South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-17
Last Wild Wolf in
County Met Its Fate
In CrumStOWn Woods
By Charles Ryan

To hear the story of the killing Of the last
wolf found wild in St Joseph county seems like
hearing a bit of very ancient history. However,
it was only 10 years ago that a big timber wolf
was killed near South Bend-and Is years af-
ter all is but short span of time
The animal in question was shot by George
Cr7Im OF Crumstown, in the woods three miles
northwest Of the village that bears his family
name It all happened in this fashion.
The wolf had been foraging in the neigh
borhood back of Simcox's not more than nine
or ten miles west of South Bend. It was only
by accident that Crum secured the shot which
ended the forager's career. Crum was his
way from simsox's to Crumstown and as he
had a shotgun with him he took down through
the woods thinking that he might get sight of
a quail or a rabbit He came across a track
that looked like dogs and if the track had
not been along his path it is not likely that
he would have paid further attention to it. AS
he walked along however, it came to him that
there was something peculiar in the track and
this feeling grew on him until finally he made
UP his mind hat he was probably on the trail
Of a wolf.
With the possibility of such game in sight.
the hunters instinct in Crum was thoroughly
awakened and his senses were quickened to
what might be ahead. He was at once alert
to catch the slightest motion or sound for the
track was fresh and he did not know what
minute he might come upon the animal. The
hunter had no ammunition with him except
some shells loaded with No. shot, which he
rad been using on small game. and he did not
therefore know just what kind Of a chance
he would have If the wolf should show fight.
This predcament did not make him give up
the chase. He was determined to get crack
at that wolf, if il were wolf, and he was not
to be disappointed.
The animal apparently knew just where he
was going. It stormy day and the ami
nal was doubtless seeking shelter from the
wind and the driving The wolf and the
fox sleep far from where they prey, so it was
a long chase that this fellow gave Crum. The
trail led almost directly southwest and paral-
lei with the Kankal1ee river and did not de-
viate much for broken ground or underbrush
Crossing a deep ravine Crum could see where
the wolf had stopped to drink and had then
trotted on up the other side AS he came up
out of the ravine, Crumfs attention at
tracted to a large sycamore log. 1t was an
unusually big log and it hollow. The open
ing had been burned out and it was capacious
enough to accommodate a yearling calf. such
place afforded an ideal retreat for an animal
from stress of weather or pursuit of hunter and
as Crum approached it he kept his eyes fixed
on the opening.
Farthe- and farther his gaze penetrated the
gloom ne sought to seek out the interior of
the log. As he warily advanced the gloom took
form and indistinctly he a shadowy form
and a pair of cleaning eyes. The wolf
there snugly curled UP as far back as he could
get and seemingly reluctant 10 be disturbed.
hon rrrru ten he x-o1f
apparently seemed uncertain that he had been
seen. He crouched as if ready TO dash out and
yet hoping TO be passed by unnOticed. That
instant Of hesitation cost the animal his life
CrJm leveled his gun and fired a charge OF shot
into the VOLTS face Some of the shot took
effect in the animals eyes and although he
not killed he blinded and Devil
dered that as he rushed out swapping blindly
at random. Crum was enabled to give him an
other load OF shot in the face and finish him.
II the wolf had not felt so secure in his re-
treat he could have saved his life by running
away when he first heard Crum approaching.
The bird shot with which Crum's shells were
loaded would have ratified in vain against the
brute's tough hide if fired at any but the closest
range
The animal a big timber wolf and stood
higher and was longer in body than a Scotch
collie. His ears We're as large as a mans hand
and stood straight up like the ears OF a Spitz.
His great teeth were such TO bring quick
death 10 the farmers sheep 1t supposed
from wolves. and the belief was that the one
SHIT by Crum had strayed down from the
Michigan woods TO feed on fresh mutton.
The farmers had found that the most eff
cacious means Of Kidding the country of the
wolves had been by poisoning. II had been
about % years previous To the time of the ad-
venture OF George Crum that "a pair OF wolves
had made lair in the woods west OF SimcOx 5
They had helped themselves TO the sheep until
finally they got some meat which had been pre-
pared for them and the following morning
the farmers had found them cold and stiff in
death. The trail was followed back 10 the lair
where litter OF four pups was found and
these summary disposed or IL
/ LON time after that before the farmars had