y o m i n q by Harry S. Douglass - Old Fulton History

In the autumn of the year 1831, long after the howl of the wolf
and the scream of the panther had ceased and the deer had left the
Wyoming county hills, farmers in the western portions of Bennington
and Sheldon found that many of their sheep were being killed. Old
hunters attributed this slaughter to the work of a wolf or wolves.
In December,several more were killed and some fifteen young men from
the valley south of Attica village resolved to make an effort to
capture the rogue. In the words of one of the hunters,writing years
later in local papers, "They went to the place where his tracks were
last seen, which was near a heavy windfall of timber, at t he brow of
Bennington Hill, southwest of Cotton's Mills."
"It was intensely cold and the snow on an average was three
feet deep. It had drifted over this fallen timber so as to pretty
much cover it, and it was believed the wolf was burrowed underneath.
To determine this,William Walbridge and 'Arch' Lindsley commenced to
walk over it,but presently the former disappeared. Lindsley shouted,
"You're a goner I" but before he had finished the sentence, he, too,
disappeared. The wolf, not liking such an unceremonious call, made
a hasty retreat, going south. Greatly excited, the hunters immediately
gave chase, '^hey had but one hound, which was owned by an
old hunter by the name of Pickering. The dog was not accustomed to
this kind of sport and could not be induced to precede the man more
than ten rods. It was then agreed that James Wntsie, on snowshoes
and wL th a horn, should lead the van and blow the horn whenever he
found the wolf had made a track. The great depth of the snow made
it very difficult for them to move with much speed, They had, however,
about sundown,, crossed the Buffalo or Big Tree, road some two
miles west of varysburg. But not all of them, for one after another
had dropped off,until but three--Patrick R.Gardner,William Walbridge
and George Thompson, all about 18 years of age--remained.
"Prom here the wolf went in a westerly direction, entering a
large and dense piece of timber. Undaunted, the boys entered the
woods and followed the trail until 11 o'clock, when fatigue, hunger,
and cold compelled them to seek shelter for t he balance of the night.
Looking in various directions, they saw a faint light at a distax^oe
of a half mile, which they made for. On reaching it they found it
was the glimmer of a log fire in a cabin of one Lawton. They aroused
the inmate, iho after hearing their story,said the folks were not at
home and there was not a mouthful cooked In the shanty. He told them
to go to the settlement, which was not far off, where he was sure
their wants would be supplied, directing their course. They trudged
onward,and in due time reached a log cabin and gave the alarm. A
man soon appeared at the door, who proved to be Ira Thomas, living
about a half mile west of the base of Buffalo Hill. Their story and
wants were s oon told, and in an incredibly short time the young wife,
who had just commenced housekeeping,had a smoking meal on the t able,
and if any fellows ever relished a supper, it was this hungry trio,
Mr. -homas thought they would have to go to the corners for lodging,
but Col. Gideon Thomas, who was present on a visit, said,
(continued on page 85)