The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-30
BUrrERFIELD's LIVELY NIGHT.
Shut Up in q Dark Sheep Pen With a
Pack OF Gray Wolves.

From the Galveston News.
Lance Butterfeld, a ranchman near
I Gordon, Neb., is richer to-day than he
was last week by the possession of some
dozen of wolf skins and an exciting ex-
I perience with the animals they originally
covered, with about twenty more thrown
in 10 make good measure.
Situated about 800 yards from his main
dwelling is a rOOfed-in fold, where are
placed at night the sheep having little
ones, and this fold is intrusted TO the care
OF boy named Ezekiel. But it happened
that Zehiel'S young affections are placed
on neighbours buxOm daughter, and il
was while thinking deeply of the fascinat-
ing damsel, enjoying in anticipation the
evening with her, that Ezekiel forgot to Sc
cure the door to this place. He was still
absent when Mr.. Butterfield was
awakened by his wife, who declared that
there was some one in the lambs
house" as il is called.
The ranchman was prepared to dispute
this with the lady, when a series of sus-
picious sounds caused him to spring
quickly from his bed. These sounds were
of several sheep, and the young being
caught by the throat, the cry stitied and
choked, as if cruel clutch killed it before
it was well given birth to. Mr.. Butter
field threw open the window and called
for Zekiel, and, receiving no answer,
dressed himself hurriedly, and Selling his
revolver, made for the spot.
There was a moon Just going down, but
1t gave sufficient light to show that the
door was partly open, and on approaching
still nearer, that the sheep were
nuddled together in terror of a
score of dark objects almost as large
as month-old calves, which were running
about the fold, pulling down mother
sheep here or deyouring some tender
lambling there At first Mr. Butterfield
could not distinguish what these creatures
were, but took them for dogs. Con-
WINGED. however, that whatever they
were, he was justified in preventing the
slaughter of his poor sheep, he drew his
pistol and discharged it at the nearest,
when his shrill yelp told him that these
marauders were wolves, and wolves of
the large, ferocious gray variety. He
hred again and again, wolf falling at
every shot.
The robbers then tried to run out of
the door, but the ranchman determined
on revenge and closed the
only exit and continued firing
firing. But finding themselves trapped,
the animals seemed to grow frantic, and
before Mr.. Butterfeld could suspect
what was about to happen, few at him
with such force as to cause him to stag
ger back against the wall. His pistol was
NV NAARbS huu u0 was OILY dUl6 10 uG-
fend himself from his blood-thirsty foes
by knocking about him with the butt of
his weapons. They tore at his limbs, but
poorly covered by a pair of light boots
that he had drawn on in coming out, and
his feet and lower legs were soon bleed
ing freely, while the sharp fangs Of the
animals found the bone itself under the
lacerated flesh.
Mr.. Butterfeld shouted loudly to his
tryifa To hViv, L,,%
yelplDg, snarling, and bowling in the fold
that he doubted that his voice would
reach her. But she heard the pistol shots
and the noise of the struggle, and
screamed afresh for Zekel, who, by this
time, WINS approaching the house, wills
Ting merrily. Mrs. Butterfield few out
to meet him and informed him of what
had happened, and gave him his masters
gun TO go TO the rescue. Nearing the fold
then Ezekiel heard his employers cries for
assistance and reached him just in time
to see an enormous male wolf leap upon
the exhausted man and seize him by the
throat. MIR. Buttertield fell, with this
monster clinging to him, and gave himself
up for lost, but the boy, placing the muz-
zle OF the gun to the VOLTS head, blew out
his brains.
The door being left open by the new
conner, most of the Gagged creatures es-
capped by it, but Ezekiel continued to pur-
sue them with running fire, managing
to kill half dozen himself But one old
fellow, engaged in eating lamb he had
| slain, declared war to the knife and re-
fused to be routed, but turned on Ezekiel
with determination to kill or be killed
right there. The boy fired upon him,
tearing open his side and sending the
blood all about the fold, but the big wolf
| gave no token of fright, aud rushed at his
enemy with furious yell. Ezekiel fired
again. but the ball went far over the crea-
lures head, and before he could aim
again the wolf had pinned him down.
In falling, the boy struck his head
| against the doorsill, and for several min
utes was too dazed to take any further
part in the combat. The wolf bent his head
! TO worry the remains, as he thought, but
| Mr.. Butterfield, crawling toward the two.
secured Zekiel's gun and put a couple of
shots in the animals body, but did not
Kill him, as he had hoped to do. The wolf
whirted sharply about, and, still standing
over Ezekiel, made snap at the other
man, which MIR. Butterfield parried by
| getting to one side. He then brought the
| gun down upon the creatures skull,
| breaking the weapon short off in the bar
rel, and without seeming to daze the wolf
| at all.
The latter now abandoned his PROSTATE
| prey and ran at the ranchman, who,
| being now undefended, resolved to nee
| for his life. But his enemy was too quick
for him and was almost upon him before
| he could reach the door However, near
| this exit MT. BuJterfeld found branding
| iron, such as is used to mark cattle, and
with this formidable weapon the ranch
man prepared TO finish up his dauntless
! foe. Raising it in the air he threw it
| directly into the face of the wolf, shat
tering the nasal bone and reducing the
entire muzzle TO mass Of bloody flesh.
With a shrek Of agony the big wolf
rolled over on the floor, clawing at the
| planks for something to apply to the
wound, and, running up to him, Mr. Butter
field brought down the iron once more on
his skull, this time breaking it and killing
the wolf. He now called his wife and
they succeeded in restoring the unfortu-
nate Ezekiel, and he aided Mrs. Butter
| field in getting the ranchman in the
house, for his feet and limbs were in such
state as to render walking a most pain
| full and perilous thing.
But though it was feared at first that
something serious might come of the
! bites, the gentleman is rapidly recovering.
| Ezekiel, however, declares that not for all
/ the world would he leave the door Of that
| fold open again.