The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-07-29
ATTACKED BY WOLVES.
Appeared in New England for the First
Time in Century.


From the Ripton (vt.) Cor. Boston Her
aid.
Edward Harrington, of this town, had
an experience a few days ago which
doubtless has not been duplicated by any
other person in New England for nearly
a century. He was attacked by twelve
wolves in the woods, and but for his
presence of mind in always keeping
front toward the savage animals and
making a loud noise with his dinner pail
and by shouting would probably have
been seriously, If not fatally injured.
Harrington bears a good reputation in
town, and none of his neighbors doubts
his story. He had been engaged all the
afternoon in peeling poplar bark in what
is known as the Billings wood lot in this
town, and was returning home by cart
path through the woods about o'clock.
Suddenly he was startled by seeing two
dark-colored creatures in the road, one of
which rushed toward him, snarlng and
showing it's teeth. The animals were
about the height of setter dogs, but their
bodies seemed much longer As they APP
preached Harrington ratified the cup in
his dinner pail and shouted as loud as he
could The wolf, for such it was, stopped
at the noises, but still snarled and
dashed its tail furiously as it skunk to one
side of the road and kept it's eyes on the
woodsman.
At the clatter of the tin dishes the sec
ond wolf ceased to display much inter-
est in the matter. but watched its mate
closely at kept near at hand.
Harrington was thoroughly frightened
and wanted to run. I'D have given
good deal for a gum" he said TO a Boston
Herald reporter "but / was absolutely
defenseless. l should have started on the
run. but | knew that would mean my
finish. and | realized that the only thing
for me to do was to keep my eyes on the
brute and give him no chance to side
step me.
Il can but think, however what would
have happened If the fierce animal had
met with one or two or more children,
who in their fright would naturally have
started to run for help. Not more than
ten steps could have been taken before
the wolf would have been on one of them
and borne him to the ground. 1t would
have meant death. because l am con-
WINGED that l could not have saved my
self If that animal had once succeeded
in getting me to the ground. When l
go into the woods now after dark l am
ready for the wolves. They will not rush
at me more than once"
The wolves have been seen two or three
times before by farmers in remote sec
lions of this part of the country, which
is in the heart of the middle range of
the Green mountains. 1t is an old saying
that wolves are sure to follow wherever
there is plenty of deer, and In this sec
ton both deer and caribou have increased
to an enormous extent during the past
two or three years, and it is quite a COM
mon thing to see the beautiful animals
along the edges of the woods. Herald
reporter driving over to Bread Loaf last
Saturday saw a handsome doe carefully
studying the landscape on the edge of
meadow. only to flirt her tail defantly
and dash away into the underbrush when
the horses and wagon appeared.
1t will not require many more stories
of wolves being seen to start the men of
the community on hunt for the dam
gerous animals. As it is now parents
will not allow their children to go any
great distance into the woods. and even
on the borders of the settlements
sharp lookout is kept to guard against
any possibility of surprise.