The Portland daily press., 1898-09-26
A HOT CHASE,
Artillerymen Steal Carten's Meat
Team.

People Lose sunday Dlnner IN DpiisS
quenee-A Wild Saturday Night Ride
The Cape Thoroughly searehea-Ihe
Thieves Captured at Last.
Mr.. John t. Carten, proprietor OF the
Boston Cash Market, had an experience
Saturday night that he will not soon Tor
get. Mr.. Carten with two assistants pur-
sued two members of the army OF Uncle
Sam all around Cape Elizabeth. The two
members of the army were riding in one
of Mr.. Carten's wagons which they had
taken without his permission and Mr.
Carten was in hot pursuit, for the wagon
contained the dinners of a large number
of his customers. Over the Cape roads
dashed the team with the soldiers and not
far behind was the wagon containing tie
pursuers. Success at last crowned their
efforts and the team was recovered With
some of the dinners missing and the horse
nearly ready to drop FROM exhaustion,
while TWO blue coated defenders OF the
nation are in the guard house at Portland
Head charged with the theft OF the Team.
1t was about the liveliest driving the
Cape has seen for a long time and Mar.
Carten deserves credit for his military
skill and courage as displayed IN
mastery pursuit and capture. This Is the
way it all happened.
Thomas MoKowan, one of the drivers
In the employ of Mr.. Carten, was in
command of the team and had halted in
front of the Portland Tavern at about
half past eleven last night to deliver the
good things which the guests of that
house will have for dinner today. The
captain of tho wagon intended to go right
along delivering dinners but as be crossed
the sidewalk he saw the TWO soldiers ex-
ecute fank movement and carry the
wagon with rush. Mr.. McKowan
MADE A GALLANT CHARGE
but he was too late The soldiers whipped
I'D the horse and were in full retreat by
the time the driver reached the curb.
McKowan was helpless for pursuit on foot
would be without avail. He did the best
he could under the circumstances and
notified Mr.. Cartsn of the sudden attack
and capture of the wagon. Mr.. Carten,
like cod commander, did not wait in
the crisis which confronted him. He
called for reinforcements to go to the
rescue of the fleeing team and summoned
as allies the police force of the city. Mr..
Carten telephoned the news to the station
and asked that If they had not already got
over the bridge into the neighboring town
of South Portland the soldiers and the
team might be held up. While this was
going on, another team was being pre-
pared and soon Mr.. Carten and his expe-
dition, consisting beside the commander
of Captain McKowan of the stolen wagon,
Edward Logue and MIR. Carten's large
st. Bernard dog, was in motion. Over
the Portland bridge they sped without a
sight of the fugiti7es. 1t was in the dark
ness some distance beyond the bridge that
two soldiers were overtaken. They were
ON foot but the expedition proposed to
take no chances. The homeward bound
soldiers were held up and taken into the
team. They appeared to be badly scared
and readily gave their names to their
captors, but it did not take Mr.. Carten
long to find that they were not the men
he wanted, so as the expedition had not
time to bother with prisoners they were
released on parole, as it were, and the line
of march was resumed over the Cape
roads. There were no further develop
ments in the chase until Portland Head
WAS reached. There at tie entrance
to the reservation a sentinel was
pacing his beat. The expedition halted and
Commander Carten asked If team had
been driven by there. The sentinel
answer was military in its brevity and
eloquent in its descriptive power. eyes, -
he said, "a team just went by here to beat
hsll.' Again the
PURSUIT. WAS RESUMED
and this time it was more than mile be
You'd when the rapidly moving carriage
was hailed by voice out of the darkness.
Somebody shouted. $50 to the right
The wagon turned to the right, but Mr.
Carten jumped out of it to the left and
made an attempt to seize the bride of
the hcrse attached to the other team.
1t was quick and brilliant demonstra
ton against the works of the enemy, but
it failed and the pursuers had the dis
appointment of seeing the stolen team
driven rapidly by them. this time in the
direction of home. The pursuing expe.
dition altered its plan of campaign and
turned around also, taking up the chase
again, but the soldiers had the better
horse and were soon out of sight. Moth
ing more was seen of the enemy until the
expedition WAS nearly down to McCul
lum's theatre when the wagon was found,
the horse walking slowly in the direc-
ton of Portland. The poor animal which
had done hard days work before the
soldiers made him their prize was covered
with sweat and foam and was SO weak
that be could hardly move. Mr.. Carten
sent the team into town. Mr.. McKowan
resuming charge of it. The other mem
NH a NI