Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-06-29
DAILY STORY.
A DOCTORS WEAPON.


tered region, being obliged to ride
often over Wild country by night as
well as by day. meets with a great
many dangers. In the early part of
the nineteenth century, when Ken
lucky was being settled. DR.. Eben Kirk
was called upon one night to see a
very sick patient some twenty miles
from his home. AS usual. he took his
rifle and Il dozen rounds of ammuni-
ton. threw lns saddlebags containing
his medicines over his horse and start
ed. it was at'the close of hard Win
ter, when the ground had for several
months been covered with SHOW,
though it had melted so far as not to
interfere with travel. At such Il time
the wild animalSsof Il virgin country,
| made hungry by: the difficulty of OBJ
tanning food. arei ESPECIALLY fierce. and
the doctor realized that if he came in
contact with any capable of attacking
a man he would have to fight for his
life. Fortunately it was bright moon
light and he could see about him.
He had madeione half of his journey
when he heard Il distant barking and
knew that wolves were abroad forag
ing for food. The barkings quickly
drew nearer. and. realizing that he
would have to fight a whole pack, be
hurried on, but had not gone n mile
before he heard wolves directly behind
him. As they came up he turned and
fired, killing their leader. This gave
him q little time. while the wolves de
voured the carcass, to reload.
When they came up again he sent an
other bullet among them, but his horse
was terror STRICKEN, and the doctor
could not bring down any special wolf.
After firing six bullets in this way at
the pack he determined that he must
sacrifice his horse. SO. dismounting, he
left him, taking thought to remove his
saddlebags. and ran on. The horse
darted wildly away in one direction,
while the doctor took another. y part
of the pack followed the horse, while
the rest followed the man.
Coming to Il little eminence protect
ed on the TANKS he mounted it and
took position to defend himself. He
had six bullets left ,and must use them
to advantage. He killed two of his
enemies. missed a third and killed a
fourth. He had now but two bullets
with which 10 save his life. and there
We're still half Il dozen wolves attack
ing him. With one bullet he seriously
wounded one of them. Then there was
a slight respite, While they devoured
the dead wolf. but as soon as this was
done the others came at him again,
and he fired the last ibullet But he
was in such terror tina the missed every
remaining wolf.
He was now reduced to an empty
rife as IL means of defense. For time
he dubbed the Snarling bruteS, barely
keeping them from overpowerin" him.
Meanwhile he was trying 10 invent
some new means of defense. He had
some acids in his sadGlebags which
might burn the beasts if he could get
1t on TO them. Then he bethought hiu,-
self of something i'll his coat peck ei
which might better serve his purpose.
That day his wife had aSketl him to
bring from the nearest SetHement some
ammonia. He had done so. but on
reaching home. having to make hur-
RED departure. he had forgotten to
leave the ammonia, which remained
in his pocket. He always carried in his
saddlebags large syringe and thus he
had a weapon and ammunition which
might prove formidable.
At the time he thought of this eX-
pedient the foremost wolf attacked
him. The doctor. buoyed by hope,
gathered his faculties. raised his rifle
and brought it down on the wolf send
ing the animal rolling and bowling
down the declivity. Without waiting
tO see the result of his blow he quickly
opened his saddlebag and took out the
syringe. Then he drew the cork of the
ammonia bottle with Iris teeth and
loaded his gun. He had no sooner done
so than a new leader for the wolves
came at him. The doctor waited till !
the animal was about to seize him |
then gave him charge of ammonia |
full in the face. The wolf turned ard, |
bowling, ran away.
The doctor having gained confidence |
in his new weapon determined to as
sumo the offensive. He loaded his |
syringe. advanced and gave the near
est wolf half a charge and the next |
wolf the remainder. Both recoiled, |
and, the next wolf being at Il little dis |
lance, the doctor had time to reload.
At that moment two horsemen came |
galloping up and, seeing a man ad |
Oh wolves WIFI iLllpEONlStu
weapon, one of them exclaimed:
"Why, it's Doc Kirk fghtin' wolves |
with syringe! 1 allus claimed that |
the doctors pills were more deadly n |
bullets, and now l knows it,
The men raised their rifles, and the |
remaining wolves were soon either |
dead or put to flight. The doctor fell |
in a heap, and 1t was some time be-
fore he could tell them of his narrow
escape. One of the men gave him
his horse, walking himself till they |
got him to his destination, but he was
hardly fit for duty on his arrival.
The men, pleased with the ludicrous
side of the encounter, told the story |
far and wide how doc Kirk had driv'
off a pack of wolves by firm pills at
'em with a syringe" and the joke so
pleased the simple woodsmen of that