The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-11-21
ENCHANTED DEER.
Strange Tales from the Woods of the
Pine Tree State.

Hunters Yarns Which Rival the Fiction
Evolved from the Brain of Kip1ing.-
The Deer with an Enchanted Life
Two Which Waited to Be Shot.
Rudyard Kipling once wrots a book
selling many strange tales from the
hills of India. Different in character
but equally strange are some OF the
stories which con from the woods of
Maine. Here is one told by Rangeiey
Lakes. paper devoted to the interests
of the RanReley section:
Last year Rangeley Lakes had story
about an enchanted doe that mad been
seen and shot at by half dozen
Madrid spoI tsmen and also by Mayor
Noble, of Lewiston. This latter gentle
man had an excellent opportunity to
shoot, but failed to bring down the
game. Others told of their own bad
luck and it became common talk, in that
vicinitJ that the doe bore charmed life.
Probably but few really thought 1t
true, but this year there are no dou biting
Thoiuases; every one of them believe that
deer to be enchanted as much as they be-
lieve In their own existence. 1t comes
this way.
John Shepard. of Phillips, crack shot
anu OIo VIM uOW uOluS d
badge for marksmanship, has had what
he considers an uncanny experience with
this same doe, judging from the desorip
tion of forme r shooters.
Mr.. Shepard lives in the northeast part
of Phillips and adjacent to the fores5
that extends to the kaunts of the doe last
season. A short time ago he went to his
orchard to watch for deer that bad
made frequent Visits to that locality. ID e
selected his position between couple of
bouliers and quietly awaited the coming
Of the intruder. He had not long to
wait bDfore he heard the CRACK ling OF
the bushes and moment later the deer
bounded into the orchard and came
toward Mr.. Shepard. His rifle was ready
and when she had reached the very spot
he would have selected he took deliber-
ate aim and fired. The deer bounded
away. He was positive his bullet had
passed through her and. that she would
fall dead in few seconds SO he slowly
followed the course she took. Imagine
his surprise when he reached an open
spot to STE her standing on little knoll
looking at him. mere was chance for
a second easy shot and he quickly made
1t. He could scarcely credit his eyes
when he saw her turn and run for the
woods not far distant, bug feeling that
he had twice hit her he followed to find
where she had dropped dead.
When he came in sight of the woods
there stood his doe, as she had stood
when he made his second shot. 1t was
not long distance now, but he deter
mined to take time and make SURG. His
third shot WAS fred. The deer turned as
formerly ard disappeared in the woods.
He was dunn bfnunded, but he followed
to the spot where she had stood but not
a sign or trace of her ooald bo found
beyond that spot. The woods were
thoroughly searched in all directions,
but 1t was unavailing and he returned
to his home. fEs,-
He tried to make himself think 1T had
been the fault of the gun, and TO become
assured that such was a fact he paced q
distance twice that of his last shot and
set up board for a target.
ain 20 consecutive shots he hit the board
evary time, 16 of them being within four
in hes of the center. 1t was not the fault
of himself he or the rifle and he cannot &C
count Tor IL on any other grounds than
that the deer bears charmed life. he
ia not a believer in signs or supersti-
tons, had AS soon tip over the salt cellar,
break a looking glass or walk past
n graveyard in the night without whist
ling as to do any other act not regarded
with awe by many people.
And on top of this story come two of
deer who had suicidal impulses waiting
quietly to be shot. Rangeley Lakes is
responsible for one of these:
Ii is said to be a fact that certain
man, who resides in No. 6, recently fired
at a deer fourteen times in succession
without effect. Wien the cartridges in
the magazine were ell exh austen, and
the cannonading ceased, the deer, which
had calmly stood fire up to that time,
turned around md casting mournful
IL clr IrF 90 mi hnd int
the woods, too stiff to hurry from stand.
ing SO long in one position.
The Express and Advertiser, a paper
Published at Liyermore Falls, adds this
yarn to the list:
Hardly a day passes without one or
more deer being seen near by. Thursday,
as Leon Merritt was chopping wood on
Jay hi II he heard something crashing in
the woods. On looking up he saw a
large one about ten yards from him.
Reaching for his rifle, which he hap
psned to have with him, he fired six
shots without bringing her down, but
still she lid not run, but he did. He ran
to the house for more ammunition and
when he came back the deer was in ex-
aotly the same position as when he left
her, and after firing five more shots he
brought her down. This is the first deer
snot in this town for years.
Mo KinIey and Bryan Nimrods.
On Wednesday of last week the "boys'
of this locality had game hunt and
supper Tuesday evening previous they
met and Mckinley, g. NJ. Doyen) and
Bryan, (Will Wyman} were chosen cap
tains Although a rainy day for tht
hunt, Mckinley, with all the rersistenoy
of his namesake, won the day scoring
10R0 po{pts To Rrvan's 7R6 After the battl,
was over the hunters gathered at Gleason
Cafe where a fine oyster supper made
glad the inner man after which Q!
couples gathered at the hall and trippef
the light fantastic toe till the "wee sma
hours ''-Mexico correspondence Of the
Rumford Falls Times.
Sore Throat Quickly Cured.