Birmingham age-herald., 1895-01-03

Puts Him at His Bcst-Hts Terrible Bat-
 tie With tho White Wolf aoa
 Runt is a mule His career has been checkered, and his lifc has been full of ups and downs. Ho is IS years old. Ho has long since passed the time in life when even a mule has fighting show to be beautiful.
 Yet Runt is famous, and money cannot buy him. He was born in Mississippi and when years old joined tho regular army, going to Fort Bliss, Tex. He served fivc years there and then was transferred to Fort Stanton, N. NJ. When tho Thirteenth regiment Dioved to Fort Sill, Runt went with them He served faithfully until three years ago, when he was retired as veteran The first hard service in the field that Runt met was in 1884. In the first skiruish he was wounded by his friends. It was in August. Rnnt was one ot eight mules hauling wagon of government train from Carthage, N. M, to Fort stan ton Two companies of tho Thirteenth guarded tho wagons. Twenty miles out of Carthage the Apachcs attacked tho train. As the Apachcs circled about, yelling and firing, Runt got nervous. Finally with a kick and n squeal ho broke away from his harness and galopcd straight toward the Apaches. The Indians at once borc down on Runt to capture him. Tho soldiers mado ready to fire.
 Don't shooti" yelled one of them. "You'll kill Runt.
 "Blaze awayi'' said Sergeant Ray. "He's got no business there. "
 Tho soldiers fired. The Indians scatter ed, leaving Runt alone. Runt hesitatcd, and q second volley poured forth. One of the bullets struck his tail. With a snort he lowered his head, planted his fore feet firmly and began to kick. He kicked un- til he fell over exhausted. Tho teamsters then caught him and tied him to one of the wagons But his first campaign ruined Runt as soldier No matter where he was after that whether in harness, at the feed trough or. in pasturo if gun was fired Runt would lower his head and kick until he fell exhausted.
 Runt lost his ear l 1 months ago. The companies at Fort Sill live far better than any others in tho army. Beef is cheap and game is abundant Each company has party of hunters continually in tho field. These parties hunt in tho Wichita noun tains. White wolves are more plentiful in those hills than perhaps in any other part of America. In fact elsewhere white wolves are seldom seen. Tho white wolf, so called, is of gray color, much larger than the common wolf and far fercer. Hunters dread him equally with the noun tain panther. c-7,g
 Runt, of his own accord, joined one of the hunting parties going up into tho mountains. Steve Shipper, the most noted bear hunter in the Oklahoma country, was one of the hunters The men set tl,o;r o,,,,r, obo,1t n, Iae from Eort Sill on the Signal range. Panthcrs and wolves were so plentiful at night that the men took turns keeping watch. The horses and mules were picketed within the circle. Runt alone refused to submit to the hal ter. He would back away and threaten to snap the picket line until he was freed. At night ho would roam about in the fires light, occasionally wandering out into the darkness, but returning very shortly. :
 The fourth day before Christmas two wagons loaded with game wore sent to Fort Sill In the evening, after they had gone, Shipper brought in big buck. It was decided to have a buck roast A mon stcr spit was rigged up, big fro was kindled, and soon the odor of juicy meat, properly cooked, filled tho woods. The partners, the wolves and the coyotes hur- ried toward it. As the timo passed cir ole of wild beasts orouched on their launches or stole softly about on the edge of light, bowling, yelping and barking. Old Runt was in great spirits He cavort ed about threatening several times to kick the buck into the fire. As tho rich odor hoated forth tho beasts prowling about became bolder, and occasionally coyote would sneak into the open space, only to retreat before brand of burning wood. A big white wolf, bolder than his fellows, twice sprang into the circle and snapped once at ono of the horses and once at the skin of the buck. Runt was walk ing slowly to and fro in the shadow far from the fire. Suddenly there was howl, a snort, and the white wolf sprang through the air and lit on Runt's shoulders. The mule trembled and sqlenled. He backed and shivered and shook, but he did not kick. The white wolf sunk his teeth deep into Runt's neck and used his claws, tear ing the mules flesh. As the wolf olawed Runt seemed to become powerless, proba- bly, through fear.
 The hunters crowded around trying to get a shot at the wolf. Finally Shipper seized big burning stick and thrust it over Runt's neck into the wolf's face. With snarl the wolf opened his jaws. He clung fast with his claws, however. AS Shipper thrust forward tho burning wood a second time the wolf shifted his position until he crouched on Runt's back This gave Tom Mc(irath an opportunity to shoot him.
 "Bang!'' went McGrath's rife. The bullet missed. The wolf was untouched.
 But with the report great change took place in Runt From a frightened, help less animal he was transformed into Q fighting, kicking mule He bucked and kicked and rolled. Tho hunters were forced to beat a retreat to the wagons. From thero they watched the fight. The wolf held fast, and as Runt rolled, the wolf would creep quickly round or loosen his grasp until the mule rose again.
 At length Runt in rolling worked the wolf back to his hind quarters Quick as flash the old mule sprang to his feet, lowered his head and let fly his heels. He caught the wolf full in the side. The i'm pact of the blow was like the crack of Q bla9k snake whip. The clutch of the wolf gave way, and he sailed through the air, landing in the heart of the fire. He sprang away, but Shipper shot him before he