Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-03-26
Pursued by Wolves.

Captain Baldwin gave me an account
of an accident that happened to him in
May, 1866, says General Miles in the
North American Review.
II was stationed" said he. lat Fort
Harker. Kan, in command of com
pany of the Thirty seventh infantry.
Fort Harker was located on the over
land stage route from Fort Riley to
Denver, and after leaving Fort Harker
it was unsafe for any one to travel in
daylight except with a good escort OF
troops.
"On one of my journeys of inspection
| stopped within thirty miles from the
fort to have a buffalo hunt and hunted
all day, but at night l was obliged to
start back for the post | left the sta
tion about 4 o'clock in the afternoon in
fresh horse that was both strong and
spirited. | was alone and armed only
with small 36-caliber pistol. depend
ing almost entirely upon my horse to
escape any danger from Indians. not
anticipating danger from any other
source.
Il had ridden about ten miles when
it began to grow dark. My horse TAX
ing an easy trot, l was rather enjoying
the ride. l had noticed previous to
this time the bowling of wolves, but
had paid very little attention to it. AS
l rode along | noticed that this howl
ing began to get closer and at length
bark and howl of two or three wolves
very close to me. Looking back, saw
| two coyotes and one big prairie or Lobo
wolf following close behind me and
bowling their utmost. This rather
startled the horse, as you may be sure
it did me. l increased my speed, but
still they gained on me and it wasn't
long before their numbers grew to a
dozen or more and the distance between
them and my horse was very much
! lessened.
Il began to appreciate the danger and
realized for the first time that had a
weapon with which it was doubtful
whether l could defend myself against
such ravenous beasts as these. re-
called the fact that just before leaving
l had counted the number of rounds of
ammunition had which was Just forty
nine.
Il had left the stage route. intending
to go to the post by trail which woul,,
save me something more than five
miles In distance, and as it was dark
had hopes of gaining one of the stations
along the route. but was obliged to keen
the trail. trusting to my mount to take
me out of what had now become a real
danger. The wolves kept gaining on
me until they had got within a very
short distance before fired the frs,
shot at them. which fortunately dis.
abled one of their number to the exten,
that blood ran from him and they be-
gan to howl. whereupon the whole pacb
turned upon him and tore him to pieces
This gave me little start of 100 or 2O(
yards before they commenced follow.
ing again. l fired every shot with tn,
greatest care. and it was seldom that
missed disabling or killing one o.
them.
Afraid of firing my horse at the
start, l rode very carefully. The mum
Der Of the wolves increased until Their,
were not less than from fifty to seventy
five Of them. and they followed me fo
at least twenty miles, cutting my horsj
in the rear and tanks. often getting al
most in his front enabling me 20 shoe
from right to left. firing when the ami
mails were not four feet distant frol.
me. Fortunately i ran through a larg,