The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-19
PUTNAM AND THE WOLF.
Descended Thrice Into the Den and
Killed the Beast.

Killed the Beast.
Hartford Comm Courant.
OF the great number of summer residents
in Pomfret, Hampton, and others of the
beautiful Windham county towns. it is
doubtful il many ever heard the complete
story of Gen. Israel Putnam's adventure
with wolf, and his descent into the
'darkSOme den" in which the monster
had taken refuge, his dispatching of the
beast, and the curious manner in which
both General Putnam and the wolf were
brought together from its terrifying depths.
This "den" is a well-known object of in
terest in Pomfret to this day, and TO those
who never heard the story, this account of
the exploit, taken from The American
Preceptor famous old Hartford imprint
Of the date of 1910, by Caleb Bingham,
author of 1.-The Columbian Orator, Childs
Companion ETC., will be found interesting:
SINGULAR ADVENTURE OF GENERAL
PUTNAM.
When General Putnam first moved to
Pomfret, in Connecticut, in the year 1879,
the country was new, and much infested
with wolves. Great havoc was made among
the sheep by a she-wolf, which, with her
annual whelps, had for several years con-
tinued in that vicinity. The young ones
were commonly destroyed by the vigilance
of the hunters; but the old was too
sagacious TO be ensnared by them.
2. This wolf at length became such an
intolerable nuisance that Mr.. Putnam en-
tered into combination with five of his
neighbors to hunt alternately until they
could destroy her. Two, by rotation, were
to be constantly in pursuit. 1t was known
that, having lost the toes from one foot by
q steel trap, she made one track shorter
than the other
3. BY tins vestige, the pursuers recog-
niZed in a light snow the route of this per-
nicious animal. Having followed her to the
Connecticut river, and found that she had
turned back in direct course toward
Pomfret, they Immediately returned. and
by 10 o'clock the next morning the blood
hounds had driven her into a den about
three miles distant from the house of Mr..
Putnam.
4. The people soon collected with dogs,
guns, straw fire and sulphur TO attack the
common enemy. With this apparatus, sew
eral unsuccessful efforts were made to
force her from the den. The hounds came
back badly wounded and refused to return.
The smoke of the blazing straw had no
effect. Nor did the fumes OF burned brim-
stone, with which the cavern was filled,
aef % with H5 t such frness
(Which had brought the time to 10 o'clock
at night Mr.. Putnam tried once more to
make his dog enter, but in vain; he pro-
posed to his negro man to go down into the
cavern and shoot the wolf. The negro de-
clined the hazardous service.
8. Then it was that their master, angry
he was ashamed of having a coward in his
family, resolved himself TO destroy the
ferocious beast, lest she would escape
through some unknown fissure of the rock.
Z. His neighbors strongly demonstrated
against the perlous enterprise; but he,
knowing that wild animals were intimidat--
ed by fire. and having provided several
strips of birch bark, the only combustible
material which he could obtain which
would afford light in this deep and dark
some cave. prepared for his descent.
s. Having accordingly Invested himself
of his coat and waistcoat, and having
long rope fastened around his legs, by
which ne might be pulled back at a con-
certed signal. he entered, head foremost,
with the blazing torch in his hand
g. Having CROPPED his passage till he
came to a horizontal part of the den, the
of the dim circle of light afforded by his
torch. il was silent as the house of death.
None but monsters of the desert had ever
before explored this solitary mansion of
horror.
TO- He cautiously proceeded onward
came to an ascent, which he slowly mount
ed on his hands and knees until he discov
cred the giaring eyeballs OF the wolf. who
was sitting at the extremity OF the cavern.
Startled a. the sight of fire she CRASHED
hel teeth and gave sudden growl.
H. n ncCcS-
sary discovery he kicked the rope as a
signal for pulling him out. The people at
the mouth OF the den, who had listened
with painful anxiety, hearing the growing
of the wolf and supposing their friend TO be
i'm the most imminent danger. drew him
forth with such celebrity that he strip
ped of his clothes and severely bruised.
IL. After he had adjusted his clothes and
loaded his gun with nine buckshot, hold
ing torch in one hand ard the musket in
the other. he descended a second time
When he drew nearer than before, the wolf
assuming still more fierce and terrible
appearance, bowling. rolling her eyes
swapping her teeth ana dropping her head
between her legs, was evidently in the at
titude and on the point of springing at him.
Is. At this critical instant he 1eveled
and fired at her head. Stunned with the
shock and suffocated with the smoke he
Immediately found himself drawn out of
the cave. But having refreshed himself
and permitted the smoke TO dissipate, he
went down the third time.
IA Once more he came within sight of
the wolf. who. appearing very passive. he
applied the torch to her nose. and per-
cefving her dead. he took hold of her ears
| and then kicking the rope fstill tied around
his legs, the people above, with no small
exultation dragged them both out to-
gether
! In the ssParadfse of the Paci6c."