The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-28
ATTACKED BY A MOOSE.
Hunter Forced to spend a Cold Night
in Pine Tree.

MINNEAPOLIS Mimi, Dec. 27.-Treed
by a wounded bull moose and forced to
spend an entire night perched in a small
pine tree in the wilds of Itasca county was
the fate of John Marshall of this city, who
has just returned from a hunting trip in
the northern part of the State. But he lat
er killed the moose, and this robbed the
chilly night in the tree of its sharpeSt
sting. About noon last Thursday Marshall
started from his camp for the railroad sta
ton, some miles away intending TO mail
letter and then return to his companions
in camp. Suddenly there was a crash in
the bushes near him and a two-thirds
grown bull moose broke cover and made a
dash at him. Quick as a flash Marshall's
rifle was at his shoulder and three big
bullets were planted in the body of the
moose, whose black name brstled with
anger and whose bellowings of rage re-
sounded through the forest. After having
been wounded the animal became even
more ugly If such a thing were possible,
and attacked Marshall so hercely that he
was forced to take refuge in a tree. AS he
began to climb the moose was at his heels.
and before the hunter was out of reach
the maddened animal was striking savage
~ at him with its antleTs. AS Marshall
climbed higher and higher the endeaVOrS
of the animal to reach him became more
frantic. Finally the brute attacked the tree
mot large one, by the way-and began
battering at the trunk with a force that
threatened to soon bring it down. All Mar
shall could do was to cling on with both
hands and pray that the animal might
drop dead.
Marshall was excited as the prospect OF
spending night in the tree, with the Their
mometer near the freezing point was not
a pleasing one. He was anxious to get
some more cartridges into his now empty
rifle and, having reached secure position,
felt for the canvas bag containing them.
which was suspended over his shoulder by
a strap. He found 1t, and, giving the bag
a pull to bring it around where he could
handle it, was Mortified to see the whole
thing go tumbling to the ground striking
in its fall upon the back of the moose. In
climbing the tree the strap holding the
given by the hunter had brought about
the catastrophe. The moose was in great
rage. He battered away at the tree. en-
sportsman, and, failing in that, undertook
to starve him out. Marshall thought ne
might be able to stand the discomforts OF
a night in the tree. though toward night
the weather became appreciably colder
and icicles began to form upon the whis-
kers of the moose. A fact that greatly en-
couraged Marshall was that the animal
was desperately wounded and could hardly
last many hours longer. AT times the ami
NAL almost fell from exhaustion, and the
hunter watched its failing strength with
satisfaction. However, when night fell the
moose was still on guard
During the long hours of the night Mar
shall almost froze, and several times was
on the point of sliding out of the tree and
mixing with the moose, but at every move
he made the animal would assume such
threatening attitude that the hunter de-
cided he had better freeze than be cut to
pieces. Early in the morning the moose
walked away from the tree a short dis
lance and Marshall. hastily dropping to
the ground, secured half a dozen cart
tridges, which he slipped into his rifle. The
moose now made a charge, but fell dead
with bullet in his heart. Finding his way
back to camp, Mr.. Marshall told his story
to his companions. They at once set out
for the moose, but on reaching the carcass
found that the wolves had so torn and
mangled the body that it was worthless.
and Marshall had to content himself with
bringing away the head. bearing splendid
pair of antlers.