The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-11
KANSAS NEWS.
Maine Man Stocks an Island
With Kansas Jack Rabbits.
Gets a Few Specimens From
Sumner County.
ST. HELENA HAUNTED.
Long cared Visitors PrOpa-.
gated Wonderfully Fast.
Fishermen to the Lonely Spot
Thought Them SpOOks.
ST. HELENA HAUNTED,
New York Journal.

New York Journal.
A Surrey (Me.) dispatch to the Lew
iston Journal says it is rumored that
Bowden & Linniken have purchased
Judd's Island, in Morgan's bay, with
the intention of stocking and holding
it as reserve for jack rabbits.
Mr.. Linniken, who has Travelled ex-
tensively in the south and northwest,
where the animal abounds in large
numbers, conceived the idea, and on
his return resolved to give the matter
a trial if ever he became able to con-
troll plot of land sufficiently large to
maintain a few thousand jacks, safely
away from hunters and dogs.
Several years ago while on the boat
between Rockland and Green's Landing
he CHANGED to fall into conversation
with gentleman from Stonington, Who
had spent several seasons in Oxford,
Kan, and naturally the conversation
drifted to hunting and finally to jack
rabbits.
Linniken spoke of the propagation
of the western rabbit in Maine as a
possibility, at the same time informing
the gentleman regarding the rapidity of
the animals growth and reproduction,
saying:
"A jack rabbit can take care of itself
after 1T is two weeks old. 1t Will pro-
duce from seven to nine young at a
litter. They have litter every month
in the year except February. They
are full grown at four months, you see
how fast they are able to spread over
a territory
The Stonington gentleman being
dead game sport, grasped the idea at
once, but said nothing to Linniken. He
sent to Oxford, Kan, asking friend
to ship few pairs of jacks. In few
weeks he was surprised to find at the
steamboat wharf a large box contain
ing few specimens. They were placed
upon an island south of Stonington and
soon were forgotten by all except the
owner, who had faith in the scheme,
The first summer passed and gave but
little signs and few people ever visited
the spot, except now and then. a stray
lobster fisherman.
Finally reports were afloat that the
little island near st. Helena was haunt
ed. All sorts of stories were spreading
of odd animals seen there that would
disappear like air or go like bullet
from a gun. The animals were describ-
ed as large as sheep, eyes like jack-o-
lanterns, white as snow, ears like
donkey and feet like COW. All sorts
of rumor of panthers, Indian devils and
all kinds of wild beasts were reported,
till people dare not venture near St.
Helena. The sporting man was struck
with the thought that possibly his
jacks did not perish as he supposed and
that they might be the cause of the
alarm.
Taking a sl<iff he started for Rabbit
Island, and found that his jacks were
more than a success. Everywhere he
looked were signs, and now and then
told him the truth. The island he found
literally covered with the fleet footed
western animals. Even in the face of
success he looked upon and considered
that he had a white elephant on his
hands. He decided to consult Linniken,
the man who advanced the idea, by let
ter, telling him of his success, and ask
ing him what was the next best to do.
Linniken at once mailed to his ad-
dress a copy of the Boston Chamber
Commerce official reports in which rab-
bits were quoted at 40 and so cents
each at that date. From that day the
slaughter has continued, dogs, men and
guns employed, and the sporting man
reaps the reward of a borrowed idea.
Linniken will stock his island in
March, and expects to furnish jacks for
Boston market as early as July. He
said if ever the jacks got to the main
land alive, it will be necessary for the
state to offer a bounty on them, for
they will sweep it like a cyclone.