AMERICAN SKETCHES.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 29, 1 June 1870, Page 2

AMERICAN SKETCHES.

A NIGHT #lt*TTfrE WOLVES. BT„AS oVt> BfcTH.BR. ' i \ A. number of years ago, I took my family to Wisconsin and located myself in the woods,, about ten miles from the nearest settlement, and at least five from the nearest neighbour. The country round was mostly forest, and wild boasts and Indians were so numerous in that quarter, that my friends at the east, to whom T gave a description of my locality, expressed great fears for our safety, and said they should be less surprised to learn of our having all been cut ofFthan to hear of our still being alive out there at the end of a couple of years. However, I did not feel much alarmed on my own account, and my wife was as brave as a hunter; but then we had three children—the oldest only ten—and sometimes, when I was away from home, the sudden growl of a bear, the howl of a wolf, or the scream ©fa panther, would make me think of them and feel quite uneasy. For a while, at first, the night-screeching and howling of these wild animals alarmed the children a good deal: and sometimes my wife and I—especially when we mistook the cry of the panther for an Indian yell. But we soon got used to the different sounds, and then did not mind them so much; and after T had got a few acres •cleared around my dwelling, they generally - kept more distant at night. One bitter cold morning, the ground being deeply covered with snow, so crusted and frozen that no feet could sink into it, I brought out the horse for my wife to go to the nearest settlement, where she had some purchases to make, which she wished to ■attend to herself. Besides being well muffled up in her own clothing, I wrapped a large buffalo robe around her. Admonishing her that the woods were full of danger after dark, I urged her to be sure and get back before suuset, which she promised to do. All day long after her departure, from *ome cause for which I could not account, I felt very depressed and uneasy, as if something evil were going to happen ; and when I saw the sun about half-an-hour high, and no signs of ray wife returning, I got out my pistols, rifle, ammunition, and hunting-knife, saddled a young and rather skittish colt, and bidding the children keep within doors, with the doors safely locked, I mounted and rode off to meet her, which I expected to do at every turning of the horse-path. It was just about dark when I saw the lights of the town gleaming in the distance; but before I reached the place, I met my wife hastening homeward she having been unexpectedly detained. I was gieatly rejoiced to find her safe and unharmed—but not a little puzzled to account for my presentiment of evil, which, it appeared to rue, had taken place without cause. We now set oft* at a brisk trot homewards—through a dense, dark, gloomy wood, which lined our way on either side. We had safely proceeded about five miles, when we were somewhat startled by a series of long, plaintive howls, at a considerable distance, and in different directions, and which our experience told us were wolves, seemingly calling and answering each other through the great forest. The wolves of this region were of the larger and fiei-cer species: and though ordinarily and singly they migt not attack a human being, yet in numbers, and pressed by hunger, as they generally were at this season of the year, I by no means felt certain that we would remain unmolested. Accordingly we quickened the pace of our horses ; and as we hurried, I grew every moment more uneasy and alarmed, as I j noticed many of the sounds gradually approached us.' We had just entered a deep hollow, where a few large trees stretched their huge branches over a dense thicket, when suddenly there arose several loud, harsh, baying and snarling sounds close at hand. The next moment there was a •quick rustling and thrashing among the bushes ; and then some six or eight large wolves—lean, gaunt, and maddened with hunger—sprung into the path close beside US. "" :

This happened so suddenly and unexpectedly, that my wife gave a slight scream and dropped her rein ; and the horse rearing and plunging at the same moment, unseated her, and she fell to the ground, in the very midst of the savage and howling beasta

Fortunately her sudden fall startled the wild animals a little, and as they momentarily drew back, she, with rare presence of mind, at once gathered her buffalo robe, which she had dragged with her, in such a manner about her person as to protect her irom the first onset of her fangs. The next moment the ferocious animals, with the most Bavage growls, sprang at her, at me, and the two horses simultaneously. Hers nt once shook himself clear of his foes and fled ; and mine began to rear and plunge in such a manner that I could not make use of a single weapon, and only by main htrength keep him from running away with ine.

