The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-06-02
tragedy 0F WOODS
Black Wolves Give Antelope
an Exciting Chase.
RVETED A SPECTATOR
Observations on the Methods
of Wild Animals.

one day IN the fsll Of 1883. IN the noun
tains Of northern Colorado, while engag-
ID about the ranch, I saw up at the head
II the meadow a half nile away a bunch
Of q dozen antelope coming down from
the nils at fun speed, closely pursued by
s9m black wolf. since an occasional one
had been seen, and nothing else that I
eotld think Of could run as this was run
aing. All who are familiar with ante
iope know how wonderful IS their speed;
there are a very, very few animals which
-an equal them.
When dst saw them the wolf was per
haps five or six rods behind and during
the distance could see them (possibly
eighty rods II was gaining steadily but
Furely, and as they went out of sight into
the hills on the other side of the meadow
It was eemingiy only about two jumps
behind. and they began to scatter as It
Fa,s closing In on them.
was so intensely interested that 1 was
fairly rireteG TO the spot and not until
they had disappeared did I waken TO ac-
uon. ran 10 the bunk-house, got my
gun. and ran up q. steep, timbered hill
sile for near cut TO an open valley, for
Which they were headed, believing it
would catch one within q short distance
When 7 got 70 the edge Of the timber
o. top of the hill / saw the antelope all
huddIed together and standing stil, just
as sheep do after being chased or scared.
The antelope would have offered a good
shot If it had been meat was altar but
/ cared nothing for getting an antelope,
but did want shot at the wolf
Judging from the actions Of the others,
I felt certain il had caught one but the
surrounding country was composed Of
ridges, ravines and patches Of timber, I
tlled TO md any trace Of the wolf and
its prey.
As I trudged back home my fruidess
chase, / meditated, as have often done
since, on the long unwritten history Of
wud-animaI life in regions where nan
has not broken In upon the natural con
diuons; Of the contests and conquests
among natures wild creatures, from the
smallest up to the monarchs of the forest
all unknown and unrecorded. save on
rare occasions when we by chance see for
ourselves or see the evidence thereof, ter
ninatng, Of course. in the survival OF
the httest
At one time 7 was passing along the
edge OF the woods in winter where there
was snow. I saw the track of a lynx,
where it had been leisurely travelling
along. when the tracks showed where II
had stopped behind a pine bush and
squatted down IN the snow. then made a
tremendous leap out into the open field,
and run q few rods. evidently at its best
pace
There was the track Of a jack rabbit
coming down at right angles with the
course the lynx was going until directly
opposite where the lynx was crouching
behind the bush and about fifteen feet
away then a sudden turn and their
tracks were mixed together ia the race
Tor lie or a meal. but soon the tracks
showed where Jack had left his pursuer
behind aad the lynx went on his way at
his regular gait but. we win suppose, not
rejoicing. thus showing the survival Of
the "ewiftest
Had jack failed TO get out Of reach and
the lynx made the proposed connections
there would have been a bloody. trampled
spot on the snow, a few patches Of white
1ur. and only the lynx track leading
thither Written en- the snow ike the
sreat white raEes 0f book the observer
may read most interesting tales as he
passes along. and learn the life and hab-
its of natures wild creatures.-E'orest and
Stream.