Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-05-05


 Carried on 2 Contest With His Life IS
 Che stake.
 The following is true wolf story written from data furnished by Dr. Thornton of Lewisburg Pa, whose fa- ther figures as the hero:
 About the year 1s45 wolves were abundant in Tomhickon valley, between Catawissa and Hazleton When the Catawissa railroad a part of the Phil adelphia and Reading was being built Dr. Thomas A. H. Thornton, a practie- 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. Dr. Thorn ton i'll his anxiety to reach the bedside of the sufferer attempted to make a short cut He lost his way and for week wandered through the wilderness and, having no gun, was obliged to subsist on roots and herbs. The doctor was on horseback and after wandering aimlessly 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 Eo extricate him, and tlIe animal had eo be abandoned, imbedded as he was almost to his belly i'll 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 tue doctor got ont of the swamp where he had aban- tioned his horse he was mortified to see that he was being followed by band of five CT six wolves. At first they kept at q respectful distance when stones were thrown at them but finally, as if they appreciated the helpless condition of their intended victim, and as dark ness came on, the hungry bloodthirsty band became bolder and holder. They rircled around the terrified and jaded man and, closing in, started to attack him on all sides One moro vicious and impulsiye than the others made spring ae the doctor s throat, but a we'll direct cd blow from club temporarily dis abIed the animal and caused his raven ous companions to discontinue at that time their premeditated and combined attack
 The doctor. by this thrilling episode and the frightened condition of the wolves, succeeded in going perhaps mile unmolested when, to his great horror, he found the whole pack, led by She vicious brute he believed he had maimed with his club, hot on his trail. The stunning blow administered to the leader of the bowling band seemed to have only intensified the brute's cour- age and thirst for blood. The man, weakened by long exposure and loss of food, realized that be would soon be torn Co pieces if he did not adopt some new means of defense.
 Fortunately, as the animals began closing around him for another on- slaught, he reached high rock and mounted on its top, where Q giant tree served to protect him from falling back ward. He reached this ominence in time to provide himself with some stones and two or three good clubs before his pur- suers started to attack him. He stood back to the tree, and as the animals at- tempted to come up he drove them back with his primitive weapons. A large stone hurled with great force and &C., curaey broke the head of one of the as- saiiants and this gave the doctor a breathing spell
 The man, however, realized that he must soon quit his refuge, and, remem- bering that he had ill his saddlebags large bottle full of ammonia, he deter mined to employ it as final resort to save his life. He quickly removed one of his green baize leggings, tied it se- c1Eely to stick, and after saturating she logging with ammonia he boldly started down the rocky promentory to- ward the wolves. The cunning animals, apparently aware that he could be more easily overpowered on level ground, separated, slunk off and permitted him Co 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 baffled their powers
 f'The doctor stood still and waited until one of the brutes rushed within an arm s length, when he struck him en the face with the cloth saturated with ammonia. This reception was 1nost novel and unique one for the wolf, @ho ran off bowling with pain. Two ynore Of the band were slapped across the mouths with the saturated baize, and they also left. After this experience Che wolves followed the doctor till day light next morning, when they gave up ehe chase, which they had continued for