Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-01
HUNTER ACQUIRES RANCH
BY KILLING WOLVES
TELLS OF DESPERATE FIGHT HE
WON
Carries = Tooth Of the Animal ss q
Memento Of the Encounter--Made
Money From eountles and Fur Of
Pests
Special to The Herald.

Special to The Herald.
ALLIANCE, Neb., Nov. 30.--Peter
Watson of Maryland, Dawes county, at
45 years OF age. has given UP wolf
hunting as a means Of a livelihood. He
is now looking after his big cattle
ranch. which he acquired through rev
enue from wolf and coyote scalps,
which some years during his career as a
hunter was as much as $4,000.
II Mr.. Watson should go hunting now
he would probably kill wolves that
happened his way with a gun. When
he was out for profit he killed them
with a club. finding 1t the surest, quick
est and cheapest method. It sometimes
brought him into close contact with
the wolves, and 1t was in this sort
OF fights that he received the many
scars on his hands and face, all except
the bullet scar on the right cheek, a
souvenier Of the battle at Wounded
Knee. Watson's friends say he has
killed more wolves and carries more
scars than any other man in the United
States.
But here in Alliance, where Mr.. Wat
son has led every parade for twenty
years and Is considered the greatest
drill master and organizer in the coun-
try. he will continue to be known as
Pete, the Wolf Hunter" He will con-
tinue to carry as his lucky stone" and
pocket piece, the polished wolf tooth,
the history of which he was not so
reluctant to tell now that he has quit
his once dangerous vocation which
brought greater security to the cattle
mems herds hereabouts. This is the
tooth story" as Pete, the Wolf Hunt
err" tells It:
There Is something OF story about
that tooth, and this big scar on my
hand is constant reminder OF it.
But first you must KNOW" he ex-
claimed, that the coyote and wolf are
the worst enemies of the stockmen, and
every method has been employed to ex-
terminate them, until they are almost
extinct: at least in Northern Nebraska.
and the western part of the Dakotas,
and they are fast disappearing In other
parts of the country. Coyotes are still
plentiful, however.
with the disappearance of the buf-
falo and the fierce ravages of the white
men on the wolves for their fur, the
latter also commenced to disappear. But
about fifteen years ago they began
to increase in numbers until they be-
came once more as numerous as ever
and infinitely more wary and difficult to
kill.
Along the Little Missouri. the north
Wyoming this increase in the last few
years has been noticeable.
They became so daring as to thor
oughly arouse the stockmen. Not only
colts and calves, but in midwinter full
grown horses and steers were slain.
The counties put a bounty OF So each
upon wolf scalps. to which the ranch
men of many neighborhods added a
further bounty of $5.
This made SS for every wolf and as
the skin was also worth something the
killing became profitable. Many men
tried poisoning or trapping. but the
most successful way to kill them is
by the use Of hounds.
Il own pack of twenty which are
the best trained in this part OF the
country. They are not what you call
fine-looking, but they are thoroughly
trained In chasing and worrying wolves.
Il was hunting one day without my
club and had travelled several miles
before I saw a wolf. The hounds had
become tired. but finally discovered a
wolf and were off on the trail like a
flash. The wolf was very wary, and
eluded the dogs by running in ruts and
around hillocks, eventually tiring some
of the hounds until they dropped out
of the race.
"The wolf started through a cluster
of trees on the bank OF the river, but
changed its mind, and cutting along
the bank started back again, running
almost underneath my horse. AS 1t
passed it gave a vicious snap at my
foot. cutting the boot.
Before could turn after the animal
It retraced Its course and started TO
Jump the creek. but a dog caught 1t
by the leg and pinned it to the ground.
THE wolf was not to be conquered
easily. and in the scuffie which followed
INsS Ff-I.o = 4
gave a yell and let go, but leaped
from my horse and was upon the ami
NAL. / held my horse with one hand
while I fought the wolf with the other.
THE only method / could use effec-
lively was jabbing my fist into it's
mouth, and was doing this when the
jaws snapped.
IT gave terrific jerk, pulled my
hand from the animals mouth, but the
flesh was badly torn by the VOLTS front
teeth.
''The force of my jerk loosened one
TOOTH which | saved and carry as a
lucky piece.
After chasing that wolf so long I
was not going to give UP. 7 let go
1he horses reins and commenced with
my other hand, throwing my weight on
the animal. finally succeeded in get
ting good grip on its lower Jaw, and
hy pressing its jaws together, was able
TO prevent it from biting me. held it
until l could fasten it's mouth with
wire. I then threw the animal on
my horses back and mounted.
THE wolf was unhurt, and made no
attempt to get away. but kept its
ears picked up during our ride home.
This action of the animal may seem
strange, but since then l have captured
several Of the wolves. and ali seem
TO realize that they cannot bite, and re-
sign themselves to their fate"