Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-06-15
THE FIELD OF ADVENTURE
THRILLING INCIDENTS AND DAR-
ING DEEDS ON LAND AND SEA.
The "Siege of Wolves"-Towed by a
Team of Whales-nis First Fight
ing Pig, Etc.

pecially in the legend Of Chocorua,
and the story of the "I5iege of Wolves. "
1t was in telling tho story of that
"Siege of Wolves" the fame of which
spread through more than the allotted
/ five counties, that he excelled Mr..
Gilman, who moved to Tamworth the
year after the event, was tho first to
| tell it il print, which he did years ago
in local paper.
Twas in 1880, and the folks had
been pestered long by occasional
losses of sheep and calves at pasture.
These became frequent. Even the
larger cattle were not safe. The dep.
relations became unbearable. Each
night the woods resounded with wolf
ish howls. The cause of the fright.
ened, huddled focks, of the torn legs
and sides of the cattle was no secret.
"At last some stray hunter located
lair of the wild CANNES back of
Eagle Cliff, around which forest
fringed crag they made merry O.
nights. Cold weather came on, and
the wolves got more numerous, more
hungry, more fierce. Tho wolves of
Great Hill became too well known for
miles around Their sudden, cruel
levies on the farmer were less welcome
than the first American tax on tea.
There was no lantern hung in q tower,
but there was midnight rider, and at
1 o'clock one autumn night the alarm
was carried into four towns by aston.
ished but fast galloping horses.
''Ihe yeomen gathered. They
reused from dreams of fat cattle On q
thousand hills to think of wolves on
one hill. Tales of wolfsh orgies and
torn mutton were magnifed. Scarcely
man for sixteen miles around who
could but responded vigorously. A
gigantic husking or a minister's dona.
tion party would not have served
better to attract. The summons was
to come armed, and motley arma.
ment it was. Pitchforks, clubs, axes,
old worn-out fintlocks, but a goodly
number of guns of definite aim. The
women cheered on.
Full 600 strong they gathered ut
noon, November Is, 1880. They BIZ
vouacked near Tamworth Village.
From the houses near refreshments
were sent out. 1t was Il volunteer
army. Old General Quimby, of Sand
wich, was an old fighter, and he was
made Captain. Many old veterans
were there. A regular plan of siege
was laid out, the ground surveyed and
sentries posted.
''The sentries gradually closed their
lines on Great Hill. Rousing fires
kept them warm and frightened the
enemy to still deeper recesses of the
woods. At last 600 men surrounded
forest tract of about twenty acres.
Twenty sharpshooters were posted
with orders not to allow wolfsh eye
to pass unnotlced. Horns and voices
were used at their loudest. There may
have been u hundred wolves in that
woods-there must have been fifty
but not glimpse was had of even
whisking tail.
"All day the din continued, the lines
gradually drawing in. At dusk more
fires were lighted. An occasional
sharp rustic of the dry leaves, the
CLEAN of wild, frightened eyes, n sharp
wolfish howl of disappointment and
rage, and cowardly retreat. But the
lines now sharply closed. Round and
round dashed the now frantic beasts.
Their fury was vain. One attempted
to steal through the line, but sharp
rap with pitchfork changed his mind.
The very woods seemed to howl. The
mad beasts flew from one line to an
other. At last the courage of the
rats, which fight tiercely wheu cor
nered, took possession Of the infuri-
ated animals.
"Ihey charged the thin line of men
furiously. Perhaps terror struck to
the hearts and disturbed the aim of
the angry pioneers. Anyway, in n
very few moments the wolves had
vanished, outside the lines. Six hun.
dred men on the night of the 10th of
November could not scare up single
wolf.
''Just five had been killed.
''But the hunt had accomplished its
end. Many no doubt were wounded
and died in the forest. The rest were
scared more thoroughly, probably.
| than White Mountain wolves were ever
scared before. To this day not wolf
has been seen or heard OF within the
confines of the region. Yet dear, an
occasional wildcat, and few bears are
killed every winter in the mountains
| close at hand.
"After the victory, the spoils. Five
dead wolves were not very valuable.
But the whole town had merrymak-
ing. 1t was like muster day. Down
the hill to the village came the troop.
The news had preceded them. A great
bonfire was built, and the dead wolves
were exhibited. In very cheerful
mood the Selectmen gave the hunters
$50 for their prowess.
Towed by Whales.