Year: 1868

One of the most muscular, powerful, full
Imbed settlers on the New York frontiers a
century since, was Heinrich Kaupman. His
arms were like piston rods and he could
drive his huge mallet fists with such tremen-
dous momentum as to fell an OK as if strick-
en- by thunderbolt


1t is SAID that he was once caught by two
iron-muscled Mohawks, each armed with
knives, while Heinrich had neither; yet at
the first onset he fractured the skull of the
foremost Indian, and bore the second to the
earth as if he were nothing but an infant.
That Indian never resumed the pcrpendicu-
lar again.


All this by way of an introduction to an
adventure that Kaupman once had with a
pack of wolves, and which came fearfully
nigh having fatal result for him.


The winter of 17-wa an unusually
severe one throughout the Northern States,
and many deaths from exposure and starVa-
ton occurred before the opening of spring.
The wolves, ibears and wild animals became
nearly famished from hunger, and, as con-
sequence, were unusually fierce and cour-
ageous. They came down from the noun
tains, and woe to the sheep fold that was
unprotected during the night. They were
sure to be invaded by the starving animals,
and not sheep would live to tell the tale.
There were tracks around the barns where
the wolves had trotted all night in their
search for means of entrance. Their howls
could be heard through the still, cold hours,
and more than one housewife had been
chased to her very door by imprudently ven
turing forth at night.


Many of the settlers sat in the upper sto-
ry of their houses, and amused themselves
by shooting the wolves, for whose scalps
the Government had standing bounty of
several shillings.


Heinrich Kaupman renamed at home, on
ly venturing forth to attend to his dumb ami
mails, and to see that they were properly
protected during the night. But after awhile
his stock of groceries become low, and final
ly gave out altogether. True, he and his
family could live on the poultry, sheep and
animals they owned, but it was rather un-
pleasant to be without tea, coffee, sugar salt
and many other articles that were more
necessities than they were luxuries.


With want of foresight which he never
could explain, he started upon his journey
without any weapon except keen edged
hatchet, which he carried in case the sled
should give out. In the house hung his trusty
rifle, but neither he nor his wife seemed to
imagine that there would be any call for it,
and he droYe cheerily away, bidding his
wife merry goodbye, as his mare went at
a spanking gait down the road toward the
village.


The latter place, which might more prop
erly be termed a settlement, was reached in
due time, the groceries all bought, and ev-
cry thing was in IreadinesS to start home
ward.


Heinrich had been storm bound so long
in his house that he found the companion
ship of his friends at the Villagetavern very
agreeable. There was so much to talk
about, so much news to listen to, such
quantity of gossip regarding the affairs of
the neighborhood, that the time slipped un-
consciously by, until, when he rose to go, he
found it almost dark.


Still, he had no fears, as his wife would
understood that he had remained at the vii
lage, and there was no necessity for his i'm
mediate return.


AS he turned homeward and left the vii
lage behind him, and noticed that the dim
light by which he was travelling belonged to
the moon, it flashed upon HIM that perhaps
he would encounter danger before reaching
home, and he regretted for the twentieth
time, that he left his rifle behind.


The road, deep between the drifts of
snow, was of just sufficient width for the
little mare aud sled, and the spirited little
mare and sled, and the spirited little animal
went forward at q swift gait, while Helm
rich, somewhat sfapened aad weary, was