Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-03-20
A Doctors Weapon
[Original.l

L
many dangers In the early part of
the nineteenth century, when Ken
| lucky was being settled, DR.. Eben Kirk
was called upon one night to see a
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 hard win
ter, when the ground had for several
months been covered with snow,
though ii had melted so far as not to
| interfere with travel. At such time
the wild animals of 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 II 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
fred. killing their leader This gave
him little time, while the wolves de-
vOured 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
saddlebags, and ran on. The horse
darted wildly away in one direction,
while the doctor took another. A part
the rest followed the man.
Coming to a little eminence protect
ed on the tanks he mounted ii and
took position to defend himself. He
had six bullets left and must use them
to advantage. He killed two of his
enemies. missed a third and killed q
fourth He had now but two bullets
with which to save his life. and there
Were still half dozen wolves attack
Ing him. With one bullet he seriously
wounded one OF them. Then there was
a slight respite, while they devOured
the dead wolf, but az soon rs this was
done the others came at him again,
and he fired the last bullet. But he
was in such terror that he missed every
remaining wolf.
He was now reduced to an empty
rife as a 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 II he could get
II ON to them. Then he bethOught him
self of something in his coat poke ct
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 u hur-
ried departure, he had forgotten to
leave the ammonia, which remained
saddlebags large syringe and thus he
had 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 ii down on the wolf, send
ing, the animal rolling and bowling
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
then gave him charge of ammonia
! full in the face. The wolf turned and,
bowling, ran away.
The doctor having gained confidence
in his new weapon determined 10 as
sumo the offensive. He loaded his
syringe, advanced and gave the near
! est wolf half charge and the next
wolf the remainder Both recoiled.
! and, the next wolf being at a little dis
/ lance, the doctor had time to reload.
! AT that moment two horsemen came
galloping up and, seeing a man ad-
| vancing on wolves with his improvised
! weapon, one of them exclaimed:
i "Why, it's Doc Kirk fightin' wolves
with syringe! allus claimed that
the doctors pills were more deadly n
! bullets, and now knows it,"
The men raised their rifles, and the
remaining wolves We're soon either
dead or put to flight. The doctor fell
in heap, and 1t 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 he was
hardly fit for duty on his arrival.
The men, pleased with the ludicrous
side OF the encounter, told the story
far and wide how doc Kirk had driv'
OF pack Of wolves by firm pills at
'em with a syringe" and the joke 80
pleased the simple woodsmen Of that
time that the doctor coIld never meet
with one OF them without being obliged
to listen to some such words as:
| "We1I doc hay' " killed spainter'