It was a iemble moment of exciting agony; and the instant that I could release my feet from the stirrups, I leaped to the ground with a bound and a yell, my rifle clipping from my hands, and discharging itself by the condition, and my steed like l:;shfcnir>g rushing over the i'nr/cn snow

after his flying" companion. Luckily I had my loaded pistols anc my knife convenient kto tpy gragpjfand, scarcely conscious of .what >I wais doing, but thinking only that the dear mother of my little ones lay fairly beneath some three or four of the furiously fighting and snarling wild beasts, I grasped my Weapons, one in each hand, cocked them at the same instant, and, fairly jumping into the midst of my enemies, placed the muzzles against the heads of two that had turned to rend mo, and fired them both together.

Both shots took effect—it could not be otherwise—and as the two wolves rolled back in their death agonies, their starving companions fell upon them with the most ravenous fury, and literally tore them to pieces, and devoured them before my very eyes, almost over the body of my wife, and in less, I should say, than a minute. Ascertaining, by a few anxious inquiries, that my wife was still alive and unharmed, I bade her remain quiet : and, picking up my rifle, I proceeded to load my weapons with the greatest, dispatch. Directly I had rammed the first ball home, 1 felt a temptation to shoot another of the animals ; but at that moment I heard a distant howling ; and fearing we would soon be beset by another pack, I reserved my fire for the next extreme danger, and hurriedly loaded the others. By the time I had fairly completed the operation, our first assailants, having nearly gorged themselves upon their more unfortunate companions, began to slink away ; but the cries of the others at the same time coming nearer, warned me to be on my guard. I had just succeeded in getting my wife more securely rolled in her prosecting robe, as the safest thing I could do in that extremity—and myself, pistols in hand, in a defensive attitude over her prostrate body —when some eight or ten more of the savage and desperate creatures made their appearance upon the scene. There was a momentary pause as they came into view and discovered me, during which their eyes glared and shone like living coals, and then, with terrific growls and snarls, they began to circle round me each moment narrowing the space between us. Suddenly one, more daring or hungry than the rest, bounded forward, and received a shot from one of my pistols directly between the eyes. He rolled back upon the snow, and a part of the others sprang upon him, as in the case of the first. But I had no time to congratulate myself that I had disposed of him, for almost at the same instant I felt the lacerating fangs of another in my thigh, which caused me to shriek with pain ; and my poor wife, with an answering shriek, believing it was all over Avith me, was about to get up and face the worst, when, shouting to her that I was still safe, and she was not to stir, I placed my pistol to the head of my assailant, and stretched him quivering on the snow. I still had my rifle in reserve, and pointing that at the fighting pack, I poured its contents among them. How many were wounded I do not know, but almost immediately the space around us became once more cleared of our howling enemies—some limping as they fled, and appearing to be harassed by the others. It appeared to me that we had met with a wonderful deliverance ; and though the wound in my thigh was somewhat painful, j a brief examination soon satisfied me that it would not prove serious ; and I hastily proceeded to reload my weapons, my wife meantime getting upon her feet, embracing me tenderly, and thanking heaven for our preservation.

" Oh, the dear children!" she exclaimed, with maternal tenderness ; " little do they know how near they have come to being made orphans, and left alone in this solitary wilderness ! Let us hasten home to them. Oh ! let us hasten home to them, while we have an opportunity. " We have no opportunity," I gloomily replied. " Hark ! there a.ie more of our foes in the distance. Do you not hear them V " And are they coming this way, too 1" she tremblingly enquired. " I fear so."

" Oh, heaven, what then will become of us ?" she exclaimed ; "for I am almost certain that we shall not both survive a third attack."

" I sec but one way of escape," said T, anxiously. "We must climb a tree, and remain in the branches till morning." " We shall inevitably freeze to death there," she replied.

" I trust not; but, at all events, as our horses are gone, we have no alternative. 1 think your buffalo robe, well wrapped around, will protect you from the cold, as it lias done from the wolves.; and as for myself, I will endeavour to keep warm by climbing up and down, and stamping upon the limbs."

" But why not kindle a fire?" she quickly rejoined, her face suddenly animated with a hope that I was obliged to disappoint. " For two reasons," I replied. " First, because we have no time, do you not hear another hungry pack howling 1 Secondly, because we have not the materials, the loose brush and sticks being buried under the snow.

