Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1898-04-09
AMMONIA SAVED HIM.
A PENNSYLVANIA DOCTORS ExPE-
RlENCE WITH WOLVES.

A Pennsylvania DOCTORS EXPE-
RlENcE WITH WOLVES.
Lost In Wilderness, He Had to Abandon
His Horse and For Forty-eiGht Hours
Carried on Contest With His Life as
the Stake.
The following is true wolf story
written from data furnished by DR..
Thornton of Lewisburg, Pa, whose ia
Their figures as the hero:
"About the year 1915 wolves were
abundant in Tomhickon valley, between
Catawissa and Hazleton. When tho
Catawissa railroad, part Of the Phil
adelphia and Reading, was being built,
Dr. Thomas a. H. Thornton, practio-
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 in his anxiety to reach tho bedside
of the sufferer attempted to make n
short cut. He lost his way and for q
week wandered through the wilderness
and, having no gun, was obliged to
subsist OH roots and herbs. The doctor
was on horseback and after wandering
aimlossly about the painless forests for
four or five days got into large swamp,
where the horse stepped into quag-
mire, from which his owner was unable
to oxtricato him, and the animal had
to be abandoned, imbedded as he was
almost to his belly i'll the soft and Doggy
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 respectful distance when stones
were thrown at them, but finally, as if
they appreciated the helpless condition
of their intended victim, and Us dark
ness came on, the hungry bloodthirsty
band became holder and holder. They
circled around the terrified and jaded
man and, closing in, started to attack
him on all sides. One more vicious and
impulsive than the others made a spring
at the doctors throat, but we'll direct
ed blow from club temporarily dis
abled the animal and caused his raven
Gus companions to discontinue at chat
time their premeditated and combined
attack.
"The doctor. by this thrilling episode
and the frightened condition of the
wolves succeeded in going perhaps q
mile unmolested when, to his great
horror, he found the whole pack, led by
the vicious brute he believed he had
manned 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 he would soon be torn
to 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 giant tree
served to protect him from falling back
ward. He reached this eminence in time
20 provide him self 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 ac-
curacy broke the head of one Of the as
sailants, and this gave the doctor a
breathing spell.
1.-The man, however, realized that he
must soon quit his refuge, and, remem-
bering that be had in his saddlebags a
large bottle full of ammonia, be deter
mined to employ it as final resort to
save his life He quickly removed one
of his green baize leggings, tied it Sc
curely to stick, and after saturating
the logging with ammonia he boldly
started down the rocky promontory to-
ward the wolves The cunning animals,
apparently aware that he could be more
easily overpowered on level ground,
separated, Sunk off 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 batfied their
powers.
1.-The doctor stood still and waited
until one of the brutes rushed within
an arms 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
the wolves followed the doctor till day
light next morning, when they gave up
the chase, which they had continued for
Is hours aud which unquestionably
would have resulted in most horrible
death if it bad not been for the contents
of the ammonia bottle.
"Dr. Thornton succeeded in finding a
shanty occupied by the men construct
ing the Catawissa railroad, where he
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.
A Trade Secret.
ooh. Mr.. Scauuertou. she exclaimed