Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-03-28
AMMONIA SAVED HIM.
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 a true wolf story written from data furnished by Dr. Thornton of Lewisburg, Pa, whose fa- ther figures as the hero:
 "Abort the year 1845 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, praetic- 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 the bedside of the sufferer attempted to make a short cut. He lost his way and for week wandered through the wilderness e,ANtf AA0 AAASS hO GAAif 0CS 0b44EOo GO 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 q large swamp. where the horse stepped into quag- mire, from which his owner was unable to extrieate him, and the animal had to be abandoned, imbedded as he 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 ahan- doned his horse he was horrifed to see that he was being followed by a 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 as dark ness came on. the hungry, bloodthirsty band became bolder and bolder. They cireled around the terrified and jaded man and closing in, started to attack him on all sides. One more vicious and impulsiye than the others made a spring at the doctor throat, but we'll direct ed blow from Q club temporarily dis abled the animal and caused his raven ous companions to discontinue at that time their premeditated and combined attack.
 tThe 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 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 corx- 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 soms new means of defense.
 Fortunately, as the animals began closing around him for another on- slaught, he reached Q high rock and mounted on it's 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 tho 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 tho head of one of the as- sailants, 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 in his saddlebags a large bottle full of ammonia, he deter mined to employ it as a final resort to save his life. He quickly removed one of his green baize leegings, tied it se- curely to Q stick, aud after saturating the lecging with ammonia he boldly started down the rocky promontory to- ward the wolves The cunning animals, apparently aware that he could be moro easily overpowered on level ground, separated slunk eff 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 bafled their powers.
 "The doctor stood still and waited until one of the brutes rushed within an arm $ length, when he struck him in the face with the cloth saturated with ammonia. This reception was 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.