" Heaven help us, then I" moaned my wife ; " there seems nothing before us but death. Oh, my poor, dear children !" I hade her take heart, and not despair ; and then selecting a large tree, whose lower liinbs were broad and thick, but above the

reach of our enemies. I hastily assisted her fe a good foothold, and immediately qlimbed up after, her. We were not there a moment too soon : for scarcely had we get ourselves settled in a comparatively comfortable position, when another hungry pack of our enemies appeared below us—howling, snarling, and fighting, their upturned eyes occasionally glowing fearfully in the darkness. But wo were safe from their reach ; and all that long, dismal night we remained there, listening to their discordant tones, and thinking of the dear ones at home.

The night was intensely cold, and in spite of all my efforts to keep my sluggish blood in circulation, I became so benumbed before morning, that I believe I should have given up and perished, except for the pleading voice of my wife, who begged me to hold out, and not leave her a widow and my children fatherless. Daylight came at last, and never was morn hailed with greater joy. Our foes now slunk away one by one, and left us to ourselves ; and, a few minutes after their disappearance, I got down and execrcised myself violently ; and having thus brought back a little warmth to my system, I a.ssitsed ray wife to alight, and we at once started homeward. I need scarcely add that we arrived there in due time, to find our poor, night-long terrified children almost frantic with delight at our safe return.

EDITORIAL LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. There are many who have got into wild places in America who would be glad to get out in almost any way ; failing in this, they AU'ite and publish grand accounts of their surroundings so as to divide their ! joys and sorrows with all who come. Fancy yourself, says the correspondent of an English paper, over in this country, and making headway in your vocation among bullets such as gentlemen of the press have to enoounter, and you might begin to feel that though you have had a good tussle at the end of the week, it is perfect luxury when compared with the work of a vigorous daily issue such as is hinted at in the fol lowing extract: — I was told by the physician that a Southern climate would improve my health, and so I went down to Tennessee and got a berth on the Morning Glory and Johnson County War V/hoop, as associate editor. When I went on duty I found the chief editor tilled back in three-legged chair, with his feet on a pine table. There was another pine table in the room, and another afflicted chair, and both were half buried under newspapers, and scraps, and sheets, and maniiscripts. There was a wooden I box of sand, sprinkled with cigar studs and j and " old soldiers," and a stove with its j door hanging by the upper hinge. The [ chief editor had a long-tailed black cloth : frock coat on, and white linen pants. If is boots were small and neatly blacked. He \ wore a ruffled shirt, a large seal ring, a | standing collar of obsolete pattern, and a checked handkerchief with the ends hanging down. Date of costume, about 1848. He was smoking a cigar, and trying to think of a word. And in thinking of a woid, and in pawing his hair for it, he had rumpled his hair a good deal. He was scowling fearfully, and I judged that he ' was concocting a particularly knotty editorial. He told me to take the exchanges and skim through them, and then write up the " Spirit of the Tennessee Press," condensing into the article all of their i contents that seemed of interest. I wrote ] the " Spirit of the Tennessee Press." I passed my manuscript to the ohief editor for acceptance, alteration, or destruction. He glanced his eye down the page, and his countenance grew portentous. It was easy to see that something was wrong. Presently he sprang up, and said, "Thunder and lightning ! Do you suppose that I am going to speak of these j cattle that way 1 Do you suppose that my subscribers are going to stand such I

gruel as that? Give me the pen." I never saw a pen scrape and scratch its way so vigorously, or plough through another man's verbs and adjectives so relentlessly. Whilst he was in the midst of his work, some one shot at him through the open window, and marred the symmetry of his e.u\

" Ah," said he, "that is that scoundrel Smith of the Moral Volcano —he was due yesterday." He snatched a revolver from his belt, and fired. Smith dropped, shot in the thigh. This spoiled Smith's aim, who was just taking a second chance, and he crippled a stranger. It was me. Merely a fingea shot oif.

