The sun., 1895-02-15
SAVED HER CAFE FROM 4 BEAR.
How n Moose Dccoyed Bruin into Malta
cannon Lake and Broke His Back.

AUGUSTA, Nc, Feb. li.-Among the thousands
of hunting stories told in the corridors OF the
State House during the recent hearing Of petit
TONERS for more stringent game laws, was ole
which showed almost human sagacity on the
part of a COW moose in planning the destruction
of a black bear bent on killing her calf.
Take seat in the woods and remain silent
long enough" said the story teller. "and you
will learn great deal about the habits Of birds
and animals. In the summer Of 90 was up in
the MattagamOn region fishing trip and
had for guide old Louis Ketchum of Old
Town. One afternoon. think il was about the
middle of August Louis put me ashore on u
beautiful hard wood point, while he went down
the lake for quarter OF n mile for some drift
wood which was high and dry on the beach.
I'VE had selected the point for a camping
place. and the first thing did when ashore was
to get some cool moss in which to wrap the
dozen so fine trout we had taken near the
northwestern part of the lake Then selected
fell for back logs. and waited for Louis to re-
turn with dry wood for the fire.
" had walked baCk'dbOut three to five rods
from the water. where lay big dead spruce. and
there perhaps ten minutes when far back in the
woods heard a crashing as il u big moose were
making his way through underbrnsh.
The noise o, ii"uiss axe having ceased
the water to see where he was. All the time the
sound was coming nearer and nearer, and when
Louis, who had heard it also. whispered
Moose Then he. listened and said: Don't
If Louis didn't know why he came GER
tainly couldn't enlighten him, but | thought it |
straSLt in the anmas az Grsdtion e as and must
have carried our scent. While we were specu- !
lating the sound suddenly ceased. The last
s crash was not over 100 10 100 yards away
There was silence Tor about two minutes, when |
again we heard the swish OF. branches and the |
snapping Of twigs; This time, however, the |
animal had changed his course hut at the same |
time was keeping on toward tho lake.
" The moose, II moose it was. had nndoubt- |
edly scent US. but why should it still keep on
toward the watcrr My guide was the most |
around silently, and motioncd for me to step in !
at the bow When had settled down lac worked |
out into the lake to watch proceedings.
Just below US at the point toward which the |
animal WAS moving the shore Of the lake, soped |
gently. The beach was Of pebbles and sand. |
cow moose with IA good-si2ed calf bOlted out of |
the woods. The space between the water line |
shore at that point about thirty yards in |
width, and when the moose ana her calf got |
turned half around to look back on her track.
THUS she stood looking and listening for
some @m H., tlms ana thinSnG the whole proceed
riences. whispered, What's upt to Louis He
shiyered the canoe, sign tor me t" keep
Commotion came to our ears from the woods.
and the calf moose, as the noise grew. louder,
began to tremble like a lump OF ey When the
old COW again faced the water she saw us but
after taking long look our way aud another
behind, she seemed to make up her mind that
the danger in the was more to be feared
than the men in the canoe.
Then she began wading out into the lake,
followed by the calf. but was hardly knee deep
when black bear, with lolling tongue, came
moved The canoe @ up TO Within hi twenty @ wards Of
the moose. but she took no notice of us. With
head slightly turned SO she could watch the
progress of the bear, she kept on wading till her
belly touched the water. At this depth the calf
was pretty well in, but as these animals have
sfl lang tts
or four months old, his one found no difficulty
in remaining Mt ease in water ucep enough to
sink two ordinary black bears.
Louis was terribly excited. lie worked the
canoe around so the best view Of all three ami
some fun in Linuto,' and did; 1t took the bear
about ten seconds TO size up the situation from
nS o%ch ia %S tGgn hs sEsan to wSaS Es e
ioundand dog taking a bath. As he came on
! he m old moose gradually swung around, facing
asnine ears hauled down and back, like those
of an angry horse.
THE bear reached water too deep for wadng
In Just a Little over une-half of the distance be-
tween the shore and the moose. Then he COM
meEced Ia SWIM This was just what the
mother moose was waiting for. It was for this
hat she deCOycd him into the lake, and right
here was t. begin the fun that Louis promised
:" Brun had covered a distance of about twice
his o"n length in swimming, when the COW
moose with II sort OF half below, half grOwl, |
like an enrapcd bun rushed at him, For mo-
ment we couldn't SEQ anything Of the bear, the
Tho moose had reared up on her hlnd legs and |
was shOwuriug dOOmful fore hOuts ON the bears
back In Jitiy she had him half drowned, aud,
seeing that he wasn't in the game, the bear had
turned AMI WAS trying to swim Tor shore.
We had no Tlt,r, and We were afraid to 90 too
near with the canoe, Louis was in danger Of n
tit, for he wanted the bear llc CoNXed me 10
shoot With my revolver, but while hr was urging
me the uld cow, evidently diylHiug The bears in
tent Ia CAPE lad headed him OF.
Sho mud him in shoaler water now, and she
Went at him Ike n circular saw through a h"ul-
lock knot. Time and again the cow came down
ON him, never once letting up ill size had broken
his back.
After receiving what should say were fifty
~ seyruty-hvr fearful blow, the bear Caved in
like thu derayed roof ut logging camp. The
water was MKT Irc of iruth aud blood for "a
spaCe ~ large nS guud-siZed floor, aud the
moment II was all up with the bear the moose
and hct calf lrOttod no the shore, Reaching the
,lry beach, tho old mother paused long enough
TO give u- ON" long, searching look hcfuCe disap-
prariug with her hAhy in the woods.
81 have often ioru partridge aud wO0dCpCk
Iylt tlrr the hrpRyn wing dodge tu draw attcn-
tluR tum ur hiding place Of their young, hut
That was ,l,' first time ever saw any ut the hig
game shuN how twas done. laskcd Louis what
"arlhnu did under like circumstances, aud he,
with a face ms lmnutlble as a stone Image, an
sWeFeu. Kun Ike hell. mn ratrluul pariDtel -