Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 April 1879 — Banning Down a Black Mountain Wolf. [ARTICLE]

Banning Down a Black Mountain Wolf.

Mr. S. L. Kirtley, the proprietor of the hotel at Brownington, on Friday last started out to summon witnesses who lived on Hillegras prairie, in the southeastern part of this county, and, while riding leisurely along, he espied a large black wolf in a wheat field close by. Spurring his horse to its utmost speed, he at once gave chase, and for miles over the prairies and through fields, with here and there a small skirt of timber, on they sped, the wolf in the lead, but the brave rider and dauntless little horse always in sight, and often close upon the wolf’s heels. It was a reckless ride over fences and through farms, with never a pause for breath. As they passed farm houses, the rider shouted for help, and others joined in the chase, until the number of pursuers was a dozen or more. Still the little horse kept the lead, while one after another of the fresh steeds fell to the rear.

After a run of twenty or twenty-five miles, and when within a quarter of a mile of Lowry City, a small village in St. Clair county, the race ended, and the little horse ran directly oyer the wolf, knocking it down. Kirtley was unarmed, and, springing from his saddle, grasped the vicious animal by the motfth, pinioning its jaws with a death grip. Men came to his aid, and a strong cord was bound around the wolfs mouth, rendering it harmless. The cords were unintentionally drawn so tight that the animal died of strangulation and exhaustion shortly after being captured. It proved to be a full-grown black mountain wolf, fully three feet high, and weighing probably 100 pounds.— Henry County (Mo.) Democrat.