savage beasts, and naturally so.
WOLF COUNTRY.
A Russian official at st. Petersburg, who
was once asked how many people were killed
nv wolves in Russia in year, replied:
Twenty thousand perhaps, but what Of
itr
II the Russian government was not con-
cerned about the number, he could not see
WHY outsiders should be. And If the gov
ernment was concerned, it is doubtful If it
could take any steps TO greatly lessen the
number Of wolves or victims From east
10 west and north to south Russia is a wolf
country. The distance between towns and
the thinly settled agricultural districts give
wild beasts opportunity to increase in num-
bers, and it is said of the Russian wolf that
he is always hungry.
II stat sites were preserved and published,
as in India, the publication of the number
of victims killed and devoured by wolves
would be startling. Between the villages
of Toblosky and Urkovsky-thrty miles
apart-there was in 1868 only one house.
That was a halfway hotel. The rest of
the road was given up to plain and forest,
and for five years previous to 1868 this had
been one of the most dangerous places in oil
Russia. Travellers waited at either village
until a band of from ten to twenty had
collected, and in midwinter soldiers had to
accompany all travellers. A member of
the French legation told me that In making
this Journey once the sledges were fol-
lowed and surrounded by a drove of wolves
estimated to number 1900. No attack was
made, there being large escort of soldiers.
The first time I passed over the road,
writes an American traveller, was in sum-
mer and not q wolf appeared in sight At
one point, where the road traversed plain
for eight miles, l saw, without leaving the
beaten track. the bones of at least fifty
horses and of ssventy-1ve persons. In some
cases only handful Of bones were left to
representa- person, but Il was assured by
the drivers that a victim had been pulled
down wherever these bones lay. The
smaller bones are eaten up or carried off,
but the larger ones are left to bleach inthe
summer sun or lie hidden under the drifts
Of winter.
BOUNTY FOR WOLF sCALPS.
Even the hotel at the halfway point was
not safe from attack, but had TO be sur
rounded by wall of stone ten feet high.
When asked why a general raid was not
made on the wolves of this district and the
pests exterminated or driven out, no one had
an answer. Five hundred armed peasants.
directed and assisted by fifty soldiers, could
have made clean work of it in day, but
the idea Of such raid had never occurred
TO any one.
While | was lying at Urkovsky that
summer the Russian government offered
bounty of IA cents for the scalp of every
wolf killed in that district. There was an
other American and an Englishman in the
village, and when the proclamation came
out we determined on a wolf hunt. We
called in carpenter and gave him plans Of
a house on runners. 1t was as large as one
OF the photograph cars drawn from town
10 town in the United States, and was pro-
vided with three hunks, stove and other
convenlences. There were port holes in the
SIDES and floors, besides three or four sliding
doors, and when the house was done we
found plenty of room for three men and for
coal and provisions for fortnight.
There was great curiosity In the town as
10 what sort OF move we had in view, and
tne house had been scarcely finished when a
government official made us a call and de-
manded the fullest information. When we
told him that we proposed to draw the car
OUT upon the plain and use it as a cover and
protection while we shot wolves his gravity
increased, and he officially notified us not to
move 1t foot until he had communicated
with his superiors. The government had
oHered bounty for the destruction of the
wolves, but we must get permission to de-
stroy them.
However, we had lots of time ahead,
ana While waiting the appearance of the
otlclal the car was finished and stocked. It
was as roomy as the ordinary freight car,
ana we put in plenty Of fuel, provisions and
ammunition. We took only shotpuns and
revolvers with us. 1t was about Dec.
when the official made us second cali.
ne was still Tery dignified and very grave.
ne nao correspondent with the police in
spector OF the district, and that official had
SSoiresponded with greater man, and per-
maps tne case went to st. Petersburp Tt
mad, however, been decided that we could
move our car, providing we held ourselves
subjects. W '"o 'A0i
we dld not move until Jan. /. It was a
very severe winter, with wolves more
numerous than for years past, and we had
tLtouple 10 get teams to draw our house to
cue pain. All through December the road
4.iou up as often as opened, but early in
January we got away, having four horses
70 ara" the house. We were to be- left on
t vac center OF the plain for a week. when
move. A0' q "0"
GETTING READY FOR THE FRAY.
AS we got out of town early in the
thi1tlhlng we reached tho spot selected long
ueioFe noon. The car was hauled off TO the
etu9 OF the read at a favorable place and
t .Lo men with the horses waited no longer
s rnau 10 unhltch them before starting on the
-oiH Journey While we had not seen a
III III on the trip out, several sledpes had
,i oIu pursued the week before in broad day-
go go ana the two women and four horses
too $50 oel ValIly temptation for the brutes
3d. Ecner y: In making ready we had had the
bed 20 VI Two or three old wolf hunters, and
We Iop.eo some of their suggestions.
for We b mad brought along some raw meat
AZ oalt' and also a gallon of beef's blood.
hlos soon as we settled down we thawed this
a anu y! ana then We went out in tnree differ
Dab;t ~ ectlons and sprinkled it on the hard.
,,,o 't I1s crust. On our way back to the car
~ &C ir Ie.t trail, and flung out piece of meat
- 'uterVais. We had not vet reached the
10 "neh we heard the howl of a wolf. and
60. I've minutes We could see a dozen of them
e,ol npering about. 1t was an hour. how
Gu, oeLore one came within reach of our
81 4nen the sun, which had been
daHs hhtly SHINING ell the forenoon, was hid
oou by clouds. and a snovv-soraII oa,Da ~,