The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-27
MONTANA WOLF KEPT
AS A FAMILY PET
He Draws the Children in a
Wagon and Sled
HAS HOMING INSTINCT
Runs FIFTY Miles Across Country and
Is Welcomed by His Old
Friends-ls Fight
HAS HOMING INSTINCT

Anaconda, Saturday. full blooded tin'
Der wolf runs the streets of this city every
day, following the horse and buggy Of
Fred Gangner or else trotting at the heels
of his master like huge dog and answer
ing to his call or whistle just as faith
fully.
Jack is the name that he goes by, and
almost every one in the city knows him.
He is a restless creature and seldom
still. though never ranging far from tho
buggy or his master Strange dogs that
take liberties or try to form his acquaint-
ance usually regret it. for Jack has strong
white fangs and a vicious snap that
teaches them quickly to keep their dis
tance, and he has been known to whip a
whole pack of unwise city dogs that think
they are dealing with some pariah. Yet
with all his weapons of self-defense, when
not attacked Jack is as gentle as my
ladys lap dog, and particularly fond of
Masters Frank and Earl, the young sons
of Mr.. Gangner. The boys have taught
him to fetch and carry and to draw them
to their wagon on their sleds, having fitted
him with a harness that is similar to that
used on the dogs in Alaska.
AS Waterman the wolf is a perfect
guardian of the home, and on camping
trips he stays at the camp and trouble
ensues for the intruder that ventures too
near the prescribed limits.
Jack was captured at the Gravel ranch
in the Big Hole country some two years
ago, when he was but a day old. His
mother had come down from the hills in
search of a tender calf during the night
and gave birth to her litter nj the corral
She succeeded In carrying away several
of her young and hid them, but daylight
came before she had carried off all of the
family, and four were found by the cat
tlemen when they went out to feed the
cows.
They set traps and left Jack and his
brothers In the place where they had
been found in hopes that the mother
would return and fall into the snare from
her love for her young. Madame Wolf
however. was too wise, and though on the
second night they lay in wait for her
with loaded guns and gave up the idea of
traps, she was just as wise and howled
back her defiance from the hills and left
the lost pups to the mercies of the foe.
While these designs against the wild
mother were being executed all the little
ger, and the men gave up the idea of her
capture and took the survivor to the
ranch and soon after brought him to An
aconda and he became the property of his
present master. He was adopted by the
children. who fed him many times day
with milk from a nursing bottle till he
arrived at an age when he was able to lar
the milk for himself and at last take kind
ly to a stronger diet.
He wears a collar now and every year
a tag from the city is placed on il, Just
as is done for the CANNES that are lucky
enough to have good masters. Jack is a
faithful fellow and recently exhibited a
wonderful homing instinct that has en-
deared him more strongly than ever to the
family of Mr.. Gangner.
He was given to Joseph Desjardn, who
lives near the Emory mint, about fifteen
miles up in the hills east of Deer Lodge
Mr.. Desjardin took him In the express
car to Deer Lodge and from there led him
behind the wagon to his new home Jack
was gone from Anaconda just four days
At the end of that time he scratched at
the door of his old home, where he was
Joyfully welcomed by the children He
had come home across the country, nearly
fifty miles, and though wet and dirty.
footsore and lame, he gave every demon
stration of joy on being again in his old
quarters, and it will be long time before
he Is banished again.