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ROOSEVELT'S WOLF SKIN
How an Oklahoma Girl of Nerve Killed the Beast
and Sent Him the Plet

Cedar Rapids Sunday Republican, 6 Jan 1901


New York Evening World:
Governor Roosevelt has in the gun room of his Oyster Bay residence the handsomely mounted pelt of a gray wolf, which is something unique in the way of a trophy.

When Colonel Roosevelt was in Oklahoma last fall, before the elections, he was the guest of Colonel Zach Mulhall. He heard the story of the wolf's capture, he praised the bravery of the girl hunter, who was the colonel's daughter, Agnes, and he received the promise of the mounted wolf, a promise since redeemed.

Back of Colonel Mulhall's pasture, comprising 15,000 acres, a band of wolves had established their den, whence they raided the colonel's herds at will. Notwithstanding the great loss among his cattle Mulhall issued orders that no one was to hunt the wolves, as he wished to preserve them for friends in the east, who had arranged for a hunting expedition in the territory this winter. This mandate being religously obeyed, the wolves became bolder day after day.

One morning Miss Agnes Mulhall, accompanied by her younger sister, Lucille, started out for a ride in the big pasture. When about seven miles from the house their horses started up a brace of wolves. The equestrians being between the four-footed cattle thieves and their den, the wolves took to the open and the hunt was on, notwithstanding that the girls were unarmed, save for the fact that each carried at her saddle-bow a lariat.

Away went wolves and horses in a race for life.

The fleet-footed cow ponies gradually gained on teh quarry, and Miss Agnes made her lariat ready for the throw. While riding at full speed she threw the rope and caught the larger wolf fast by the neck. Turning her horse, homeward she sped, dragging her captive. For five miles or more the wolf was hauled toward the ranch house, when he suddenly succeeded in freeing himself by gnawing the rope in two. But he was not to escape. Plying the "quirt," the girls were at his heels. Soon King Lupus was again captured. This time it was Miss Lucille who succeeded in roping him.

Fearing that the wolf might again escape, they headed their horses for a tree. Around the trunk of this the horse was circled, slowly but surely dragging the captive closer and closer to the tree, until finally he had but a yard or so of leeway. But what to do with the captive, now that they had him good and fast was the puzzling question. Suddenly Miss Agnes bent over in her saddle, unbuckled a stirrup, and with the weapon thus provided beat the wolf to death, still seated in the saddle. The quarry was then dragged home and created a sensation, especially when the fact became known of the manner of its capture and death at the hands of a girl.






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