Warren County IN Archives History - Books .....Wild Animals 1883
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 9, 2007, 5:32 pm

Book Title: Counties Of Warren, Benton, Jasper And Newton, Indiana

WILD ANIMALS.

   A few bears have been killed in the county, two or three of them being
stragglers, in comparatively late years. Early in the '30s and in the month of
October, Wesley Gray and others were hunting by moonlight one night, when the
dogs started a bear not far from Rainsville. The large animal started northward
at a rapid rate, closely pursued by the dogs and followed by Mr. Gray, who was
on horseback, and who could scarcely keep up with it, owing to the swamps and
woods. But finally he reached the fierce animal near the northern boundary of
the county, just as it was in the act of killing one of his dogs. It had seized
the dog in its deadly embrace and was crushing the unfortunate animal to death
by repeated hugs. Mr. Gray jumped from his horse, which was very restless, and
threw his rifle to his shoulder just as the bear, with mouth open and gleaming
teeth, displayed in the moonlight, released the dog and made a dash at him. He
fired as the animal reared up, and a half ounce of lead went crashing into its
body near the heart. The maddened animal gave a spasmodic bound, fell over on
the leaves, and after a few feeble kicks was dead. The Grays and some of their
neighbors ate bear steak for breakfast the following morning.

   Wolves were very numerous, especially in very early years, and sometimes in
winter, when rendered desperate by hunger, they would enter door and
stable-yards and attack domestic animals, and sometimes would .pursue and attack
man himself. This, however, was only when they were half starved and desperate.
A settler in Liberty Township once pursued a large wolf, chasing it on
horseback. He ran over it once, but the horse was severely bitten by the wolf,
and would avoid the beast upon subsequent charges. At last it was brought to
bay, and the settler, having no gun, took off his stirrup, intending, if
possible, to brain the animal by one blow. He advanced upon it, and it, in turn,
rendered furious by the long chase, advanced upon him, showing two rows of teeth
that a crocodile might have envied, and that snapped together like a steel trap.
When close enough, he struck it upon the head with the heavy iron stirrup,
stretching it upon the ground, and finishing the work by repeated blows upon the
head. Cattle in the woods, becoming mired down in the swamps at night, often
furnished a feast for a ravenous pack of wolves. Ordinarily the wolves were not
dangerous to man. Sheep constantly fell victims to their rapacity. The County
Commissioners offered a heavy bounty, which had the effect of largely ridding
the county of the nocturnal marauders. They continued, however, to do serious
damage to sheep folds long after the county was quite well populated. Finally,
some time in the early part of the '40s, it was resolved to organize a grand
circular hunt in order to exterminate as many of the animals as possible. The
time came, and the night before a large pole was erected on the big mound at
Walnut Grove, from the top of which four wagon covers sewed together were spread
to the breeze. Eighty acres at this place were staked off, the flag pole being
the center, and this tract of land was to be the center where the game was to be
driven, and upon which none of the hunters were to advance without orders from
the Captains. Bright and early the next morning, the settlers started from
Benton County, Vermillion County, Ill., and Tippecanoe County on the east, and
the Wabash River on the south, and as they moved along they were joined by
hundreds, until the great circular line was almost solid. They made loud and
constant noise to scare up all game. The big flag could be seen for ten miles,
and steadily toward it the line of excited and anxious men advanced. Animals
could be seen running in front of the line, and at last opposite lines could see
each other. The circle of men at this time was complete, and the fun began.
Herds of deer, led by some fine old stag, would dash madly round and round the
circle, and were met everywhere by volleys of rifles. Sometimes, when made
desperate by the noise and by fear, they would dash at the line, and, jumping
over the heads of the hunters, or breaking through the line, would go wildly off
at full speed and escape. Notwithstanding the care which had been used, nearly
all the game except deer had managed to escape through the lines during the
march. A few wolves were hemmed in and shot, and a few foxes were seen and,
perhaps, a few killed. Several herds of deer also had managed to escape during
the advance; but there were about 300 in the circle when the lines reached the
limit of march. Many of these escaped by breaking through the lines or leaping
over the heads of the hunters. Many men were so excited that they scarcely knew
what they did, and the line was sometimes very irregular and broken, thus
admitting the escape of the animals. About 160 deer were killed; also six or
eight wolves. It had been expected that not less than twenty-five wolves would
be hemmed in and killed, so that the hunt, as a whole, did not come up to the
expectations. Fortunately no man was injured by a stray bullet. This was the
most extensive hunt ever in the county. David Moffit was one of the most
successful hunters and trappers ever in the county. He enjoys the sport even at
this day, and for a man who has seen fourscore of years, is remarkably clear
mentally, and strong and active physically.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

PART II.
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Geology and Settlement

========================

COUNTIES OF 
Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton,
INDIANA

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL
ILLUSTRATED.

CHICAGO: F. A. BATTEY & CO., PUBLISHERS.
1883.


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