Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-01-12
A Doctors Weapon

tered region, being obliged TO ride
often over wild country by night az
well as by day, meets with great
many dangers. III the early part of
the nineteenth century, when Ken
lucky was being settled. DIR. Eben Kirk
was called upon one night to see q
very sick patient some twenty miles
from his home. AS usual. he took his
rifle and a dozen rounds OF ammuni-
ton, threw his saddlebagS containing
his medicines over his horse and start.
ed, 1t was at the close of a hard win
ter. when the ground had for several
months been covered with snow,
interfere with travel. AT such a time
the wild animals OF a virgin country
made hungry by the difficulty of OBJ.
tanning food. are 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 made one half of his journey
when he heard a 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 whole pack, he
hurried on, but had not gone mile
before he heard wolves directly behind
him AS they came up he turned and
fired, killing their leader This gave
him a little time, while the wolves de
youred 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
Mddlebags and ran or The horse
dafted wildly away ia one direction,
while the doctor took another. A part
OF the pack followed the horse. while
the rest followed the man.
Coming to a 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 third and killed a
fourth. He had now but two bullets
with which to save his life, and there
were still half a dozen wolves attack
ing him. With one bullet ne 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 fred the last bullet But he
was in such terror that be missed every
remaining wolf.
He was now reduced to an empty
rife as means of defense. For time
he dubbed the snarling brutes, barely
keeping them from overpowering him.
Meanwhile he was trying to invent
some new means of defense. He had
some acids in his saddlebags which
might burn the beasts if he could get
it on to them. Then he bethought him
self of something in his coat pocket
which might better serve his purpose.
That day his wife had asked him to
bring from the nearest settlement some
ammonia. He had done so, but on
reaching home, having to make hur-
ried 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 rife
and brought it down on the wolf, send
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 his 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 a charge of ammonia
full in the face The wolf turned and,
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 4 little dis
tance the doctor had time to reload.
At that moment two horsemen came
galloping up and, seeing 4 man adj
vancing on wolves with his imprOvised
weapon, one Of them exclaimed:
"Why, it's Doe Kirk fghtin' wolves
with a syringe. l 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 heap, and it 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 lie was
hardly fit for duty on his arrival.