Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-04-18
a MIGHTY NlMRoo.
The Remarkable Record for baeEing
Game Made by Maine Hunter.

rAs Remarkable Record for BaeEing
Game Made by . Maine Hunter.
There appeared before the committee on
fisheries and game mt Augusta one OF the
most remarkable hunters living In Maine
-Alexander McLain. Of Mattawamkeag,
sixtv-seyen years OF age. He gave his testi
monv for the protection OF game aud Tor
the enforcement of honest law. Mr.. Nc
lain IA remarkable from the fact that in
his experience as hunter and guide for
forty-seyen years, killing more game than
snv other man within her border, he has
always been a still hunter. 1t is the boast
of his life that he never logged a deer, even
when the law allowed persons to slaughter
game in an understandable manner. Nc
Lain always gave deer fair chance for
his life.
In outwitting them he experienced the
real enjoyment of true hunter. 1t does
not require much skill to put hound on
the track of deer, and then to station
yourself on the banks Of lake, and when
the dog has driven the exhausted animal
into the water to shoot, perhaps, by resting
YOUR gun over a stump. That is the mode
of the pot hunter and poacher but not OF
the true hunter and guide that McLain is
knowledged to be.
For ten years he was a fish and game
warden, and has done as much to protect
game as any man living in Maine. He
never made dollar as warden, but brought
many poacher to justice. Mr.. McLain
gives the following statistics of game killed
by himself; Deer, 1000; moose, 1875; caribou,
IS; bear, gil; wolves, SO; red fox, $50; otter,
l65; black cat, 1875; sable, It's; beaver, 35.
mink, 2l5; raccoon, AZ; lynx, 45. and in ad.
dition thousands OF muskrats and other
small game.
McI.ain has had many adventures in the
woods. Once he caught an Indian in a
bear trap. The jaws of the trap fastened
about the ankle of the Indian and held him
q prisoner for thirty-siX hours The In
dams cries were heard for long distance
before the trap was reached. Five years
ago he had IA fight with n bear which was
caught in a trap AS he intended to take
up the trap he went into the woods without
his gun. When the trap was reached he
found an enormous bear fastened by one
foot. The bear had just got in and was
ugly. McLain attempted to kill the animal
with club The clog which held the trap
gave way, and the bear, with the trap hang
ing to his foot, made for McLain and Il
savage fight ensued. The bear caught Nc
Lain by the arm and bit it through. His
clothes were torn off, and occasionally a
portion of the skin with them.
At this juncture the clog caught around
a small tree, anchoring the trap, and Nc
Lain was able to make his escape. With
the blood pouring out of his arm he walked
two miles to the river, where an Indian was
encamped. His arm was partially dressed
and with the Indian and gun he started
back into the woods for the bear. The an
imal was found, but before the Indian could
shoot the bear pulled his foot out of the
trap, leaving his toes in the jaws. and made
his escape.
Mr.. McLain has caught most all kinds of
game alive. He caught live moose and
sold him to Charles Yields, of Olamon, for
$50, to whom he also sold three caribou
for S175 and thirteen deer for seven dollars
each. Seventeen young bears have been
captured alive. Two wolves were caught
in trap and an attempt made to tame
them, but without avail. In capturing
them McLain piled brush on top of them
and then slipped IA muzzle over their heads
He says Notwithstanding his years he is
ready to put his friends on the track OF
game in the season, and will warrant that
the hunt will not he fruitless. He has
guided Belfast sportsmen and they are loud
in his praise. -Befast Journal.