Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-12-07
UNCLE JOE LEWIS.
lhe Famous Hunter and Guide Chats
with Journal Reporter.
History OF the Lille OF This Wellknov
Sportsman.

shot fine red fox the other da,
that weighed eleven pounds. . said Urcl
Joe Lewis, the veteran sportsman and do,
trainer, to Journal reporter last eve
hlng, while sitting in the Office of Hot
johnson.
Uncle Joe, as he is familially called b,
those who are SO fortunate as to have tn,
pleasure Of his acquaintance, is a splendit
specimen of a well preserved man. Thrc,
quarters of century ago Mr.. Lewis first
saw the light of this world at Saltwater
IN Penobscot county, in this State, and
during his eventful career has seen much
OF the world, has experienced its ups ana
downs its hardships and its pleasures,
and now when in the sere and yellow lea.
Is as happy and contented as any soul
could wish. Even at the good age of u
| years he takes as much delight in scour.
ing the woods and fields in search of
game as when fifty years ago, in company
with the late Vice President Hannibal
Hamlin, whose warm friend he was. he
shot game in the woods near Hamplen
and Bangor. But Uncle Joe is not the
man physically that he was in those days.
for rheumatism has taken possession of
him and the twinges come upon him
seml-occasionally and cause him consid-
erable annoyance and pain.
In 1913, Mr. Lewis shipped on board
the English frigate, Trincamslie. "
under command of Capt Kinkham. for a
three years cruise in West India waters.
at the end of which he was honorably dis
charged, after having been promoted to
the position of coxswain Of the commo-
dious gig. He returned to Portmouth.
Eng. was paid off, and then entered the
employ of the Westminster Kennel, the
most famous kennel in the world, where
he remained seven years. During this
time Uncle Joe was taught the art of dog
training, including medical and surgical
treatment of the canine.
After ten years away from his native
State he returned in 1858 and lived at
Portage Lake, in Aroostook county,
where he was professional moose and
caribou hunter, for several years. When
the war of the rebellion broke out be en-
listed and served with honor and fidelity
until he was mustered out of the service
after Lee surrender
For ten years after the close of the war
he resided in Brooklyn, after which he
came to the Soldiers Home at Togus He
now resides in Chelsea where he has
successfully conducted the Maple Grove
Kennel for several years.
AS trainer of dogs for hunting or
other purposes Uncle Joe has no superior
and few equals Some Of the finest bird
dogs in this section are pupils of his, and
their owners speak in the highest praise
of Mr.. Lewis capacity and judgment in
this particular
During the past thirteen years through
uup thf AuutIbE ntdSol' thoiO poS hhS
been the faithful companion of Hon p
@. Vickery, and many have been the con
quests made by them through the woods
of Maine.
Mr.. Lewis is member Of the Indepen-
dent Order of Odd Fellows, having
Joined Nassau Lodge, No. 80, in Brook
lin, thirty years ago
While at the Soldiers Home Uncle Joe
spent considerable time training the ami
m als in the menagerie, There were
about twenty five deer in the park and
he had them trained like soldiers; they
would march in single and double ranks,
countermarch, form in platoons, and in
fact follow the numerous changes Of a
military company. One day, however,
while exhibiting a trained bear to the
visitors Uncle Joe discovered that the
bear had been imbibing too freely of
lager beer and was fearfully intoxicated.
Goddess was the name of the pet bear.
Her chief delight was in watching the
and one day was success sful in
capturing one of them, and he immed |
ately disappeared. The bear was too
much for the monkey.
Now, at the age of IS q woodcock or
partridge on the wing cannot deceive
him