The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-06
SNOWBALLING A MOOSE.
Sport in the SnowClad Forests of
New Brunswick.
New York Sun.

A party or Government surveyors in the
province of New Brunswick had a curious
hours fun last week at the expense of a bull
moose. They were on their way into The NORTH
eastern forest for the winters work upon the
crown lands. A deep snow had Just fallen and
the men were 'plodding along on snowshoes
in single file. The line of surveyors, chain
men, axmen and the carriers stretched out over
distance Of an eighth OF mile in the tree
less gully through which their course lay
Suddenly those In the lead discovered the
fresh tracks OF a moose heading in the same
direction as the party. They showed that the
animal was having a hard time of iC, founder
ing belly deep IN the soft snow. and was evil
IDENTITY heelng in alarm at the noise of the adj
VanclEg column. Several times the tracks de-
waited from the path of the party, disappearing
IN me tDlcE underbrush OF the wooded hills at
either side. But they always returned to the
less INSTRUCTED ground in the gully.
Word was passed back along the line that
there was moose ahead, and the pace was
quickened. There was no particular object in
Overtak ing the moose, as every man In the party
had as heavy a load strapped to his back as he
cared to carry, and fresh meat was plentiful.
Besides, the chief engineer was noted through
out the province as stickler for the game law
But the moose was going their way. and there
was dash of the excitement of the chase n the
effort 10 get a glimpse OF him.
They kept up the rapid pace for over an hour
every minute showing that the moose was
struggling on with increasing difficulty At
Intervals the trial indicated that he had fallen
rest In the snow. These snow casts of his big
body became more frequent, and il became
evident at last that their quarry was almost
spent. and that unless he sought shelter in the
hills they must soon ovt rtake him. A moment
later shout from the head of the column told
that the moose was in sight. The straggiers
came up quickly, and there, about five rods TO
one side OF the snowshOe tran, was The moose
splendid bull three or four years old. He
was embedded in the snow almost up TO the
back, and was putting like a steam engine;
completely exhausted.
Now that they had overtaken the moose, the
men, under the waIchful eye of the chief.
looked rather sheeplsh until one of them, idly
picking up piece Of snow. tossed it at the an
1mal. Then every one seemed taken with the
novelty of snowoaling moose. and q perfect
fuSilade OF missiles were directed at tue terri
fed beast. He was too tired TO make further
attempt 10 escape, but rolling his great eyes
he stretched out his head on the snow, the
Steaming breath from his nOsITis blowing the
fakes aside in small clouds The white balls
flew In showers about his broad branehed
horns and whiStled pasp his ears, but the onlv
sign of the terror he felt at the unusual attack
was the rapid, spaSmodic twitching of his short
tail, movement that was strangely discordaut
with the dignity OF the monarch OF the Acadian
forests.
After five minutes fusillade the men tired
of the fun and resumed their weary tramp
leaving the moose TO recover from his exhaus-
tien and fright and 10 wonder what mann~r OF
C eatures they were who, after chasing him for
miles. hao contented themselves with peltlng
him with harmless balls of snow.