The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-16
TROPHIES OF A
HUNTING TRIP
They Have Been Received by Mr.. A. B.
Blair, Of This City.
HANDSOME ANTLERS OF CARIBOU
The Animals They Were Taken from
Were Shot In New Foundiand by
Mr.. Blair and Are the Finest Ones
Ever Brought Into the United
states.-somsthing About the Hunt.
ing Expedition ofwhich the AntIers
Are Reminders.

There came to this city yesterday, via
express, three mounted head, with
handsome antlers, of Caribou, a spe-
cies of deer native to Newfoundland,
the British possession, over 500 miles
away. And. what is more interesting,
the specimens were received by the
person who had killed the Carbon in
their island home-Mr. Austin b. Blair,
or the Scranton Savings bank.
1t was while on a hunting trip in
Newfoundland, in the latter part of
1897. that Mr.. Blair. with two compan-
ions, succeeded in bringing to the
earth enough OF the big game to sup
ply specimens to as many as-but the
laws of Newfoundland say that not
more than five must be killed by one
person, SO Mr.. Blair to a Tribune re-
porter at his home, 4O1 jefferson ave-
nue., last evening, gave the number as
five apiece for the three hunters Of the
party.
Mr.. Blair has during all his life been
an enthusiastic votary of rod and gun,
and the Newfoundland trip, which be-
gan August 2s and ended October %,
was filled with interesting incidents.
Mr.. Blair's companions were T.. G.. Os-
mus, of West Hoboken, and Benjamin
Dorrence, of Dorrencetown, Luzerne
county.
WENT TO ST JOHNS.
Leaving New York the party reached
st. Johns, Newfoundland, September 3.
Four days later the start for the pros
pective hunting grounds was made, the
trip to Notre Dame bay, 25O miles from
VnhnG l,g c;1 - Al.
island taking up ten days. The same
distance could have been made by rail-
road, newly built, in two days, but at
the time that the arrangements were
made, over year before, the road
across the island was only in project
and the long voyage around the coast
was the only way of reaching the bay.
Rains also retarded this part of the
trip to a great degree. Reaching Halls
bay, a small scallop in the edge of the
big Notre Dame, the three gentlemen
were Joined by three guides and three
carriers" one of the carriers act
ing also as cook. After a tramp of
twenty-seven miles inland, camp was
founded in a small grove of spruce
wood, which dot the otherwise barren
and stubble-covered country. The rest
was comparatively easy. The region
abounded with Caribou, herds Of two
hundred or more frequently appearing
The Carbon is easily stalked. Like the
reindeer, of which family it is men,
Der, the Newfoundland deer is gentle
and inquisitive and readily submits to
tanning.
THEY ARE INQUISITIVE.
4 Ia
makes the hunting of the Caribou a
sport of unalloyed delight. The deer
frequently would approach to within
easy shooting distance, moving straight
for the hunter. This tameness is ap-
parent from IA photograph of mag
nificent stag taken while the animal
was eating the white grass on which
they almost entirely subsist. Mr. Blair
also secured other photographs, num-
bering perhans a half hundred. of
scenes in which he and his friends par
ticipated.
After hunting and trout fishing. for
which the region is also famous. for
nearly one month. the party, loaded
down with deer skin, prepared in camp,
and antlers, barred of flesh, and ready
for the taXidermist. began the labori-
Gus trip back to the coast reaching St
Johns by way of ship and by another
vessel arriving at New York October
23
The specimens were mounted under
special contract by S. l.. Crosby, Of
Bangor. Me. One of the antlers, the
property of Mr.. Osmus, had ffty-fOur
horns. the largest number ever secured
so far as known. Mr.. Blair has a let
ter from TaXidermist Crosby in which
the latter makes the statement that the
specimens sent to him for mounting
was the finest lot ever brought to the
United States. Mr., Blair in his shoot
ing used a $3.50 Winchester rifle, Mr.
DOrrence a 30-30 Winchester, and Mr.
Osmus 30-30 Haenel. German make.
The three specimens received by Mr.
Blair can be seen at his residence, on
Jefferson avenue.
Twinirg, optician 1876 Penn avenue, in
Harris drug store. Hours 9 a. m. 3
n