Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-05
TRAGEDY IN THE FOREST.
Skeletons Found I'm n Canadian Will
derness Tell a Fearful Tale.

skeletons Found I'm n Canadian Will
derness Tell a Fearful Tale.
r. e. Emmons, an experienced hunter
and explorer, returned to Hamilton, Ont,
recently from three months tour of the
Rainy river country. Mr.. Emmons told
reporter for the Spectator the following
experience: THE country was very wild,
and the thought often occurred to me that
il should meet with an accident my dis
appearance would be as complete a mys-
terry as il L should suddenly be transported
to the planet Jupiter for l would never be
discovered. l was following one of the
small streams tributary to Rainy river,
when l suddenly came upon a half-complet
ed log cabin situated in an opening in the
timber L should judge the cabin had been
erected early last spring and deserted soon
after, or, in fact, before 1t had been fully
completed. L lifted the latch and the door
opened readily. 1t was a typical settlers
home. There was rude fireplace and a
frying pan. A compass hung upon nail,
and a packers outfit reposed in one corner.
The pack was nearly new, and upon one
side of 1t were printed, with some attempt
at art, the initials -. A M
Il went outside the cabin after my inves-
tigation of the interior. fully satisfied that
something out of the ordinary had befallen
the man who had occupied il. Leading into
the forest to the south was a slight trail.
/ followed it for a short distance, about ten
rods, 1 should think. when l emerged into
another small opening. Here 1 made
startling discovery Directly in my path
lay the skeleton of a large man. Near
by lay Winchester rifle with d broken
stock. and close beside the skeleton lay
broad Ak with a very rusty blade. Within
a radius of sixty feet lay the skeletons of
nine large timber wolves. 1t required only
a moment for me to grasp the story of that
mans terrible fate. He had been attacked
by wolves and overpOwered by numbers.
That he had sold his life dearly was evinced
by the skeletons of the wolves. l soon be-
came convinced that the battle had not
commenced where the skeletons were
found, and in this / was right. / followed
the trail still further and found the sksle-
tons Of four other wolves, but each was
some distance from any of the others.
These must have been the first of the
wolves to die, and had been killed by the
rifle. The man was evidently making for
his cabin as rapidly possible and cover
ing his retreat with his rife. 1t appears
that the wolves were desperate, however,
and within ten rods of his cabin and safety
he was compelled to make a stand and
fight for his life against hopeless odds. His
rifle was empty of cartridges when found,
and it Is evident the man had retained his
ak throughout the early part of the fight
in anticipation of this last desperate rally.
The man must have fought like demon
in that moment of his dreadful extremity.
He must have been conscious when he re-
sorted to the AK that his days were num-
bered. and thought only of selling his life
as dearly as possible. A dozen wolves is
poor price for man who can fight the
way this one evidently could.
'All alone in this gloomy forest persisted
a man whose Identity may never be known.
He must have friends somewhere, how
ever. and it may yet be revealed. The in
cident must have occurred early last spring.
when hungry wolves, travelling in packs,
do not hesitate to attack man. They are
terrible brutes when emboldened by hunger
but ordinarily they are sneaks and seldom
permit themselves to be seen my men,"