St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-27
TREED BY A MOOSE.
An Ugly Customer, and More to Be
Feared Than a Bear.

Mattawamkeag Special.
Henry Priest, of Midway, a we'll
known lumberman, has had thrilling
experience with a bull moose. A few
days ago he was at Mud Brook. near
A1illinockett lake, spotting lines and
exploring for timber preparatory to a
lumber operation. For some tina he
heard the rampaging and believing of an
animal some distance away, but paid no
attention to it, as he knew by previous
experience in the woods it was a moose.
Suddenly the animal appeared In sight,
and. seeing Mr.. Priest, rushed for him,
head down. Mr.. Priest is abont fifty
years Ofage and lame, but knowing how
savage bull moose is at this season of
the year, he was not slow in taking a
Nelson gait for the nearest tree. into the
branches of which he swung himself
Just in time to escape the Infatuated
moose.
Mr.. Priest was unframed, but perched
in the tree he had good chance to in
spect this monarch of the forest" Mr..
Priest says the animaiswaS huge fell
low and would weigh over half a ton.
On his wide, spreading antlers were
twenty-five prongs. which were pointed
and sharp. and would pierce the flesh
like a Damascus sword.
For all hour the moose walked about
the tree, paved the ground and oc-
casionally emitted bellows, which were
anything except music to MIR. Priests
ears. The minutes passed slowly. SEEM
ing like hours to Mr.. Priest in his un-
comfortable seat in the tree. Finally
the moose went away some distance.
slide to the ground and started for a
white birch growth which was some dis
lance away.
He had safely covered part of the
space when the moose discovered him.
Then there was wild goas-yOu-pleaSe
race. Mr.. Priest fortunately had q
good start, and, reaching the birch
trees, struck match and touched it
to the bark, which, catching fire like
finder, the flames with roaring sound
shot into the air. This was new expe
rience to the moose, a genuine surprise.
He stood for a moment looking at the
rudy blaze and listening TO the crack
ling flames, when he turned, and with
a bound disappeared in the forest.
The method of attack with the bull
moose is with his antlers and fore feet,
the edges of the hoofs Of which are as
sharp as keen cutlaSS. Woe to the
mar whom the moose attacks. A per-
son had better struggle with bear than
to have contest with a bull moose
when he is i'll an angry mood.
A few years ago an Indian who wa s
camping near Mt. Katahdin called
bull with a moose horn. The bull sur
priSed poor LO, and he had fearful
hand-to-hand struggle. When Joe
Daney, the Indian, who was one of the
tribe at Lincoln islands, and quite
famous in his day., emerged from the
battle and took refuge in a tree. he had
nota shred of clothing upon him, and
his face and body bore evidence that
the struggle had been one which nearly
: caused the death of poor Joe.
1t is not unusual for bull moose at
: this season of the year to attack men.
The late Moses Wadleigh, of Oldtown,
and an Indian were once freed by a
moose. The moose. saw fit to pay par
ticnlar attention to MIR. Wadleigh. The
Indian slid out of his tree. and, as he
started on the run, said: "Any news to
send down to Oldtown. Mr.. Wadlelgh?'
Mr.. Wadleigh escaped. aid lived many
years to tell of the adventure.