The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-19
CUMMISGS'S DEER HUNT.
It Began in October, 1898, md the Deer Il
stu TnntnIizIng Cummings.

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PROSPECT. Me-. April 1s.-The rersistency
of Howard G. Cummings has no equal in Waldo
county. He lives at the upper end OF Blanket
lane. a narrow, winding road that stops on a
knoll under two pine trees. Beyond this Is
half a township of unbroken forest, into which
Cummings is in the habit of going for game.
Deer are scarce in the tract. hut two years
ago last fail Cummings saw one-a great
horned buck with q black stripe down his
back-which was enough to Danish sleep for a
week. The deer hunt started In October, 1898,
and ended at the close of open season, Dec. 81,
at which time the deer was left hiding in the
woods of Unity, away over on the borders of
Kennebec county, some fifty miles from where
he was found. Cummings had hardly hung up
his gun and started to cut his winters fire.
wood when he saw that striped buck deer
back among the clearings. As il was against
the law to shoe: deer. he.waited for. open time
to como around.
Meanwhile the Maine Legislature met and
amended the game laws so NO deer could be
Killed in Waldo county for ten years. Cum
mings was so mad when he road tho new law
that he TOOK an oath to stay away from the
polls while the act was in force. Then he con-
centrated his endeavors toward getting the
striped deer. In order 10 kill the buck legally
Cummings knew he must do his shooting In
open time and outside OF the county. His
first duty was to drive the deer beyond the
county line. The drive was started In October,
landed W among the hills Of Dixmont, Pcnobs-
scot county. Cummings canped here two
weeks and saw the deer three times: On two
range. ana the other time he came along when
c Srnp min dcer gun Wns g Sask mot 10 p Loaded, a The nG Il.
old hannts, and t Cummings drove the hnGk
he had followed the deer clear through Waldo
county and felt himself sure of getting his
yenison in Vassalboro'. which is In Kennebec
county; but the deer circled. going mp through
Fairfield de w hertoh be- @ rot t miRed i nn in r1 tbs herds
that came down from Mount Katahdin.
Cummings returned home disguised and
his tramps. which are all the law allows; but he
had the striped deer still to get. This spring
y hon he was ont gatherins sap q mile back
in the old place, He went home and read that
new. law carefully, 1t pEoyi5ed a tine Of $40
the next ten years; but there was nothing said
about deer that commit suicide. The heart OF
Cummings grew stout Win a blg resolve: he
him east toward the penobscot River. II he
could force the. deer into the river below Or
cold before AZ could swim a mile and a half to
the Orland shore. The deer hung around the
river ;or nearly "A week. nibbling dead grass in
the fields and nOsing the seaweed on the rocks.
BY and by, choosing n warm day when there
was little wind; he plunged, in and began to
hind in a borrowed boat. intending to head
him Off and tucker him out in the water. The
boat was an old water.soGked punt, and the
! in spite OF Cummings hard pulling, the game
reached the orland, beach ahead Of him and
! started for the woods,
Cummings came home without saving a
swear word, and began TO clean up his gun.
Tho deer is in Hancock county with a mile
and n half OF water 10 cross before he can get
back. When open time comes around again
Cummings is going to get that striped deer.