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P I T T I N G OF WOLVES.
THERE seems to be a universal feeling of hostility among men against
the Wolf, whose strength, agility, and cunning, which latter is scarcely inferior
to that of his relative master Reynard, tend to render him an object of
hatred, especially to the husbandman, on whose flocks he is ever apt to
commit depredations. In America, where this animal was formerly abundant,
and in many parts of which it still occurs in considerable numbers,
it is not more mercifully dealt with than in other parts of the world.
Traps and snares of all sorts are set for catching it, while dogs and horses
are trained for hunting the Fox. The Wolf, however, unless in some way
injured, being more powerful and perhaps better winded than the Fox, is
rarely pursued with hounds or any other dogs in open chase ; but as his
depredations are at times extensive and highly injurious to the farmer,
the greatest exertions have been used to exterminate his race. Few instances
have occurred among us of any attack made by Wolves on man,
and only one has come under my own notice.
Two young Negroes who resided near the banks of the Ohio, in the
lower part of the State of Kentucky, about twenty-three years ago, had
sweethearts living on a plantation ten miles distant. After the labours
of the day were over, they frequently visited the fair ladies of their choice,
the nearest way to whose dwelling lay directly across a great cane brake.
As to the lover every moment is precious, they usually took this route,
to save time. Winter had commenced, cold, dark, and forbidding, and
after sunset scarcely a glimpse of light or glow of warmth, one might imagine,
could be found in that dreary swamp, excepting in the eyes
and bosoms of the ardent youths, or the hungry Wolves that prowled
about. The snow covered the earth, and rendered them more easy
to be scented from a distance by the famished beasts. Prudent in a
certain degree, the young lovers carried their axes on their shoulders,
and walked as briskly as the narrow path would allow. Some transient
glimpses of light now and then met their eyes, but so faint were they
that they believed them to be caused by their faces coming in contact
with the slender reeds covered with snow. Suddenly, however, a long
and frightful howl burst upon them, and they instantly knew that it
proceeded from a troop of hungry, perhaps desperate Wolves. They
PITTING OF WOLVES. 339
stopped, and putting themselves in an attitude of defence, awaited the
result. All around was dark, save a few feet of snow, and the silence
of night was dismal. Nothing could be done to better their situation,
and after standing a few minutes in expectation of an attack, they judged
it best to resume their march; but no sooner had they replaced their
axes on their shoulders, and begun to move, than the foremost found
himself assailed by several foes. His legs were held fast as if pressed by
a powerful screw, and the torture inflicted by the fangs of the ravenous
animal was for a moment excruciating. Several Wolves in the mean
time sprung upon the breast of the other Negro, and dragged him to
the ground. Both struggled manfully against their foes ; but in a short
time one of them ceased to move, and the other, reduced in strength,
and perhaps despairing of maintaining his ground, still more of aiding
his unfortunate companion, sprung to the branch of a tree, and speedily
gained a place of safety near the top. The next morning, the mangled
remains of his comrade lay scattered around on the snow, which was
stained with blood. Three dead Wolves lay around, but the rest of
the pack had disappeared, and Scipio, sliding to the ground, took up
the axes, and made the best of his way home, to relate the sad adventure.
About two years after this occurrence, as I was travelling between
Henderson and Vincennes, I chanced to stop for the night at a farmer's
house by the side of the road. After putting up my horse and refreshing
myself, I entered into conversation with mine host, who asked if I
should like to pay a visit to the wolf-pits, which were about half a mile
distant. Glad of the opportunity I accompanied him across the fields
to the neighbourhood of a deep wood, and soon saw the engines of destruction.
He had three pits, within a few hundred yards of each
other. They were about eight feet deep, and broader at bottom, so
as to render it impossible for the most active animal to escape from
them. The aperture was covered with a revolving platform of twigs,
attached to a central axis. On either surface of the platform was
fastened a large piece of putrid venison, with other matters by no
means pleasant to my olfactory nerves, although no doubt attractive to
the Wolves. My companion wished to visit them that evening, merely
as he was in the habit of doing so daily, for the purpose of seeing that all
was right. He said that Wolves were very abundant that autumn, and
had killed nearly the whole of his sheep and one of his colts, but that