The Newtown bee., 1906-03-16
LIFE In the State of Iowa. C. H. HAWES CONTINUES HIS INTERESTING
 STORY. Danger From Wolves and
 Prairie Fires.

Through the earnest solicitation of the Editor of THE BEE, resume my narration of 50 years ago in Iowa. Your readers, no doubt, will pardon me for grammatical errors, as finish ed my collegiate course when 12 years of age in our little second district school house in Sherman. The gram mar class did not enter, but distinct iy remember the older pupils reciting from this invaluable study that "he should, or could, or would have loved" This was indelibly impressed on my mind.
 During the summer of 1857 my es- teemed friend, the late pr J. N. Wood ruff. and his brother, Nelson Woodruff visited us in our prairie cabin home. They were prospecting. The doctor remained about,lO days and Nelson en- gagged board near us for the summer. He was proficient with rod and gun and very much enjoyed hunting and fishing there. Many fat deer and multitudinous were the fine baskets of fish he captured. remember one day he came for our oxen to bring home a monstrous large buck, and he gave us venison enough for a week. We were very sorry to have Nelson return East. Many, no doubt, have the impression, the same as had, that prairie grass grows from two feet to eight feet tall. It is mistake. On dry ground, suit able to grow crops, the grass grows to about eight inches tall, and on damp land slightly more, except on the river bottoms.
 HAVE OFTEN WITNESSED PRAIRIE
 FIRES
 of 10 miles or more in length. The heavens were gOrgeOusly illum'- hated at night for weeks at a time. Settlers saved their homes and crops by back fl res and blowing around them The winters were so cold our thermom, |, eter would not register. The piercing winds prevented all stock being kept out of doors Therefore we bought 8 log house and 40 acres in the scrub oak thickets near the river to winter our Az head of young cattle we had gathered to grow to oxen. They Staid outdoors all winter and slept on the snow, but were comfortable compared with the prairie winds. Later on I we'll remember going five miles with a party of eight to dance with our OK team, Pat and Bolliver. All enjoyed it, returning next day. The Wapsie pinacan river at times was one mile wide and teams experienced great diff ticulty crossing it. Several were drowned while fording it to my re- membrance in 1856. The timber on this river was of little account. except for wood. Eastwood and elm, and very crooked at that, predominated. In 1856, my great uncle, Benny Hall, came there. He had several hundred acres Of prairie land. One day he was coming home with a load of wood across the prairie with oxen when two hungry, starving wolves followed him a loEg distance. He said
 HIS LIFE WAS ONLY SAVED BY HIS
 GREAT PRESENCE OF MIND.
 He rode on his load, standing club in hand. The oxen ran with fright while he fought off the wnlv s, and killed one with his club. Uncle Ben ny was quite old and this was his first experience of west ern life. He was very excitable. One day he came home. It was very cold. The stove was red hot. In an excited manner. he declared we would melt the stove down, and all freeze to death on the prairie. In decisive tones and a