Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-09-27
Fight for Life
With Wolves.
A Ranohman's Thrilling Adventure on the
Western Plains.


cident happened" writes II. w. Steven
son in the Pittsburg Dispatch. BE
ing a young man, scarcely 1S, l was
naturally opposed to working all the
time, so had taken a well-earned holi-
day and had gone over to Fort Larned
10 pay visit to friends who were then
IN the service of the government.
Being mounted on good horse and
accompanied by my favorite dog, Tim,
did not feel lonesome, and it was
Just getting dusk when l set out on
my return journey. Tim thought he
would venture on a little hunting eX-
psdition of his own, SO, leaving me to
follow at my leisure, spurted on ahead
In search Of game.
81 had not ridden very far before
became aware of an unusual amount
of noise and barking some distance
In front, and apparently in line of
where l was heading for. l had not
heard any sound for over half an hour
that would indicate where my dog
was, so when this yelping suddenly
smote my ear l surmiSed that he had
cornered or captured some sort OF
game.
Carefully examining my revolvers,
of which l most always carried a couple
In my belt when out on these eX-
cursions by myself, l rode hurriedly
forward to investigate the trouble. In
another moment l was in the midst
of the conflict, and then it was for
the first time became fully aware Of
what was transpiring.
ut wasn't dogs at all, as / at first
thought, that We're killing my hound,
but wolves-prairie wolves-and as
soon as l took in the situation l knew
that not only the life of my favorite
dog was in danger, but l, myself, was
In a tight place and must act, and
that quickly, if l ever expected to
reach my friends alive. The moon had
by this time lifted her illuminated
face above the eastern sky line, and
her mellow light enabled me to family
distinguish this struggling mass of
wolves, fighting over the remains OF
my poor dog He was past all help
on my part, but had died game and
lighting to the last, as was evidenced
by number of dead and dying wolves
scattered round the edge of their sur
viving comrades.
"a feeling of revenge took posses
sion of me at the sight of my dead
hound, and utterly regardless of my
own safety 1 determined to get even
with these four-legged cannibals for
the loss of my dog. My horse was
shying and prancing so that my aim
was poor, and as soon as l began fir-
Ing it was all that could do to keep
him from running off. But was de-
termined to have revenge and con-
hnued firing into the crowd Of wolves
until had emptled both my revolvers.
NV aim must have been bad for after
/ had ceased firing there seemed to be
rs many wolves still surviving as
there were when l began, but l must
have put several of them out OF the
rame, at least. Maddened by the
taste of blood, and almost. devouring
pne another in their eagerness to
satisfy their ravenous hunger. they.
Ill at once, turned their attention to
where l and my now thoroughly
frightened horse We're standing.
~.Twas then fully realized my
perilous position. Unarmed as 1 was.
having exhausted all my ammunition,
I was in no manner match for these
savage animals, who We're maddened
to frenzy by the taste of blood. My
only safety lay in flight and without
4 moments hesitation l dug the spurs
into my horse and he responded to t1e
unkind treatment on my part by Civ
Ing a leap that almost threw me out
pf the saddle. and was off like the
wind.
"I headed him as best I could in
the direction of where l thought our
camp lay, and glancing back over my
shoulder saw that the wolves had de-
serted their recent prey and were now
following close in my wake. knew
/ would become an easy victim II
once they caught up with me, aud
became thoroughly alarmed at the
thought of falling into their clutches
md sharing the fate Of my poor
hound.
"Giving my horse full rein, regard
less of consequences and urging hin.
forward, with my spurs, he bounded
)ver the prairie leaping holes like a
stag, with me clinging to the saddle
Tor dear life. He, too, realized the
peril We were in, and, good, sensible
beast as he was, tried his utmost to
get Inc out of my predicament.
But we were having a harder time
Of 1t than we wished. The ground
was so rough 1t was difficult travel
ing, and more than once my horse
stumbled and l came near going over
his head, aud that would have ended
my journey. ] realized that my foes
were gaining rapidly on me, and my !!
how ] strained my eyes to catch n
EllmDse of the friendly light Of our