Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-11-01
THE KING or WOLVES.
The leader of a Pack That Ravaged tho
Currumpaw Valley.

The leader of u Pack That Rayaged tho
Currumpaw Valley.
scrlbner.
Old Lobo, or the king,as the Mexicaus
called him, was the gigantic leader of a
remarkable pack of gray wolves, that
had ravaged the Currumpaw Valley for
a number Of years. All the shepherds
and ranchmen knew him we'll, aud
wherever he appeared with his trusty
band terror rcigned supreme among the
cattle, and wrath and despair among
their owners. Old Lobo was giant
among the wolves, and was cunning
and strong in proportion to his size.
His voice at night was we'll, known and
easily distinguished from that of any
of his fellows. An ordinary wolf might
howl half the night about the herds.
mems blvouac without attracting more
than passing notice, but when the
deep roar OF the old king came booming
down the canon the watcher bestirred
himself and prepared to learn in the
morning that fresh and serious inroads
had been made among the herds.
Old Lobos band was but small one.
ibis never quite understood, for u.s.
ually, when wolf rises to the position
and power that he had, he attracts a
numerous following. 1t may be that
he had as many as he desired, or per-
haps his ferocious temper prevented the
increase of his pack. Certain it is that
Lobo had only five followers during the
latter part of his reign. Each of these,
however, was wolf Of renown. Most
OF them were above the ordinary size;
one in particular, the second in com
mand, was veritable giant, but even he
was far below the leader in size and
proves. Several of the band besides
the two leaders were especially noted.
One of these was beautiful white wolf
that tue Mexicans called Blanco, or
blanca; this was supposed to be female,
possibly Lobo's mate. Another was a
yellow wolf of remarkable swiftness,
and which, according to current stories,
had on several occasions captured an
antelope for the pack.
There came under my observation an
incident that will illustrate Lobo as an
aggressor of diabolical cunning. These
wolves had at least one pursuit which
was merely an amusement, and appar-
emily not at all connected with their
appetite for food it was, as has already
been intimatcd, stampeding and killing
sheep. The sheep are usually kept in
tlocks of from 1000 to 5000 under one
or more shepherds. At night they are
gathered in the most sheltered place
available, and herdsman sleeps on
each side of the flock to give additional
protection. Sheep are such senseless
creatures that they are liable to be STAN
pcdcd at night by the vericst trifle, but
they have deeply engrained in their
nature one, and perhaps only one, strong
weakness, viz, to follow their leader.
And this the shepherds turn to good
account, but by putting halt a dozen
goats in the flock of sheep. The latter
recognize the superior intelligence Of
their bearded cousins, and when night
alarm occurs they crowd around them,
and usually are thus saved from a siam
pede But IT was not always SO. One
night, late in last November, two Perico
| shepherds were aroused by ain onset of
wolves. Their flocks huddled around
the goats, which, being neither fools nor
| towards, stood their ground and were
bravcly defiant; but alas for them, no
common wolf was heading this in.
yasion. Old Lobo, the wer.wolf, knew
as well as the shepherds that the goats
were the moral force OF the flock. so.
hastily running over the backs of the
deasely packed sheep, he fell on these
leaders, slew them all in a few minutes.
and soon had the luckless sheep STAN.
pcding in Il thousand different direc-
tons.