The San Francisco call., 1896-12-25

It seems queer enough that men should
go from OHIO to the Atlantic Coast for a
hunting trip. Still, this is just how the
wonder that is described in this article
came to pass. A few weeks ago party OF
sportsmen at Wilmington, Ohio. decided
that nothing would do them but reeula-
ton deer hunt in what the dime novelist
is fond of calling 1.-The trackless woods of
Maine." The destination of the hunters
was Jackman, Maine, and its location is
about that which was given in describing
the place where the deer was killed. There
were nine persons in the party-Mr.
Lukens and his son Carl. George Haworth,
Morris James, George w. Collins. Dwight
Moore, William Mccoy. William Kirk and
Alonzo Babb. That they were entitled to
be called hunters is indicated by the fact
that IN four weeks trip they killed seven
teen deer and a large amount of small
game. In fact, they ventured close to the
State law, for under that each hunter is
allowed to kill but two deer.
Mr.. Lukens had very interesting ex-
perience and he told it TO the writer in
these words:
cit was on the fourth day after our ar
was considered the greatest prize of all
that we killed or saw-the white deer.
That morning my son Carl and l left the
camp about sunrise, going down the
Peno bscot River for some distance and
then starting up small stream which we
had denominated Second Creek. When
about two and half miles from camp l
observed an animal slowly approaching
me from up the stream, with It's head
down, apparently as if scenting some
other animal.
''Its appearance puzzled me. / could
not make out Just what it was. 1t seemed
to be snow-white and resem bled a sheep, [
thought, more than anything else. Still
/ realized that there could be no sheep in
that locality, and as it was the custom to
shoot any animal ranging over the section
where we were hunting fired at it when
it had advanced to within about sixty feet
of me. The shot took effect and it fell to
the ground. Almost Immediately it arose
and bounded into the woods. When /
shot it it was in the edge of the water.
Then it ran perhaps distance of fifty
yards and fell again.
81 hurried to where it lay, and to my
great surprise when / reached it found
l had killed white male deer. The shot
had taken effect just back of the shoulder.
We dressed the deer, and put IN the rest
of that day caring for the skin and head,
which we preserved intact, and have had
mounted since by an expert taxidermist.
1t was fine specimen of deer, and weighed
about $50 pounds. According to the GUS
tom OF estimating the age the deer was six
years old. l have had a mum Der of offers
for the deerskin within the last few weeks,
one man expressing willingness to pay
$50 for it."
A white deer, as stated, is exceedingly
rare. Only three have been killed IN
Maine In the history of that State One
was killed in Michigan several wears ago.
In l840 one was seen by hunters along the
Ohio River, and this specimen was be-
lieyed to have been afterward killed in
| Wisconsin. No white deer was ever shot
in Maine that could com pare in size or an.
pearance with that killed by Mr., Lukens.
and never before white stag captured.
dead or alive. The deer that Mr.. Lukeps
/ shot had been seen by other hunters. bul
no one was ever before able to approach il
| within shooting distance.
1t was an Englishman who said that
America was filed with natural curiosi.
| ties from the Atlantic TO the Pacific. The
| facts presented herewith indicate that fol
once Britisher has told the truth about
the United States.