The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-20
WITH THE HUNTERS.
A Portland SpOrtsman's Good Luck
in the Land OF the Moose.

Favored Region where the Air Was Re-
sonant with Bellowings-A Lucky
Shot at Random-Twen ty Wood Ducks
in One Bag,
Charles Sumner Cook, Esq.,, of this
city, has returned from trip to the
woods of northern Maine, whittier he
went for an outing, on account Of his
health. Mr.. E. D. Eastman was with
him portion of the time. Each of them
shot a moose; and Mr.. Cook, in getting
his had an adventure such as does not
often come to the amateur hunter. Mr..
Cock was enoamped on Sandy stream.
tributary CT Miilinooket lake. This in
the Katahdinsregion, and in the depths
of the Maine woods Mr.. Cooks guide
was Lyman A. II unit, q well-known and
very successful moose hunter. The signs
of moose were very thick in the region,
and Mr.. Cook, was expecting to shoot
one of the magnificent animals; but he
was hardly prepared for such an expert
enoe as he actually had. Some distance
down Sandy stream from their camp was
a piece of dead and stagnant water
called poke logan. One afternoon
Mr.. Cook and his guide padded down
Sandy stream, and went into this
moose to the water by initiating the
call of the female moose. About dark
they were coming out Of the logan, when
they began to hear the most extraordi-
nary roarings, believing and breaking
Of bushes in the woods on the shores of
Sandy stream. The noise would have
terrified novice. but to Mr.. Cook a
guide it was glad sound, and there
was triumph in his voice as he declared
that the woods were full of bull
moose. Now bull moose, when he
goes roaring about in the woods in that
fashion, is an animal to beware Of; but
the guide rocked nothing, as he pushed
the frail canoe out OF the calm waters
of the logan and down Sandy stream
towards the place whence the roarings
and bellowings were proceeding. Mr..
Cook was in the bow of the CANOE rifle
in hand. Sandy stream is shallow, 80
that moose could easily run into 1t and
demolish the canoe should he wish. The
situation had in 1t disagreeable posi-
bilities; but the guide still padded
ahead. 1t was now so dark that an OBJ
| ject was invisible few yards from the
canoe. The night was at this time clear,
however, and star or two, brighter than
| Tor
They had come to place Of compare
lively still water. and the guide stopped
the canoe. To the hunters 1t seemed that
they were right In the arena OF a colossal
bull moose fight. Presently q splashing
was heard in the water, and the guide
said that moose was crossing. Mr..
Cook could not see the animal, but look
ing upon the water where star was re-
Elected in it, he saw great ripple. He
reasoned that this ripple was caused by
the forelees Of moose, and calculating
from that the location of the beasts
body, lie fred his repeating rifle three
time in succession.
The reports of the rifle did not
diminish the bellowings on the bank.
The guide padded the canoe a short dis
tance down stream and they landed. The
guide thought that Mr.. Cook had shot
at a COW moose, and that If he had
waited until the COW had crossed, the
bulls would have followed, and one of
them might have been shot.
At that time Of night there seemed to
be no way of settling the question, but
the bellowings of the bulls seemed to
have q great fascination for the guide.
who would not stir from the spot. So
Mr.. Cook wrapped himself in his coat
and lay down in the canoe to sleep. He
was awakened about ~ O'Clock by rain
falling.
The guide thought that they could
not pole the canoe up the stream to Their
camp, but Mr.. Cook thought they would
better try. So they lighted their lantern
and started. After much labor they ar
rivel at their little tent, and went tc
sleep. 49, 49,
The-guide was up before day freak, an
xious to visit the scene of their expert
ences the.night before. Being unable te
|
in the plan that they should start al
once. They expected to be chsgrined by
finding that COW moose had been shot
! but on arriving at the place they found
lying on the bank just out OF the water,
fine bull moose, with spreading antIers
} just such trophy as makes the heart Of
the hunter thrill with pride. Mr.. Cool
sent the skin and horns of his moose
out of the woods and will have then
mounted.
Notes.
The local sportsmen are improving TIL
fine weather for hunting down the bay.
A hunter shot 30 wood ducks in thu
region about Bustin's Island and up thu
river towards Frseport. 1t is very ususu
al to find so many wood duck together.