The Portland daily press., 1893-11-18
zEKlEL FORGOT.
Absent Mindedncss Resulted in a Frightful
Battle With Vicious Wolves.

Battle with Vicious Wolves.
Lance Butterfeld, ranchman of Cor
don, Neb., is richer today than he was
last week By the possession of some
dozen wolf skins and an exciting expert
ence with the animals they originally
covered, with about twenty more thrown
in to make good measure
Situated about three hundred yards
from his main dwelling house is a rooted
Unfold, where are placed at night the
sheep having little ones, and this fold
is entrusted to the care Of d boy named
Ezekiel. But it happened that Zekiel's
young affections are placed on a neigh
boris buxom daughter, and 1t was while
thinking deeply of the fascinating dam
Sci, enjoying in anticipation the evening
with her, that EZEKIEL forgot to secure
the door Of this place He was still alb
sent when Mr.. Butterfield was awakened
by his wife, who declared that there was
some one in the "lambs' house." as it is
called.
The ranchman prepared to dispute
this with the lady, when a series of sus-
picious sounds caused him to spring
were of several sheep, and the young be-
ing caught by The throat, the cry stified
and checked as if cruel clutch killed
it before it was we'll given birth to. Mr..
Butterfeld threw open the window and
called for Ezekiel, and receiving no an
swer, dressed himself hurriedly and seiZ-
ing his revolver, made for the spot.
There was a moon just going down,
but it gave sufficient light to show him
that the door was partly open, and on
approaching nearer, that the sheep were
huddled together in terror OF a score of
dark object almost as large as month old
calves which were running. about the fold,
pulling down mother sheep here or de-
vouring some tender lam bkin there
At first Mr.. .Butterfield could not sdis-
tinguish what. these creatures were, but
took them for dogs. Convinced, how
ever. that whatever they were, that he
ter Of his poor sheep, he drew his pistol,
and discharged it at the nearest, when
it's shrilI yelp told him that these mar
auders were wolves, and wolves of the
large ferocipus gray variety. He fired
again and again, wolf falling at every
shot.
The robbers then tried to run out of
GuC uOOI, UuU UuC IdACuLudll, O0UcIluIuCQ
on revenge, closed the only exit and con-
tinued firing. But feeling themselves
trapped the animals seemed to grow
frantic, and before Mr.. Butterfeld could
suspect what was about to happen flew
at him with such force as to cause him
to stagger back against the wall. His
pistol was now empty, and he was only
able to defend himself from his blood
thirsty foes by knocking about him
with the but end of the weapon. They
tore at his limbs, but poorly covered by
pair of light boots that he had drawn
on in coming out, and his feet and lower
legs were soon bleeding freely, while the
sharp fangs of the animals found the
bone itself often under the lacerated
flesh.
Mr.. Butterfield shouted loudly to his
wife to bring help to him, but such was
the yelping, 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 Ezekiel, who by this
time.was approaching the house, whist
ling merrlly.
Mrs Butterfeld flew out to meet him
and informed him of what had happened
and gave him his mastel S gun to go to
the rescue. Nearing the fold then Ezekiel
heard his employers cries for assistance,
aud reached him just in time to see an
enormous male wolf leap upon the ex-
hausted man and seize him by the
throat Mr.. Butterfield fell with this
monster clinging to him and gave him
self up for lost, but the boy, placing the
muzzle 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 a 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 and rushed
at his enemy with a furious yell. Ezekiel
fired again, but the ball went far over
aim again the wolf had pinned him
down.
In falling the boy struck his head
against the doorsill. and for several
minutes was too dazed to take any fur
ther part in the combat. The wolf bent
his head to worry the remains, as he
thought, but Mr.. Butterfeld, crawling
toward the two, secured ;Zekiel's gun
and put couple of shots into the ami
malls body, but did not kill him, as he
had hoped to do.
The wolf whirled sharply about and,
still standing over Ezekiel, made snap
at the other nan, which Mr.. Butterfield
parted by getting to onesside. He
then brought the gun down upon the
creatures skull, breaking the weapon
short off in the barrel, 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 flee for his
life. But his enemy was too quick for
him and was almost upon him before he
could reach the door. However, neal this
exit Mr.. Butterfield 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 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.. Rut-
terrified 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 unfortunate Ezekiel, and he aided Mr..
Butterfeld in getting the ranchman to
the house for his feet and lin bS were in