Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-06-23
AMMONIA SAVED HIM.
A PENNSYLVANIA DOCTORS ExFE-
RlENCE WITH WOLVES.

A PENNSYLVANIA DOCTORS ExFE-
RlENCE WITH WOLVES.
Lost In a Wilderness, He Had to Abandon
His Horse and For orty-eight Hours
Carried on a 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
ther figures as the hero:
"About the year 1916 wolves were
abundant in Tomhickon valley, between
Catawissa and Hazleton. When the
Catawissa railroad. part of the Phil
adelphia and Reading, was being built,
DR.. Thomas A. H. Thornton, practie.
ing physician, one cold autumn night
was called out Of bed to visit a 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 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 quag-
mire, from which his owner was unable
| to extricate him, and the animal had
| to be abandoned, imbedded. as he was
| almost to his belly in 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 zee
that he was being followed by a band
of five or six wolves. At first they kept
at respectful distance when stones
were thrown ct them, but finally, as il
they appreciated the helpless condition
of their intended victim, and as 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 spring
at the doctor throat, but we'll direct
ed blow from club temporarily dis
abled the animal and caused his raven
GUS 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 a
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 tc
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
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 bacl
with his primitive weapons A large
stone hurled with great force and ac
, curacy broke the head of enc of the as
, sailants, and this gave the doctor {
+ breathing spell.
, "The man, however, realized that ht
: must soon quit his refuge, and, remem
bering that be had in his saddlebags {
large bottle full Of ammonia, he deter
T. mined to employ it as final resort tt
! save his life. He quickly removed ont
, of his green baiza leggings, tied it Sc
= curely to a stick, and after saturatln9
| the Logging with ammonia he boldl.
! started down the rocky promcntory TO
9 ward the wolves. The cunning animals
apparently aware that he could be moro
: easily overpowered on level ground
), separated, skunk off and permitted hin
:, to proceed several hundred yards befcr
: they renewed the pursuit. They did not
however, allow much time to elapse be
fore they took the trail Of the man wit
had thus far so successfully baffled thei
powers.
- "The doctor stood still and waitet
= until one of the brutes rushed within
. an arm S length, when he struck hin
: in the face with the cloth saturate'
, with ammonia. This reception was
most novel and unique one for the wolf
who ran off bowling with pain. Tw
more of the band were slapped acros
l 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 n
the chase, which they had continued TO
= 48 hours and which unquestionabl.
. would have resulted in most horribl
y death if it had not been for the content
Of the ammonia bottle.
y CDR. Thornton succeeded in finding
shanty occupied by the men construct
- ing the Catawissa railroad, where Ii
> was carefully cared for, and in tn
, course Of four Or five days was taken
> his home, where he was i'll for fully
month. "-Philadeiphia Record.