Staunton Spectator, And General Advertiser

FOR THE SPECTATOR.

An Adventure Equal to Gen Putnam's.

In the year 1837, in a part of Callaway county, Mo. ten or twelve miles N. East of Fulton, the wolves became so very troublesome and destructive, making great havoc amongst the sheep and fowls, &c. that the inhabitants thought they must do something to destroy, or banish them.

It was discovered that there was a Cavern in a Cliff (or Bluff as called in that country,) near the river, which was inhabited by wolves, from bones, feathers, and other appearances—and that there were young ones also, by their tracks about the mouth of the den. Some persons went with their dogs and got one to go into the den; after being gone some time, they heard barking, and a fight commence. It appeared to be at a great distance.

The dog returned back badly wounded. They then rolled large rocks to the mouth of the den, and fastened the wolf or wolves in so that they could not get out, and gave notice through the neighborhood that they intended meeting at the den by sun rise the next morning.—

People felt so interested (although it was a busy time) that they generally turned out, as they understood that there was a man by the name of Wayne who intended going into the den and shooting the wolves, if no other way could be found to get them. I started a little after day-light with my travelling companion, as we wished to see what was going on.

We had not gone far before we heard hounds coming towards us: we put whip to our horses and soon met a very large he wolf and a gray hound within a few jumps of him, and twenty or thirty hounds about twenty steps behind. We pursued awhile, but soon lost sight of them in a thicket. The hounds were heard off, following on twelve or fifteen miles that evening.

On going to the den we found the woods alive with persons and dogs trying to start others. About twelve o'clock, all were collected at the den with their dogs. There were many plans suggested by the old hunters. It was found to be at too great a distance for smoke or fire to have any effect, and they could not get any dog, in all the number that was there, to go in any distance but the one that was in before. He went in and soon was heard to hollow as if he was being killed. His owner said he could not stay there and have his dog killed; he started to go in, but his friends pulled him back. The dog got loose and came out with the skin torn off his face. All attempts appearing vain to get them out, Wayne said he had come there with the intention of going into the den and killing the wolves, if any person would go in with him and take a light. His friends all remonstrated with him, telling him that he would be in great danger of being torn to pieces, as the wolves were then enraged; and that the passage was so narrow that it was impossible to get back only feet foremost. He still said he would go in, if he had any person to take the light, as he could not take it and his gun.

There was a man about the same age, between twenty and thirty I suppose, (both married men I believe,) by the name of Hawkins, hearing this, jumped down from where he was sitting, and said he would go in and take either the gun or the light, which surprised all. They then loaded up the gun and lit their candles, pulled off their coats and vests, and tied handkerchiefs on their heads, and went in. All was silent.

At length the barking and growling of the wolf, when the light came near, made the ground and rocks appear to shake above.

Soon the explosion of the gun was heard. The distance was so great that it did not appear to make more noise than the wolf.

The men returned with their feet foremost, as there was no chance of turning. Their pantaloons were forced up above their knees.

The light went out as soon as the gun went off.

Wayne said he had shot a large wolf in the shoulder, and that there was a crevice in the rock that he put his head into as soon as the gun went off, so that if the wolf should come at him he would save his head.

They loaded up again, and went in. (Some thought he had not touched the wolf with the ball.) Again the sound of the gun was heard, and the barking of the wolf was louder than ever.

They came back in the same way as before, and said it was shot near the same place, and that they heard the blood gushing from the wound. They reloaded the third time, and went in, but before going far they saw a wolf standing at the bend near the mouth of the den. Wayne shot it in the head, and came back pulling a very large she wolf out with him, dead, and we found two bullets in the shoulder, as he had said.

The dog that had been in, took hold as soon as he saw it, but none of the others would touch for some time.

It was seen that she had young.

The men returned again, but found none but young ones about the size of foxes, six in number. They got them all.

The length of the den I suppose was not less than sixty feet. The smell was very offensive and sickening they said.

J. S. G. An Eye Witness.