The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-01-17

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~ greatest wolf drive in the
A ~ history of the Southwest.
The scene was the Kiowa-
Comanche pasture. About twenty-five
wolves were victims Of the days sport
After the hunt a basket dinner was
served at the rendezvous in Chatta-
nooga. Then there We're racing and
athletics, followed by a dance at night.
1t was red-letter day in the history
of Southwest Oklahoma. The era Of
the cattleman and his vast herds in
the pasture is passing. This is their
last year. They will give way next
month to the farmer, who will plant
fields Of wheat and corn where herds
have been wont to roam. This cele-
bration was held to welcome the com
ing and to speed the parting guest.
Preparations We're in progress for
this event for two months. Headed by
Colonel "Jim" Williams and Captain
]. A. Mangan, of Chattanooga, the
farmers living around the borders Of
the reservation marshaled as great an
army of hunters as was ever congre-
gated in the Southwest country. These
hosts We're augmented by visitors
from all parts Of Indian Territory,
Texas and other States. A special
train was run out of Lawton to Chat
tanooga to carry the throngs that came
to join the hunt.
Chattanooga is the gateway to the
"big pasture" 1t is on high stretch
of tableland abutting the north line
Of the reservation, twenty-five miles
southwest of Lawton and ten miles
northeast of the spot where President
Roosevelt camped during his wolf hunt
last spring. The town has popula-
tlon of about 500, principally cowboys
and wolf hunters. The latter are
skilled in training dogs for chasing
and bagging wolves, and no better
dogs at these feats are to be found in
the West. The most interesting dog in
this hunt was hound of small pro-
portions, which its master named
Carrie Nation. This dog last year out
stripped all her fellows in the Thanks
giving hunt, capturing five of the
twelve wolves taken. This placed her
at the head of the wolf dogs in the
country. During her life of four years
she has captured more than sixty
wolves, and never has been injured.
she has knack of capturing the fierce
little coyotes in manner that puts
them out of action Immediately and
protects herself. But there are other
fine dogs. Greyhounds are the best
runners and have the longest winds, -
but many of them are lacking in the
technique of capture. Fox hounds are
plentiful and good racers; so are some
ours and common stays. More than
half thousand wolfhounds and dogs
belong to men of this section, and
nearly every one Of them was in the
race.
The race course was broad eSpanse
Of prairie, unbroken by creeks, deep
ravines or timber Prairie dog holes
abound in some parts of the reserva-
ton, but few are found here. This was
fine for the hunters, for many persons
attend these chases who are untutored
In horseback riding. To the south
ward one views the Deep Red River,
with its fringes of oak, pecan and
blackberry. A little beyond is Red
River, with its fat bed, red water and
crumbled banks; westward is the town
of Frederick, made notable by the
Presidents entrance to the reservation
through its main street; to the north
ward are the Wichita peaks, to the
eastward Indian Territory, and north
east is the city Of Lawton.
The chase began soon after noon and
lasted three hours. The commander
and his aides formed the hunters in an
immense square, seven miles each
way. The square contained nine sec.
tlons. Cowboys, dog trainers and pro
fessional riders were stationed on the
east, south and west sides, while those
who participated in wagons, buggles
and other vehicles formed the north
line. After the lines were formed the
commander gave the signal at the
southeast corner, his aides passed II
along and the lines began closing in
| This drove the wolves toward the cen
tire, and so close were the men TO one
another that few could escape.
The exciting moment came when tho
lines had closed sufficiently near ont
another to give the charging signal
This signal permitted every member
of the party to participate in the chase
The wolves We're by this time frantic
ally running hither and thither to es
cape, but were in a pen so closely
fenced by humanity that death or cap
ture was inevitable for eight out OF
ten Of them. Men, women and chill
dren, shouting and excited to the high
est pitch, riding in wagons, buggies
hacks, on horses, bicycles, automobiles
and some on foot. combined to make 8
thrilling scene peculiar to the vol
country.
Guns and pistols were barred, ant
the. kills and captives must be mad,
with clubs, lariats and dogs. Some O.
the little coyotes We're torn to pieces
by dogs, others roped by cowboys
trampled under foot by horses, ruI
over by vehicles or died of exhaustion
| After II was over came the march ba cI