Then the chief editor went on with his erasures and interlineations. Just as he finished them, a hand-grenade came down the stove-pipe, and the explosion shivered the stove into a thousand fragments. However, it did no further damage, except that a vagrant piece of the stove knocked two of my teeth out. " The stove is utterly ruined," said the chief editor. I said I believed it was.

"Well, no matter—don't want it this kind of weather. I know the man who did it. I'll get him. Now, hero is the way this stuff ought to be written." I took the' manuscript. It was scored with eramvresi and interlineations tall its

mother wouldn't have known it, if it had one. It now read as follows: " The Spirit; of the Tennessee Press." ' "That ass, Blossom, of the HiyginsvUie Thunderbolt and Buttle Cry of Freedom, is dowji here again, bummin his board at the Van Buren. " Wo observe that the besotted blackguard of the Mud Spring Morning Howl is giving out, with his usual propensity for lying, that Van Wetter is not elected* " Blathersville wants a Nicholson's pavement— wants a gaol and a poor-house more. The idea of a pavement in a onehorse town, with two grain mills and a blacksmith's shop in it, and that mustardplaster of a newspaper, the Daily Hurrah,

" That degrading ruffian Bascon, of the Dying Shriek oj Liberty fell, down and broke his leg yesterday-—pity it wasn't his neck. He says it was debility, caused by overwork and anxiety. It was debility, caused by trying to lug six gallons of fortyrod whisky around town when his hide is only gauged for four, and anxiety about where he was going to bum another six. He " fainted from exertion of walking round too much in the sun!" And well he might say that—but if he walked straight he would get just as far, and not have to walk half as much. For yours the pure air of this town has been rendered perilous by the deadly breath of this perambulating pestilence, this pulpy bloat, this steaming animated tank of melancholy, gin and profanity, this Bascon ! Perish all such from out the sacred and majestic mission of journalism 1"

" Now this is the way to write—peppery, and to the point. Mush-and-milk journalism gives me the fauttods." About this time, a brick came through the window with a splintering crash, and gave me a considerable jolt in the back. I moved out of the range—l began to feel in the way. The chief said : " That's the colonel, likely : I have been expecting him for two days. He will be up now, right away." He wrs right. The " colonel" appeared in the door a moment afterwards, with a dragoon revolver in each hand. He said : " Sir, I have the honor of addressing the white-livered poltroon who edits this mangy sheet'?" " I believe I have the pleasure of addressing that blatant, black-hearted scoundrel, Colonel Blatherskite Tecumseh V "The same. I have a little account to settle with yon. If you are at leisure, we will begin." " 1 have an article on " Encouraging the ' Progress of Moral and Intellectual Development in America' to finish, but it is in no hurry.—Begin." ' Both pistols rang out their tierce clamor at the same instant. The chief lost a lock of his hair, and the colonel's bullet ended its career in the fleshy part of my tbh'h. They fired again. Both missed their men this time, but 1 got my share—a shot in my arm. At the third lire both gentlemen were wounded slightly, and I "had a knuckle chipped. I then said I believed I would go out and take a walk, as this was a private matter, and I had a delicacy about participating in it further. But both gentlemen begged me to keep my seat, and assured me I was not in the way. I had thought differently up to this time.

They then talked about the elections and the crops awhile, and I fell to tying up my wounds. But presently they opened fire again with animatian, and every shot took effect; but i t is proper to remark that five out of the six shots fell to my share. The sixth mortally wounded the Colonel, who remarked with humour that he had business up town. He then enquired the way to the undertaker's, and left. The chief turned to me, and said, " I am expecting company to dinner, and shall have to get ready. It will be & favor to me if you would read proofs, and attend to the customers." I winced a little'at the idea of attending to the customers, but was tor. bewildered by the fusilade that wasringiugm my ears to think of anything to say. Mo then continued : "Jones will be here at three. Cowhide him. Gillespie will call early, perhaps—throw him out of the window. Ferguson will be along at four—kill him. That is all for to-day, I believe. You may write a blistering article on the police if you have time—give the Chief Inspector rats. The cowhides are under the table, weapons in the drawers, ammunition there in the corner, lint and bandages up there in the pigeon holes. In case of accident, go to Lancet, the surgeon, downstairs. He advertises : we take it out in trade."