The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1901-04-18

j. Stattler, aged twenty-five. has come
out Of the wilds of Northern Mime
sofa after an experience that gave
him all he wanted of the woods and
more, too. For several hours he was
caught in a bear trap in Beltrami
County and surrounded by wolves that
threatened his life. His gray hairs
and shaken nerves are the result Of
that experience.
He went into the woods with a party
of lumbermen. One afternoon he went
to visit a bear trap set some distance
from camp. He followed a route diff
ferent from the usual one, and in con-
sequence reached the trap before he
was aware of it. In fact, the first no.
tice he had of ii was click and a
snap, and then an excruciating pain
in his leg as the traps jaws closed on
his right leg just above the ankle.
The teeth cut through the trousers,
leggins and two pairs of socks, and
bit into the flesh.
Stafler dropped his gun, and with
cry of pain knelt down to try to pry
the jaws Of the trap open. Then he re-
membered that it had taken two men
to set IT, and that it was too strong for
him. His efforts to free himself LAGER
ated his flesh. He thought Of unfas-
tening the chain and dragging the trap
to camp. two miles distant. but when
he tried he found that it was impossi-
bic. Not only was the trap 700 heavy
for him, but at every step its weight
brought the teeth deeper into the flesh
Of his leg.
Then he bethought himself of his
rifle, and fired several shots. hoping
the sound would reach the camp. but
the wind was blowing in the wrong
direction, and the effort failed. He
fought off 4 feeling of faintness that
came over him, for he feared that if
he tainted he would freeze to death.
AS dusk drew on he fired several more
shots. as the wind had died away and
he had more hope that the sound
would reach camp. Then he was con-
fronted by a new terror.
He heard the pattering Of feet in the
woods. and the sound of a long,
mournful howl. Then came answering
cries from other wolves, drawing near
er in answer TO the call of the first
wolf. Soon the underbrush seemed
alive with them, and he could see
their eyes shining.
He struggled TO a sitting position
and filled the chambers of his rifle
with cartridges. The wolves drew
nearer. Suddenly about a dozen of
them trotted forth from the woods,
and he could see their dark forms
scurrying about as they made detour,
drawing nearer as they ran. They
seemed to be planning final approach.
Staffier fired. The wolves scattered,
but did not run away. They sat down
on their launches and watched him.
Staffier fired again and again, but he
was nervous and frightened and shot
wildly.
Every time he ceased the wolves be-
gan to draw in on him, and Staffier be
lieved that it was only a question of
minutes before the wolves would be
tearing his body. He was almost
ready TO turn the rife on himself when
he heard a human voice near at hand
and he sank back in a faint. AS his
friends from the camp came 10 his re-
lief the wolves scattered and several
We're killed.
His companions made a stretcher
and carried him back to camp, where
they dressed his wounds as best they
could When they got into the light
of the fire one of them started.
My Cod" he exclaimed. Hes
gray-headed"
And he was right. Staff1er's hair.
black that day, had turned almost
white.
His comrades explained that they
had heard his shots shortly after dark,
and thought little of them at first, be-
lieveing that he had either found
bear in the trap and was aespatching
it, or that he was shooting at other
game. When the shots continued they
became alarmed, and made their way
to the spot as rapidly as possible. 1t
is their belief that they arrived in the
nick of time.
When Staffier reached Duluth on his
way home he was supported by a big
W0odSman, Tor he was uudDle 10 Ndih
alone His snow-white hair in con-
trast to his evident youth attracted
much attention, and so did his story.
He is now resting at home, and it will
be long time before he will seek the
woods again.-New York Sun.
The StrandinG of the "Myrtle Purdy."
One of the most notable surfmen of
the Atlantic coast is Captain Albert H.
Myers, keeper of the life-saving sta
ton at Quoddy Head Maine. Myers
first became famous when the schoon-
or Myrtle Purdy stranded near his sta
ton on January 0, 1886 She was seen
drifting, helpless, in Il violent snow
storm, and after ordering out his crew,
with their apparatus, Myers hurried
down to the beach to locate her when
she should strike the sand, and so be
able to guide the crew who had 10
struggle along slowly with their gear
on account Of the snowdrifts and ice.