Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-18
WOLF KEPT AS FAMILY PET
He Draws the Children In Wagon and
Sled and Is q Faithful Watchdog.
Is. = Fighter Too
speclnl % The IIerald.

Special to The Herald.
ANACONDA, June IA full blooded
timber 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 n huge
dog and answering to his call or whistle
Just as faithfully
Jack Is the name he goes by. and
almost every one in the city knows
him. He is a restless creature and sell
dom still, though never ranging far
from the buggy or his master. Strange
dogs that take liberties or try to form
his acquaintance usually regret it, for
Jack has strong white fangs and a
vicious snap that teaches them quickly
to keep their distance, 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 at
tackled Jack is as gentle as my lady's
lap dog and particularly fond OF Mas
ters 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 harness that Is
similar to that used on the dogs in
Alaska.
AS watchdog the wolf is a perfect
guardian of the home and on camping
trips he stays at the camp and trouble
ensucs 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 day old.
His mother had come down from the
hills in search of tender calf during
the night and gave birth to her litter
In the coral. 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 cattlemen when
they went out to feed ,'.e COWS.
They set traps and left Jack and his
brothers in the place where they had
been found i'm 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
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 ones save Jack died of exposure
and hunger, and the man gave up the
idea of her capture and took the sur
vivor to the ranch and soon after
brought him to Anaconda and he be-
came the property of his present mas
ter. He was adopted by the children,
who fed him many times a day with
milk from a nursing bottle till he ar
rived at an age when he was able to
lap the milk for himself and at last
take kindly to stronger diet.
He wears a collar now and every year
tag from the city is placed on 1t, 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 endeared him more strongly
than ever to the family of Mr.. Gangner.
He was given TO Joseph Desjardin,
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
demonstration of joy on being again in
his old quarters and it will be long
time before he is banished again.