Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1894-12-25
LANclv's slo MOOSE ADVENTURE
rirrsviELp mas sRcKsN or IN A
NEW PLACE, AND CAN sAvgLY AoREE
TO Suxxisn AN AxERicAS BARos
xuxCnAUsEN.


To SuKxisu AN AMERICAN BAROS
xuxcnAusEN.
r. q. IAncey arrived home from
hunting expedition Monday night with
three due deer and q magnificent bull
moose. Hen steward and y. q. I'ooler
Of Skowhegan, Who were With him, had
\ three deer aplecc. The moose measured
over six feet In height, has fine oct Of
antlers aud dressed 200 pounds.
Although he doesn't pretend To be .
crack sh0t or On expert In hunting big
game, Tom iAncey now has the bulge
on al the local hunters, and II the firpt
littsheld man Who has killed moose
within our recollection. The animal II
Que Of the biggest Of his species which
has bern brought down from the Moose-
head region this year, and excited much
admiration In Bangor and after be ar
rived here. hut Tom wears hls honors
meekly, and modestly refraIns from
dwelling on the stirring incidents at
tending the big animals capture. The
other members Of the party, however,
talk freely OF them.
The party, IL seems, cAmped for ten
days or 80 In the vicinity Ut Spencer
hay, on MAine's principal lake. They
found good sport, had most enjoyable
time roughlDg IL and Monday morning
embarked on one Of the smaller Moose
head steamers for the lake, homewari
bound. each having "A many deer ~ the
Law allows.
AZ the boat proceeded down the bay.
Tom sat upon the deck cleaning his
trusty rife, and medltAting some~hst
gloomily upon the fact that be had only
three deer to'csrry home az the result of
his pro~ess. Little did be dram Of the
startling adventure which he Was des-
tined 10 figure In within the hour. sud
denly, as the boat neared the narrow
outlet leading from the bay 10 the main
lake, q big moose Was sighted swimming
acro.s. The steamer Was headed for
him, and NJ II drew Into rifle shot Tom
l.yeled his rifle and fired. The other.
had BY this time got their rides out aud
also opened firc. IA the moose reached
bottom aud broke for the woods, Tom
got ip another shot, and tie big animal
disappeared from View. IL MAS obvious,
however. that he VAS wounded.
Tom aud his COMPANIONS, as the boat
quickly launched q canoe which MAS on
board aud landed. Tom At QUO. took
the trail Of the mooss, While the Others
bore OF In another direction To head the
moose Of. The trail led Into the recess
20 ~ the forest for half = mile, aud then
turned abruptly 10 the left across the
Point In the direction 81 the main lake.
Tom hurried on, intent on bis prey. All
nj once In thick scrub growth he sight
ed the moose near At hand. IL ~as
plainly wounded, but not MORALLY.
The beast turned ss,sgely upon hls par-
susr. Who, taken som.w hat by surprise,
quickly observed the nrst lA~ 81 nature,
, aud got out 10 the way. lie nlmbly
mounted dead tree which stood slight
ly leaning close at hand, aud VAS breath
= Ie..ly poised thereon In . ssfe position
by the time the huge beast paused,
. bsfiied aud furious, beneath him. Hut
he had dropped his ride In his hssty
ascent, and the bold hunter Vas nov
unarmed except for his blood.stalned
.he.th-knife. Tom nov bessn To real
: Ire that things were getting serious. III,
|, had heard Of the fury % the wounded
bull moo.e, and had listened Ia such ac-
counts with impstlencc. Hut now be
thoroughly respected the monarch Of the
forest u never before. The furious on
slaughts of the maddened brute began
; to tell upon the decay log tire In which
he Was per,hed. II might succumh
perhap. To the neat. Ills though, ~
verted 10 hl. beautiful native town, hi.
pleasant home, hi. bright future pros
poets, a. he seriously me,iitsted upon
his present perilous position. some
/, thlnSmusi bc done at once, az be might
fall victim to the now thoroughly
frantic bull.
What did he dor
What could he do,
Ili. friends were out % hearing, the
bull Was raging beneath In fierce, but NJ
, yet futile .ndeayors 10 di.lodge him
All at once q na.h ~ Inspiration such
ss come. Ia q man but once In lifetime
, burst upon him. u be could regain bis
rife, he could yet bring down hl. game,
/, aud escape With his life. And be would
do II. Within reach be noticed n strong
.apling, which d. calculated would bend
Ia the ground beneath his weight, aud
! then IN. impe,u. of q quick jump
aud the rebound of the sspllng would
bring him back 10 HE place ~ temporary
safety sgsin. Watching his opportunity
Tom executed HE manruyre, and before
th. mighty beast could whlrl snd reach
him be had gone down With the sspling
grabbed his ride. Jumped for Ills life and
the little tree bore him up to point
|. from which he clsmbered safely upon
Ill. insecure perch sgsin. Then, after
partially regsining his breath, Tom took
deliberate aim and shot the moose
through the heart. That settled HIN.
summoning his companion. aud the
boats crew the moose VAS dressed aud
dragged To the shore . short distance
away, got upon the stesmer aud TIL
umphsntly transported Ia Pttshsld.
Tom won't admit the full measure of
these adventures, but this can be- at
tributed to his natural modesty.-fitts-