Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-06-11
THE BIG MOOSE
Which Rev. L. A. Slack Killed in
New Brunswick.
His story of His Journey into the Will
derness, of n Deadly Moose Fight at
Night, and OF his Staying Of the Victor
which was Giant OF the Forest.

heN. L. A SLACK OF BrOOkllne, Mass.
and Brattleborol. tells in a recent number
Of Forest and Stream the story Of how be
killed monster moose in the depths Of the
wilderness in New Brunswick last Septem-
Der From St John, y. + Mr. Slack went
by rail to a remote station Oh the Interco-
lonial railroad and then drove forty miles
over roads so rough that they threatened
his life. Following this came two days Of
polling his camp effects with his guides
assistance, through the tortuous waters Of
a small river and after this, long, hard
days carry Of ten miles The dav before
bears stole their pork and made off with a
Jug Of molasses Mr. Stacks narrative
continues:
We pitched our tent at last Just at dark
in balsam grove in the very heart of that
vast, wild and unbroken wilderness.
through whose trackless wilds the south
west and northwest branches Of the SPLEEN
did salmon river. the Miramichi flows
We named our camp Camp Indian Devil,
in honor of mysterious lake by that name
which was supposed to be within a few
miles of where we were camping This
lake has never been seen 10y but one sports
man.
Early the next morning Arthur, my
guide, and ! struck out to look for moose
signs and to select a good calling place
from which TO call moose some night. Tn
like Maine, all the moose calling in New
Brunswick is done on the land aud on that
account is more exciting and dangerous
For if the engaged or wounded brute should
charge upon you and you could not drop
him before he reached YOU, it would pro
baby be your last moose hunt save in the
happy hunting grounds But if III a
canoe. and a moose should charge. YOU
could easily slip away. l doubt if there is
al Indian moose caller in the state of Maine
who could be hired To- call moose at night
from the land, even if he were allowed 70
carry rifle. My guide called many d
night without rifle. Toward the middle
OF the afternoon we found fresh tracks
headed toward Lake Indian Devil. hut as
It was getting late and we had to find our
way back to camp as best We could for
there was no trail through the woods. we
decided to return to camp and g. try again
the next day to find the lake, and t. come
prepared for calling and to stay out all
night.
The next morning gave every promise Of
a splendid night The moon wa, at its full
and all signs pointed to a bright moonlight
night, clear, cold and still. Just the night
for calling After taking a bite or
grabbing a root as they say out in the
Rockies we began to get ready for the
tramp and for al all-night call at the lake
Since ] had done a little pardonable brag-
clng about my game hunting out in the
Rockies my guide took 1t for granted that
l could tramp, carry pack, rough it, and
sleep out nights or try TO Just as well as he
could. And of course after what | had
said ] was obliged to keep up my end We
rolled up our blankets, putting in them
some grub for a couple Of meals and a
small tin pail in which % bile tea Arthur
sung on his pack took his axe and started
Putting my pack on one shoulder and sling
ing my Winchester rifle - 90 model 'g3
on the other ! followed We struck right
out through the woods without any trail in
a southwesterly course, following our com
pass and the sun, all the while keeping our
eye peeled for a large, smooth barked
" bite birch tree which were as scarce as
moose)from which to make a horn 10 call
with We succeeded in finding one, though
1t took US out of our course and used up
precious time. After making and trying
the horn, we consulted our compass and
hastened along as fast as we could, for we
wanted TO reach the lake couple of hours
before dark in order to select a calling place
study the wind and allow time for our scent
TO die out. As were going through
thick underbrush ! snagged a big hole in
the bottom of my rubber boot. which was
hard luck, for we had 10 cross Il wet bog
and TO ford a stream, and the water felt as
If 1t had Just come from glacier Chang
ing our course slightly toward the east We
left the woods and came out into a marsh
which grew more and more wet as we pro-
ceeded, and the trees smaller We felt
sure from these signs that we must be- near
ing the long looked for lake. 1t was almost
dark and we had no time TO spare There
II Is. SAID Arthur, pointing through ii small
clump of pines to the right. | looked and
got my first glimpse of Lake Indian Devil
1t is a beautiful sheet Of water, about one
mile long by one-half wide, and in the
shape of pair of spectaces 1t is entirely
surrounded by heavy timber, except at the
narrow neck of land from which we ap-
preached it. This neck of land led to or
ended in what was really an island. and
was marshy and dotted over with pine
trees and punches of bareback.
We proceeded carefully lest we should
scare any game which might be in sight on
the shores of the lake. 1t was now past
shutdown. The full moon was Just rising
over the tops of the trees. 1t was clear,
not a cloud in the sky, frosty and almost a
dead calm. We were stealing along. speak
ing only in whispers, keeping out of sight
as much as possible, and trying TO reach
the island, thinking that it would be a good
place from which to call; for it commanded
pretty good view in two directions. and
the wind would be in our favor. We had
almost reached the island, when we were
startled by peculiar noise Just off TO our
right We both stopped and listened
There it is again" whispered Arthur.
tits a moose" We realized we could get
no further, and it was hardly safe to move;
but we managed to creep on our hands and
knees Just few feet and crouched behind
little bunch of hardhacks just as we
got there we heard tremendous splashing
in the lake not over 200 yards off and we
listened almost breathessly TO one of the
most ferOcious battles between two mad
bull moose which was ever fought by those
huge and powerful brutes-the largest
which roam on this continent. The up
roar and confusion made by those two in
turlated bull moose-those monarchs of the
forest-was something terrific, appalling.
never to be forgotten. 1t was a battle ap-
parently to the death, As the bulls rushed
together to lock their great antlers the
splashing of the water and clashing of their
horns could be heard for miles on that
still, moonlight night Oh what would |
have given to be nearer At last one was
driven of or killed, and all was deathly
still again.
We waited while and gave low call;