Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-03-24

undated by fire, and having provided
several strips OF birch bark. the only
oompustlble material he could Obtain
when would afford light in this deem
descent ~ MS
haVlng accordingly dlvested himself
OF MS coat and waistcoat and having
long rope fastened round his legs nv
which he might be pulled back at a
concerted signal, he entered, head fore
most. with the blazing torch In his
hand' Having CROPPED his passage tin
ne came to the horizontal part OF the
den, the most terrifying darkness an
peared In front Of the dim circle of light
afforded by his torch. II was silent as
the house nf death. None but monsters
Of the desert had ever before explored
this solitary mansion OF horror,
He. consciously proceeding onward
came to an ascent, which he slowly
mounted on his hands and knees. until
he discovered the glaring eyehalls OF
the WOLF who was sitting at the ex-
tremity of the cavern. Startled at the
sight OF fire, she CRASHED her teeth and
gave sullen growl.
Attacking the Wolf.
"As soon as he had made the neces-
sary discovery he kicked the rope as a
signal for pulling him out. The people
Mt the mouth OF the den, who had
listened with painful anxiety, hearing
the growing OF the wolf. and suppos-
ing their friend to be In the most
imminent danger drew him forth with
| such celebrity that his clothes were torn
and he was severely bruised.
after he had adjusted his clothes
and loaded his gun with nine buck
shot, holding a torch In one hand and
| the musket in the other, he descended
n second time. When he drew nearer
than before the wolf. assuming Il still
more fierce and terrible appearance.
| bowling, rolling her eyes, swapping her
teeth and dropping her head between
her legs, was evidently in the attitude
and on the point of sprlnging at him.
at this critical instant he levelled
and fired at her head Stunned with
the shock and sufiocated with smoke
he Immediately found himself drawn
out OF the cave. But. having refreshed
himself. and permitted the smoke &c
dlssipate, he went down the third time
Once more he came within sight
Of the wolf, who appeared very passive
and he applied the torch TO her nose
and. preceiving her dead, he took hoil
OF her enrs, and then, kicking the
rope-still tied round his legs-th'
people above, with no small exultation
dragged them both out together"
The can 10 Arms.
on account Of the daredevil explol
Putnam at once became a hero In tn
opinion OF all his townsmen, and tn
story OF the wolf den rencontre wa
soon n household tale In every quartz
OF the Nutmeg state. and was narrated
before the greai. glazing hearth fire J,
All the brown farmhouses of the lana
Hence. no one was surprised when
thIrty-slx years later, the ncws OF III
gkirmlshes at Lexington and Cnncor
having reached Putnam, while he wa
plourhing the stony glebe or M
pomfret farm, the rough and read
hero instantly detached his horses fnoi
the plough, and. leaving the tmpl'
ment in the furrow, mounted his be'
steed and rode away like the wind
poston. Eighty milcs or more l
spod over the rough country roads mi
poston. and reached there IN time
, talte command Of Inc Continental Tore
IN the Battle Of Bunker or Breeds ~
, 1t was not until about century lat'
that n Young fellow OF Windham coul
Nv. penetrating into the WOLF den
covered the birch bark torch charr'
and widowed and covered with aus
/, that "Old Put" dropped after drlvlr