Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-01-26
BESET BY WOLVES.
EXCITING EXPERIENCE OF A
NEBRASKA RANCHlIAN.
The Door of the Lambs House
Was Open and the Wolves
Entered A Terrific Ea-
counter Ensucd.
ANCE BUTTERFIELD,

experience with the ANIMALS they
originally covered, with about twenty
more throw L in to make good measure,
writes the Gordon (Neb.) CORE
spondent of the Galveston News.
Situated about 800 yards from his
main dwelling house is a roofed-in
fold, where ore placed at night the
sheep having little ones, and this fold
is intrusted to the care Of boy named
Ezekiel But it happened that zekiers
young affections are placed on a
neighbor's buxom daughter, and it
was while thinking deeply of the
fascinating damsel, enjoying in antici
patton the evening with her, that
Ezekiel forgot to secure the door of
this place. He was still absent when
Mr.. Butterfcld was awakened by his
wife. who declared there was some
one in the "1ambs' house as it is
called.
The ranchman was prepared to dis =
putc this with the lady, when a series
of suspicious sounds caused him to
spring quickly from his bed. Those
sounds were Of several sheep, and the
young being caught by the throat, the
cry stidei and choked as if n cruel
clutch killed it before it was well given
birth to. Mr.. Butterield threw open
the window and called for Ezekiel, anil
receiving no answer, dressed himself
hurriedly, and selling his revolver,
made for the spot
There was moon Just going down,
but it gave sufficient light to show him
that the door was partly open, and on
approaching still nearer, that the
sheep were huddled together in terror
of a score Of dark objects almost as
large as month-old calves which were
running about the fold, pulling do1n
a mother sheep here or dcvourins
some tender lnmbling there
At first Mr.. Butterfeld could not
distinguish what these creatures were,
but took them for dogs. Convinced,
however, that Whatever they We're, 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 morauders were wolves, and
wolves of the large, ferocious. gray
variety. He fired again and again,
wolf falling at every shot.
The robbers then tried to run ont Of
the door, but the ranchman determined
on revenge and closed the only exit
and continued firing. But finding
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 bloodthirsty
foes by knocking about him with the
butt end OF the weapon. 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 bleeding freely,
while the sharp fangs of the animals
found the bone itself often under the
lacerated flesh.
Mr.. Butterfeld shouted loudly to
his wife to bring him help, 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 approach
ing the house, whistling merrily.
Mrs. Butterfeld flew 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. Mr.. Butter
field fell, with this monster cinging
to him, aud gave himself mp for lost,
but the boy, placing the muzzle of the
gun to the VOLTS head, blew out his
brains
TIE door being left open by the
newcomer, most of the Gagged creatures
escaped by it, but Ezekiel continued to
pursue them with a running fire, man
aging to kill half dozen himself. But
one old fellow, engaged in eating
lamb he had slain, declared war to the
knife and refused 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 fred again,
but the ball went far over the crea-
ture's head, aud before he could aim
agein the wolf bad pinned him down.
In falling the boy struck his head
against the door-sill, and for several
minutes was too dazed to take any
further part in the combat. The wolf