Year: 1879

On the 7th of October, about seven
a. NJ, the peasants from the adjoining
villages had collected together at fair
which was held at the settlement OF
Barvenkoff, District of Izume, and the
male portion of the assembly had dis
persed to the drinking shops, to make
bargains and drink each other healths,
leaving the women and children in
charge of the carts. Suddenly there
resounded through the square heart
rending shrek for assistance and then
all was quiet. The peasants rushed
out of the drinking booths into the
street, and before they had time to col
lect their thoughts there appeared from
behind a building situated on the edge
of the square an enormous wolf.


Everybody rushed in great confusion
to their carts, shouting '' Mad wolf!'
Meantime the gigantic wolf, frothing
at the mouth, and with his tongue
hanging out, made for the carts. A
dreadful tumult occurred. The horses
and oxen dashed in all directions, but
the majority, getting entangled, fell,
overturning the carts, while the noise
made by the pigs, sheep, geese, fowls,
etc., added to the uproar and confusion.
The wolf, when within a short distance
of the first group of carts, turned round,
sprang on to woman who was running
past, and in a moment she was pros
trate on the ground, having lost her
nose, scalp and lower part of her face.
The W off then ran further and attacked
a small lad of about seven years of age
but, just at that time a pig rushed at
the wolf and bit its tail. The wolf
turned on his assailant, but not before
it had bitten the boys face and hand.
Leaving the pig, the wolf ran down
the main street, attacked a woman with
a baby, then two boys about four years
of age. and, having bitten their heads
through to the brain, rushed up the
street, and, after biting several other
persons, turned off on the railroad.


By this time q large crowd, headed
by the village elder, and armed with
whips, guns, scythes, &C., gave chase
to the terrible animal. They caught up
with the wolf about one mile from the
village, and a peasant, allowing it to
approach within about fifteen PAGES,
shot the animal straight in his open
maw. Notwithstanding the wound he
had received, the wolf sprang up and
attacked the peasant. The latter did
not lose his presence of mind, and
struck the animal with the butt end of
his gun, which shattered at the blow,
and the wolf seized the peasant by the
side, but owing to the man wearing
three coats, his skin was only scratched.
The courageous man then gripped the
animal with both hands. During this
struggle between man and a mad
wolf the crowd which had come up
hesitated, through fear, to attempt the
rescue of their comrade. Fortunately
a local policeman galloped up at this
juncture, and, drawing his revolver,
shot the wolf through the head.


The wolf had bitten no less than
twenty-five persons, ten of whom are
in q dangerous state. The sufferers
were isolated from the rest of the in
and medical aid was at once
to them. 1t is reported
that the wolf came from the settlement
of Dorgenikoff (situated about eighteen
miles from tBarvenkoff,) where a mad
OK had died, and had been buried, but
so carelessly that on the following
his body was found scattered
about.-St. Petersburg Go!os.