The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-04-08

of the Agricultural society gave public
notice on the first day of the fair that
any act of cruelty psrpetrated during the
exhibition woutn oebnr the perpetrator
from any chance OF premium or reward.
Those who have witnessed, at old time
fairs, the struggles of the goaded and
| frantic oxen attached to the heavily
loaded drags will realize the benefit Of
this change. ss@&
Another piece of work which has been
brought 60 conclusion during the present
year is the well known case OF the sheep
on Monhegan island and you will pardon
pe If devote consideIab space in
this report to the details of that case, az
1t has excited much public interest and IL
likely to serve as precedent in some
similar situations along. the coast, al.
| though we believe there exists no such
fragrant cause as WAS that of M0nhegan.
Monhegan island Is a plantation in
Lincoln county, situated nine miles
south of Pemaquid Point and sixteen
miles from Boothbay harbor. From
Booth bay sailing packet runs three
times week to the island, which lie
about two and one-half miles long and
one miles wide. Its surface is somewhat
rough and uneven, and in part OF 1t Is
a growth of scrub spruce and other ever
green woods such as are common on the
Maine seacoast. The census of 1890 gives
ninety persons as resident on Monhegan.
About sixty years ago sixty sheep were
placed Oh the island to see II they would
care for themselves and be q source OF
profit to the owners.
In 1891, complaints were received by
our society that the sheep were suffering
for proper care, food and protection from
the weather. Our agent entered immedi-
ately upon an investigation of the matter
visited the island, examined the locality
and condition of the sheep, made In
quiries of the residents and ascertained
that the complaint WAS we'll founded. He
then had interviews with the owners,
who agreed to furnish proper shelter aud
food for the sheep. In pursuance of this
agreement they erected a building for
shelter; but as the building WAS placed
on part of the island not commonly
VISITED by the sheep, and az no shepherd
was provided to guide them to 1t or to
supply food, it was practically OF little
use. Matters remained in that condition
until the summer of 1896, when other
complaints were made 10 the society. with
an earnest appeal that something be done
for the relief of the sheep. An agent was
sent to the island to investigate and re.
port. He found that tine III condition of
the sheep had not been exaggerated. He
had interviews with many of the prinoi-
pal citizens and found a strong sympathy
With any actions which would ameliorate
the hardships suffered by the neglected
animals. | quote his statement based
upon testimony of prominent residents
among them one of the officials OF the
island:
endured by these sheep during the winter
months. Nothing is done to provide
food or shelter. "a building was erected.
but as it was put up by the owners in a
locality not much frequented by the
greater portion Of the sheep. 1t has not
been occupied by them; In fact do not
think sheep has ever seen the inside of
the building. Lambs are born in Janu-
AIRY, February and March and left to care
me that they had counted as many as a
hundred dead lambs the past winter. be-
side many old shaep who have become
too old to support themselves by brous-
ing, ate. that had to succumb to the
cold. They lie down in the sleet and
snow, freeze to the ground and, being too
weak to extricate themselves. die there.
Skeletons of such can be seen lying all
over the island. Lambs are seen who
have had their feet frozea of, travelling
around on the stumps of their legs. One
old sheep who had become blind from old
age was allowed to 60 tumbling about
the island, falling into holes and hollows
until he, or she fell from cliff and was
killed. Another wandered into road in
the woods, lay down, became frozen into
the Ice and died; parties who were
Obliged to, hauled wood over them all
winter. Some sheep are estimated to be
at least fifteen years old. The sheep sus-
tain themselves In winter by browsing,
eating kelp. sea weed. cot Last winter
a cargo of fish which were frozen and
spoiled were thrown upon the Shore and
to appease their hunger were eagerly de-
voured By the sheep. There are at least
forty sheep OH the island that have not
been sheared from one to three years.
Their condition tness hot days can be
imagined. tongues running out, and
scarcely able to carry Gnoso hoavy neeces
about"
A lady resident on the island for thirty
years, tells as proof that these sheep
can be domesticated, that during a
violort winter storm an old sheep came
to her dooryard bringing week old
lamb; she took them in and cared for
them, and after that they came to her
regularly every night for food and
shelter.
On the strength of the testimony thus
acquired, the matter was presented to
the grand jury Of the Supreme Judicial
court for Lincoln county, Chief Justice
Peters presiding. Indictments were
found against the owners OF the sheep
(seven persons in uumber) who were
brought before the court, making no de-
fence, and entered their plea of nolo con-
tendere. Our agent asked the court to
give MS such remedy as would prevent
the sheep from further suffering. The
court ordered the respondents to pay
costs, amounting to $40 zach, and to re-
move the sheep from the island before
January /, 1897, continuing the GASES to
the April term of the court for such
further action as might then seem ft. In
compliance with this order Of the court,
the sheep have been removed, not one,
so far as we can ascertain, remaining to
suffer. While the owners did not at
tempt to make a defence of their conduct
before the court, when an opportunity
WAS offered them, communication has
since appeared in print, apparently ill.,
spired by them. in the nature of an
apology. The principal point of the
apology, after denial of the ALLEGATIONS
above made in our agents. report OF the
truth of which he was prepared to pro-
duce abundant testimony in court, Is the
ASSUMPTION that Monhegan island would
be natural habitat for sheen In their
primitive condition of wild animals. II
does not seem to follow that because the
dry mountain country of Asia was the