The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1898-03-06


The following is "a true wolf story
written from data furnished by Dr..
Thornton Of Lewisburg, Pa, whose "a
Their figures as the hero:
about the year 1s45 wolves wero
abundant in Tomhickon valley, between
Catawissa and Hazleton. When the
Catawissa railroad, part Of the@hil
adelphia and Reading, was being built,
Dr. Thomas A. H. Thornton. practic
ing physician, one cold autumn night
was called out Of bed to visit patient
about 20 miles from his home. At that
time there were no regular roads as we
now have. In their place the traveller
used narrow paths or trails. Or. Thorn
ton in his anxiety to reach tho bedside
Of the sufferer attem pied to make a
short cut. He lost his way and for a
week wandered through the wilderness
and, having no gun, was obliged 10
subsist on roots and herbs. The doctor
was on horseback and after wandering
aimiessly about the painless forests for
four or five days got into large swamp
where the horse stepped into a quag-
mire, from which his owner was unable
to extricate him, and tho animal had
to be abandoned, imbedded as be was
almost to his belly in the soft and boggy
bed. The doctor removed the saddle
bags containing his supply Of medicine,
etc, threw them over his shoulders and
started Off
Several hours after the doctor got
out Of the swamp where he had aban-
doned his horse he was Mortified to see
that he was being followed BY band
Of five or six wolves. At first they kept
at a respectful distance when stones
were thrown at them, but finally, a. If
they appreciated the helpless condition
Of their intended victim, and as dark
ness came on, the hungry, bloodthirsty
band became holder and bolder. They
oircla1 n56nd the terrified aud jaded
man and, closing il started 70 attack
him ON all sides One more vicious and
impulsiye than the others made spring
at the doctor throat, but well direct
ed blow from club temporarily dis
abled the animal and caused his raven
Gus companions to disoEqtinue at that
time their premedi and combined
attack So
- doctor by this thrilling episode
and "a frightened condition Of the
N Bucceeded ia going perhaps
mile hnmolested when, to his great
horror, heksHRd the whole pack, led by
the yicioi q he believed be had
MANNED With his club, hot on his trail
The stunning blow administered TO the
leader Of the Rwling baud seemed to
have only intensified tho brute's cour-
age and thirst FOR blood. The man.
weakened by long exposure and loss Of
food, realized that he would soon be torn
to pieces II be did not adopt some new
means Of defense.
Fortunately, as the animals began
closing around him for another on
slaught, he reached D high rock an2a
mounted on its top, where giant treo
served 20 protect him from falling back
ward. He reached this eminence IN time
TO provide himself with some stones and
two or three good clubs beloge his pur-
suers started to attack hi He stood
back to on Yaninlais at
tempted 10 them back
with has A large
stone hurlea and &C
curacy broke th6 he s. of the as.
sailants, and this WE the doctor d
breathing SPELL
THE man, however, realized that he
must soon qait his refuge, and, remem.
bering that he had in his saddlebags q
large bottle full Of ammonia, no deter
mined to employ it as final resort to
save bis life. He quickly removed one
Of his green baize leggings. tied it Sc
cureiy to stick, aud after saturating
the logging with ammonia he boldly
started down the rocky prom0ntory to-
ward tho wolves. The cunning animals,
apparently aware that he could be more
easily overpowered on level ground,
separated, skunk of and permitted him
to proceed several hundred yards before
they renewed the pursuit They did not,
however, allow much time to elapse be.
fore they took the trail of the man who
had thus far so successfully baffied their
powers.
Tho doctor stood still and waited
until one of the brutes rushed within
an arm S length, when he struck him
in the face with the cloth saturated |
with ammonia. This reception was a
most novel and unique one for the wolf,
who ran off bowling with pain Two
more Of the band were slapped across
the mouths with the saturated baize,
and they also left. After this experience J
the wolves followed the doctor till day
Light next morning. when they gave mp
the chase, which they had continued for
as hours and which unquestionably
would have resulted in a most horrible |
death il it bad not been for he contents |
of the ammonia bottle
"Dr. Thornton succeeded in finding a
shanty occupied by the men construct |
ing the Catawissa railroad, where be |
was carefully cared for, and in the
course OF four or five days was taken to
his home, where he was i'll for fully a
month. philadelphia Record.
Where the world Lives.
ne svorv o00 iuhahitanke ~ che