Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-18
JIM sTRUTHERs's CHRISTMAS STORY.
A Cold Night in 1Iontann. with a Pack OF
Wolves Thrown In.

Colonel jim on AAfA'A - "a -'A''''N''t+'~'
I'm the lobby Of the Shoreham. at Washing
ton. SAYS the Star Of that city, on Sum
day night The Colonel is big man IN
the region 10 which he is indigenous. and
IS a Wholesale dealer IN cows. lie began
his occidental career as an everyday cow
puncher before the FAR West had taken on
the lustrous sheen of polish with which IL
now shimmers. lie Is the delight or is
teners. lie Is profuse and perhaps promis-
cuous in his urgency 10 take something
but he talks much better under these con-
ditions. lie told the Star man western
favored experience and drew his text
from wolves and antelope. lie said:
1T was i'm the winter OF 1856. II was
that winter which distanced all other
winters this side OF Lieutenant pCary for
blizzards and unwarmth. IL was so cold
that we had 10 boil the cOnee-pot on
skates and rake the fire with an Tee
pick. Everything was 50 contracted Win
the intensity Of the coldly bitterness that
IL was impossible to find ourselves when
We got lost Then. ! was one OF party
OF SPORTSMAN hunters encamped In the
foothills of the Bull mountains In Mon
tana. an Independent range which runs
dawn between the Yellowstone and Mus
81 lINn rivers. Ills ttliiAbi III TIC i.AiAH9
davs OF game was the winter resort Tor
antelope. They herded here in thousands,
or in the local Iarlance, they punched.
one morning / started out from camp
with Major Wiley King, who was running
biz COW concern not far on, TO shoot
antelope After riding over the hills and
far away, down through ravnes ana
jungles OF sage and greasewood, We hit
EN- We picketed the nags 10 the brush,
got to lecWard Of the game, 50 they would
not scent us. and let her go. We had
thirty-twO before the dear little things
caught on To what was up. Then they
stampeded, and We followed after them
as fast as hOof ana horse could hump II.
After chasing the bunch for several miles
We bagged eight or ten more. We then
determined that one OF us should get
back to camp and bring out convey
ance for the game. II fell 10 Wiley's lot
to 20. | remained behind, and 10 XIII Time
| began To snake the carcasscs OF those
dropped on the run together. II was
brewing a storm. The sky was filed VITA
threats. ! rode back 10 the pile OF ami
mails killed at the first attack and got In
side the heap for shelter. Night came
but my partner didn't. The angels were
shedding their plumage knee deep. Co!d
Well YOU bet IL was winter in the Bun
mountains | did not have anything TO
strike "A blaze with. and | stamped on
nv toes and breathed on my fingers ana
hit my flask 10 keep up circulation. Inc
snow showed. | piled the carcasseS around
and above me. At midnight | heard the
bark of a wolf. II was a long way of.
/ got up and listened and | heard two or
three other banks. I found that the tones
came from the cayote or prairie wolf, the
biggest blun I'm the animal kingdom
and settled back 10 rest as best / could.
\ few minutes later 1 heard another
bark that had a more resonant and busl-
ness-like ring 10 II. Ii was the voice OF the
timber wolf, who had come out OF the
hills. The temperature seemed 10 affect
my spinal column and sleep was driven
from my eyes. l had belt full OF smells
and although 1 would have felt more
comfortable snugly in bed at home, just
tremblcd Il little bit. onward the beasts
came. They were receiving recruits at
every bark The first that set foot within
my circle died. 1t was dark and did not
give my Winchester leave TO talk TIL the
eyes Of the enemy showed up. The wolves
were hungry. FOR II was "A bad winter.
However. they were afraid Of the gun and
explosives. and as soon as one OF their
comrades fell they turned their attention
10 him. This would give me a chance
10 shove in some more lead. Day began
10 break and the wolves NllnurcN.
heard a gun In the distance. answered IL.
and my partner rode up. Wiley had been
lost ON the prairie all night and was
badly frosted. We counted forty dead
wolves.
mo sir; the wolf isn't such desperate
creature as fiction and the imagination OF
some time sports have made him. The
prairie wolf will sneak around camp at
night and steal scraps. but as to attack
ing anybody he isn't as hydrophobiacal as
the civilized cur. The timber wolf hasn't
the most courteous disposition in the West,
but he is cowardly. and a good gun can
stand of whole menagerie OF them.
They come out OF the hill timber at night
and go for a calf or heller, but they
don't like man. and will only touch him
as last resort. out in the West We roll
ourselves up in a blanket right out on
the prairie and sleep the sleep OF the
righteous. and no Little-Red- Riding
Hood business breaks our rest.
''Come on. boys. Whatll You have?"