Connecticut western news., 1922-06-29
Prize Essay by Mary Montani . GENERAL PUTNAM .. HERO OF THE VOLT DEN

:. HERO OF THE WOLF DEN
 When the English settled in Connecticut there were many wild animals living in the woods. The wolves killed many sheep and other domestic animals. When this hap pened the men hunted and killed the animals who had done the damage and in this way the most dangerous and troublesome beasts were des- troyed. They did not disappear. en- tirely, however, for even hundred years after the settlement of Conn ecticut the farmers often awoke in the morning and found some of their flock had been killed during the night. e.
 In 1743y many sheep were in the town of Pomfret. One morning a farmer by the name oe Israel Put nam. went to his barn and found seventy of his sheep dead. He knew this was the work of a wolf and something must be done. Something was done.
 Israel Putnam, with five of his neighbors, set out to find the wolf. i They tracked the wolf to the Conn., ecticut River and back to Pomfret. After they had followed the animal all night they chased it into its den, about three miles from Putnam's home. The den was on a cragg? hill and extended into the ground under huge granite boulders from thirty to forty feet. -r.N.' How could they drive the wolf out of his den? l. Many men came around the den with guns ready to shoot the beast. First they tried the dogs, but were not successful. Next they tried to smoke the wolf out, but that failed. All the men worked but accomplish ed nothing. At ten O'Clock at night Putnam pulled his coat and vest off. What was he going to do? He was going into the cave. He tied a rope around his ankle and told the men to take hold of the end. When he ! kicked they were to pull him back.
 Taking lighted torch he crawled into the hole twenty feet. He saw the fiery eyes of the beast. The wolf started to growl, Putnam gave kick and he was pulled out. Then he took his. gun and went back into the den. The wolf growled louder When the wolf sprang at him he fired. With a kick he was dragged out. They listened, but ali was quiet He went back into the cave and found the wolf dead. With a kick he was dragged out with the wolf. The people rejoiced that the wolf was dead.
 A few years later Putnam showed his bravery. When the French and Indian Wars broke out, and volun- teers were called, Putnam was the first man in Connecticut to respond. Leaving his wife and boys to take care of his farm, he started in the summer of 1755. At the battle of Lake George he was a scout and a very brave one.
 In 1756 he was with General Lyman at Fort Edward. Every night some Indians came around the fort trying to kill some of the men. Night after night men disappeared and a strict order was given that every sentinel who heard noise should cry out three times, "Who goes there?" Then if no answer reached him, he should fire. Putnam was an officer and he volunteered to take the place of a sentinel knowing that no other men would take it.. About midnight he heard a noise in the grass. He said three times, "Who goes there?" No answer He fired and a groan came from the grass Going to the spot he saw an Indian disguised as bear.
 l. Soon after this Putnam and his troop were attacked by a party of i French and Indians. Putnam was taken prisoner. He was dragged into the forest and tied to a tree. The battle ragged around him for more than an hour. After the battle the Indians decided to roast Putnam alive They bound him to a tree, piled brush around him and set the brush on fire. The flames roared and Ieaped higher. Just as the fire