Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-04-12
HUNTING THE WOLF

In Russia the Vicious Brute, if
Full Grown, Is a Marvel.
FLEET, FIERCE AND STRONG.
He 10 Often More Than a Match Fe: q
Pack Of Trained Hounds and Fairly
| Fights His Way to Freedom-An Ex.
citing Chase With u Grand Duke.
Hunting wolves with dogs is one Of
the most engrossing and exciting Of
the winter sports in Russia, and in the
| pursuit of the full grown wild beast
three types Of dog are used-the ordi-
nary foxhound pack, the borzoi. or
Russian wolfhound. and the bear
hound, a type which Is becoming rarer
all the time. The Russian imperial
hunt, which Is situated at Gatchina,
about thirty miles from St. Petersburg,
is the scene of most Of these sporting
| events.
The method OF hunting IL to employ
| a ring" or locate the animal by means
| Of his tracks in a certain portion Of the
| forest, the mounted huntsmen remain
| ing quietly about, with groups Of Dor
zois in leash. three together. The next
step is to send the foxhounds into the
forest to force the wolf to break cover,
and on his appearance the wolfhounds
are slipped. II the quarry can survive
two miles Of hard pressure he will
have outlasted the pace and staying
powers Of his pursuers. but II not the
wolfhounds will have pulled him down.
They can make no impression on his
hide, however, but must wait until the
FIRST horseman comes up. The wolf b
either killed then by knife, or his legs
and jaws are bound up, and be b
taken back home and exhibited q few
days in captivity, when he b turned
loose to furnish sport at future tune
In the London Times n. KYavtchen-
ko tells Of a hunt In company with a
grand duke. In which one Of these full
grown vicious brutes proved too much
for the hounds:
We had reached our stations and b.
came accustomed to patient mot1onless
waiting when Tar away was heard the
voice Of hound on the scent. Soon a
whole chorus Joined In, and little
later the wood In front Of US began to
fill with noise. and then suddenly. not
far from US, appeared a huge full
grown wolf
he seemed to be absolutely undis.
turbed and trotted OF as II nothing par
dcular was occurring, but In reality he
was travelling at great speed and had
the grand duke unleashed upon him.
Like lightning the wolf turned and re-
treated, but the dogs were quicker.
Let got" shouted the grand duke, and
my leash quickly followed Every mo-
ment I thought the dogs would roll the
wolf over and pin him. But the task
was evidently DO eaay ona The wolf
went on and on. Now and then be
would turn bis bead when some more
enterprising hound pressed him with
his attentions. Il seemed that there
was nothing particularly menacing Ia
the act but 20 quickly did the mighty
jaws snap that we could only tell 40
one hound after another fell away
with ripped sides that It had been Tar
more than a mere bead shake. The In.
credible strength and agility Of the
beast and the apparent ease with
which be dealt with six OF the might.
lest and best borxois Of the grand
ducal kennel compelled ones respect
and admiration.
But now came whlrlwlnd directly
in his path-two borzois, dark 40 night
galloping toward the pursued. intent at
the risk Of their lives to overturn him
l thought to see him torn to pieces in
few moments. But 1t b not IN vai,.
that according 10 the rules. Of wolf
coursing a grown wolf has the honors
Of the whole kennei-all the borzois on
the field must be unleashed-60s be-
sides bis strength the grown wolf 10
extraordinarily agile and intelligent
All these qualities he displayed to the
full before ma For the 1rst time saw
grown wolf at bay. and ! was no
longer disposed to feel any surprise
that 60 many dogs should be unleashed
against one beast. Without changing
his course or his gait, suddenly. under
the very noses Of the borzois that were
rushing upon him. he turned to the
right and beaded straight toward u.
Some dogs. trying to turn quickly, fell
but Jumped up again and gave chase.
But the wolf, It seemed. continued on
his course at the same quiet gait, az II
he felt no need to expend his strength
on such foes.
Not far from me the dogs almost
overlook him. thought that one had
gripped him. but be turned his head.
and those terrible fangs Of bis again
did their deadly work. Saplings Of
birch and oak, the outposts Of tho for.
est were already nigh. The does made
q last desperate effort and almost sur.
nrs,nAoA him ~ thn ~n.u nAr~ - ~