Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

 

[Paris Correspondence of the New York Evening Post]

     In Paris we have only had the cold, but, as you already know, the south of France has been visited by an almost unparalleled fall of snow. A singular accident is reported to have happened to a train on the Luxembourg Railroad on the night of the 18th. This train was composed of nine cars filled with metallic ore, and three cars carrying sheep and oxen. At Marbellan great difficulty was experienced in making headway against the snow, and between Lubiamont and Poix the snow threatened to extinguish the fires, and the engineer was obliged to stop the train and send on ahead for assistance to clear the track. The men who were left were busying themselves in sweeping off the snow that had fallen on the engine, when they heard behind them a low yelping. They turned, they saw against the darkness a semi-circular line of firey points. They were the eyes of famished wolves, five in number, who had been attracted by the smell of the cattle, and were now seated at a few steps from the four men, watching.

     The situation was extremely critical. Except for the fire trons and shovels, the besieged were entirely unarmed, and could have no hope of assistence within three hours. They opened the steam jets and blew the whistle in hopes of frightening the beasts, but without success. It was determined finally to beat a retreat, and the four men crept in single file along the train, closely followed by the hungry wolves. They reached the wagons without difficulty, and three of them succeeded in entering, but as the fourth started, one of the wolves sprang upon him and tore off the flap of his coat. This was the signal for the assault of the entire band, an assault, however, that was so vigorously resisted, that the human animals came off victorious, killing one of the enemy. The door of the wagon rolled on its hinges and admitted them into a place of temporary safety, where for two mortal hours they sustained a blockade.

     A quarter of an hour’s silence after the retreat of the wolves was followed by a frightful tempest of yells and howls from the terrified cattle, which continued to break the monotony of the suspence until the arrival of assistance. It has been suggested that henceforth the men in charge of cattle trains in winter should be provided with firearms, so as to be able to make a stand when, like Red Riding Hood, they meet wolves in the forests.