The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-10-06
Last Stronghold of the
Native Grey Wolves
A Description OF the Famous
"WoH's Dem in Washing
ton Township.

1
from whence may be viewed splendid
panorama of rural scenery. Thirty
miles away, where the faint blue hori-
zon blends imperceptibly into the leaden
sky, lies the uneven crest of Boone's
Mountains, while nearer, and plainly
visible to the eye, Luthersburg, the old
pioneer village perched on the top of
the hills, shows as spot of varied color
on the rolling surface of the landscape.
Here and there column of smoke OBJ
scuring the hills in haze, betrays the
location of mining plant and village
in the valley below. 1t is beautiful
spot and is doubly interesting from the
fact that this hill, according to the old
! er settlers of the land, was the last
stronghold and hunting course of the
gaunt grey wolves which have now
been utterly exterminated In the county.
Half century has passed since the
last of these terrible marauders was
killed in this section Of the state, but
there are yet living men who encount-
cred wolves in their boyhood days, and
tracked them to their lair in the rocky
ledges OF the wilderness which then
covered the hills Of Washington town.
ship. AS the ridge of the hill men,
toned above retreats to the north, its
east side becomes extraordinarily wild
and broken. Great rocks, fully as large
as an ordinary dwelling, lie embedded
in the hillside, often towering like
jagged and irregular cliffs which cannot
be scaled from below. The oak and
chestnut which are prominent nearer
Sherwood give way to the pine and
hemlock, and the growth becomes more
dense in the region of the ledge. 1t
was In this impenetrable region that
the wolves made their trysting place,
anG in the assures Of the great broken
rocks that the young we're brought
forth and protected until able to join
the savage chase for prey.
Save that the original forest fell be-
fore the woodsman's axe almost score
OF years ago, and that the hill Is now
covered with tall second growth,
there is little change in the place from
the time when 1t was the chosen haunt
of the wild. Except for the occasional
visit of hunters in the pheasant shoot
ing season, the spot is rarely seen of
men.
There Is one rock, or group Of rocks,
in the region which was of old given
the distinctive title Of the "Wolf's
Den." 1t was there legend states that
the last OF the race existed, land the
appearance of the openings, the worn
path in the sandstone base, and the
location OF the stone would seem to
bear mute evidence OF the truth of the
statement.
Near the spot the growth of scraggy
pine and hemlock becomes exceedingly
dense. 1t seems designed by nature to
guard the den Of tribe OF animal Ish-
maelites. Penetrating the Jungle, one
comes suddenly upon great perpendic-
ular mass Of rock, ten to twelve feet
high and extending in broken stratas
forty feet or more. In front are many
irregular boulders over which one must
Chamber to see the base OF this rock,
where, between smaller stones, OPEN
ings lead into the den which apparent
ly exists under the massive rock The
largest Of these entrances is from fifteen
to twenty inches across, but leads
in such a winding course that 1t is ex-
tremely difficult and dangerous for a
man to attempt to penetrate the cave.
The northern face Of the rock is even
more picturesque than the eastern.
About thirty feet in length, it has in
Its middle deep cleft in which smaller
boulders haye fallen in such manuer
that 1t forms giant staircase, leading
to the moss covered top OF the stone.
From the cleft to the west end of the
monolith, along the top, strata Of rock
three feet thicks extends seven or eight
feet into the air, forming roof over
the smooth stone ledge which runs be.
low, and beneath which man may
walk erect or could, If he desired, build
a snug camp secure from rain and snow.
Along the base there is another en-
trance to the den, apparently the "back
door" for escape in case of trouble.
On top Of this huge rock thick moss
has grown undisturbed for many years,
and just enough soil has been deposited
there to support the roots of saplings
and bushes. Here also may be observed
thing which is extraordinary. From
a narrow cleft in the side Of this hard
rock springs tree, the trunk OF which
at its base is fully ten inches in diam
eter, and which towers fifty feet aboye,,