Year: 1879

William Wall, a yeritable wolf-slayer,
lived recently in Eaton county, Michigan.
An interview with one OF his sons disclosed
some very interesting "reminiscences of early
pioneer life in Eaton county. For several
years but few settlements were made IN the
county, but in lS42 Mr.. Wall could boast
Of quite ''clearing, and four neighbors in
radius of as many miles. In that year
the settlers were annoyed by mad wolf,
which would attack the stock in the night
and bite ptomiscuously all within reach,
the victim of,the bite invariably going mad,
and suffering terrible agony until relieved
by death. 1t seems a peculiarity of the
mad wolves, that they leave the company,
or flock of wolves, and, with remarkable
persistence bite and destroy every animal
within reach. The wolf in question had
succeeded in doing considerable damage,
and numerous attempts had been made to
destroy ii to no purpose. One night in the
middle of June Mr.. Wall was awakened by
the squealing of his pigs and bark of his
dog. Jumping out of his bed he ran to the
pen, which was made of logs, and saw n
wolf chasing and biting his hogs. He
leaped into the inclosure, took the wolf by
the hind legs and attempted to dash its
head against the logs The wolf had a firm
hold on one of the hogs, and would not let
60 Wall ran to the wood-pile, got club,
and succeeded in killing the wolf, which
proved to be mad The dog had taken
active enough part in the affray to get sew
eral bites, and with three of the swine, went
mad and died. This adventure gave Mr..
Wall the name of "William Wall the wolf
slayer" by which he was widely known.
Another time, while after his COWS in the
woods, he lost his way and wandered till
dark, when the wolves commenced to howl
and had soon surrounded him, and began
closing in from all Sides He could hear
them running through the underbrush and
bowling in frightful manner. The pros
pect of being compelled to spend the night
in the woods with these halt-famished
wolves was anything but pleasant. The
wolves became more and more daring, and
occasionally one would dart past him and
snap at his legs in a very suggestive manner.
At length he was compelled to take refuge
in tree. He climbed to goodly height,
and was trying TO settle himself in secure
position for the night, when he noticed a
light not far distant, and after little cog
itation convinced himself that il was made
by burning log-heap in clearing, where
he had been at work during the day. He
decided to make break for the clearing,
and for his protection cut limb from the
tree and made very formidable weapon in
the shape of large club. The wolves
were bowling and digging around the foot
Of the tree in almost endless numbers
Taking off his coat, The made bundle OF it,
and when he had descended near the ground
threw it as far as possible. 1t hardly touched
the ground before the wolves pounced upon
if and began fighting, each attempting to
get chance at the garment, during which
time Wall jumped to the ground, and ruh-
ming for the clearing had gained consldera-
BILE ground before he was discovered by the
pack, when they all sprang after him. 1t
was a hard run and close race, but he str-
ceeded in reaching large burning log-heap
built around stump, and jumping over the
smouldering logs reached the stump. The
wolves came within few rods of the FIRE
and began circulating around it, keeping ip
always their unearthly bowling. Mr. Wah
passed the night perched on top of the.
stump, but found no time to sleep, as he
was kept busy poking up the dying embers
in order to keep the wolves at a respectful
distance. At daylight they dispersed, and
the prisoner hastened home to his family
who had expected to hear that civilian
Wall, the wolf-slayer, had been slain by
the wolves.