The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-11-20
sHEEPHERDER COMPELLED TO
FIGHT FOR LIFE.
A CLUB HIS ONLY WEAPON
After Desperate Struggle William c.
Scott Kills Ferocious Beast
That Attacks Him.


man, arrived in the city last evening
and in course of conversation with
The Gazette related the story of
thrilling encounter one of his herders,
w. c. Scott, had with wolf about
1C days ago.
Scott was holding a band of sheep
on Parrot creek. AS is the custom
of most herders, he usually carries
a weapon of some sort, generally
rifle, but on this particular day had
left the gun in camp, as he had not
seen anything in the way of game or
wild animal of any kind for a number
OF days, and, as he afterward express
ed himself, did not care to carry q
piece of iron with him when there
was no need of it.
Battling for Life.
While looking after his sheep he
suddenly saw three wolves approach
ing. All were of the large gray va
riety and apparently bent upon mis-
chief. The only weapon Scott had
was club and he began to wonder
what the outcome would be if the ami
mails should attack him. They con-
tinued to draw nearer to him until
only a short distance intervened be-
tween him and them. Two now STOP
ped, while the third made rush at
Scott. The herder aimed blow at
the brute and succeeded in knocking
it down. Only an instant was the
wolf down when he regained his feet
and renewed the attack. This time
the animal made desperate lunge
and knocked the herder down. Over
and over they rolled, Scott all the
time trying to get back onto his feet
and bring his club into play again.
He finally managed to get up and
when the wolf jumped at him the
third time he struck it across the back
with the club The force of the blow
was sufficient to break the beasts
back and thus helpless it was killed
by Scott, who beat it to death with 3
the stick.
Others Keep Away.
For some reason the other two
wolves did not attack the herder, but
remained where they had stopped and
seemingly watched the progress of the
fight. They fingered for sometime af-
ter their companion had been killed
and then leisurely trotted off, much to
the satisfaction of Scott, who was
thoroughly exhausted by his fight with
the other. In relating the affair to Mr.
Strait he said he was so overcome
with fatigue and the tension on his
nerves had been so great that he was
compelled to sit down, notwithstand-
ing he momentarily expected the re-
wolves to attack him.
While Mr.. Strait, of course did not
witness the battle, he said he had
no reason for doubling the herder's
tale. Mr.. Strait has the skin of the
wolf, which is fully eight feet long
from the tip of the nose to the tip
of the tail, and there is no bullet hole
or other mark to show that the animal
that wore it was killed by shooting
or in any other manenr than claimed
by Scott
Something Very Unusual.
What is really a remarkable fact
in connection with the affair is that
/ wolf should be so bold as to attack
a man in the daytime, especially as
he weather was still quite warm.
instances are known where men have
oeen similarly attacked, but not often
las it occurred tnat single wolf has
lad the temerity to attack a man,
two or more combining and
hen only when made desperate Dy
lunger or when cornered and compell-
ID to fight.