The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-02-21
A CAPTIVE MOOSE.
The Great Dash Made by the Huge, Homely
Creature at the ogus Home.
IT. the Editor Of the Press:

tt the Editor of the Press:
Perhaps the readers of the Press will
be interested in the writer's experience
with the captive moose during a recent
visit to Togus. When the animal was
placed in the deer park there last spring
it was only baby, an ungainly creature
the size of calf. But now it is almost
as large as horse, tt o igh its youth is
still manifest by its timldity.
AS the writer approached the park and
saw the huge, homely creature that
seemed veritable gnome of the forest
compared to the pretty herd OF fairy
deer, he perceived that the keeper was
endeavoring to drive the moose into the
stable, and that he was not achieving any
great degree of success. The keeper re-
CURED aid, and therefore aid was given.
A rude harness consisting of bride,
leather belt and girth. had been placed
mon the moose for the first time that
dav. SO that it might get used to them
preparatory to being trained to draw
sledge. The keeper desired to remove
the harness. The little stable is in one
corner of the park. The writer was sta
toned in front of it to urge the moose
to enter, after the keeper had driven it
thither. Slowly it came nearer and near
er and nearer, keeping close to the fence,
and whiningly demonstrating all the
time. Finally, when close to the stable,
it disregarded the writer's "shoolng
and made frantic and successful break
for liberty, despite the latter's pest leg
and lung exertion, galloping, to the aus
tant corner of the park and scattering
the leaping deer like so many grasshop-
pers. Theer was something deceptive
about the moose's ungalnly leaps anu ali-
gular trot. 1t did not appear TO pc 60
mo very fast until it had gone. Then IL
was apparent that it had gone almighty
ouick.,' as the keeper expressed 1t.
The programme was repeated several
times. till finally ,the moose scrambled
over some rocks into small space pc
hind the stable. The writer followed,
held out his hand coaxingly, said GOOD
moose.'' etc., and was allowed to ap-
nroach nearer and nearer, till just as his
hand touched the great black muzzle,
with the intention of Selling the birdie,
the moose jumped aside. Now whether
the writer became Suddenly lmbued Win
the Insane idea that he was samson, or
the equally foolish notion that the
moose was weak because it was timld, is
not exactly clear. Certain it is that he
made a grab at the leather girth and Sc
cured a firm hold, so firm in fact that he
hadn't time to let go to avoid the earth
make that followed. There was a mighty
plunge of a mighty animal, distressing
wrench of aless mighty animal, not,only
of the shoulder, but of the whole insig,,
nificant body, and when the world had
regained its equilibrium, the moose
was putting on brakes at the other nd
of the park. If the reader desires fur
ther information, it is simply necessary
to take firm hold of the next piston rod
that he sees, when in motion, and then
carfelly note the results.
The above captive king of the Maine
forests is royalty entertained in his cap
tiyity. There is no bread and water diet
for him. He has been given his choice
of oatmeal. wheat germ or homlny, and
has declared unmista kably for the latter,
as true native of the country should.
Some remote ancestor Of his doubtless
regularly lunched in some Indian garden
and transmitted his taste for corn to the
present generation. Great quantities OF
hominy are therefore boiled in the
moose's own private kettle and fed 70
him cold in great slabs and chunks, and
this is accompanied by plenty Of sweet
milk, fresh from the cow. His majesty
is probably the plumpest moose, for his
age. in. existence. L. Il. f., Jr.