The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-26
MOOSE HUNTIN THE WATER.
AN ADVENTURE or THE MON. JOHN
COSTIGdN or CANADA.

Indian Who Didn't shoot His Moose.
GRAND FALLS. n. H.. Feb. pit is seldom
that staterrnft aud woodrraft are found cons
bined In paying quantities in one individual.
Among the public men Of Canada. however,
there is one TO whom the title of the trnpper-,
statesman might I've applied. While the Hon.
John Costiaan occupies n foremost rank
among Canadian politicians. he is equally nc
homo In trapping n bear or an otter in the
depths OF the New Brunswick wilderness or
guiding a bark canoe on the frrtful surface %
the big forest lakes. Nearly every autumn he
escapes from the presence Of the lobbyist and
the office seeker and with rifle. pack and
blrchen skin goes to the upper waters OF the
Tobiuue, where, ON the wooded shores OF the
wild mountain lakes, he pitches his tent and
sets his traps for bear, otter. fox and mink.
Under the administration Of Sir John Mac
donald he has held with credit the important
offices OF Secretary Of State and Minister Of
Customs. Since Mr.. 1aurier assumed the
reins OF pr,''r Mr.. Costigau has had leisure to
recline in u. cooling shades of opposition. but
such is the esteem in which he Is held even by
his political enemies that his is perhaps the
only Conservative seat in Canada which the
Liberal leaders have no wish to capture. The
population OF tho county Of Victoria is cons
posed almost entirely of English Protestants
and French Catholics. As an 1rishman Mr..
Costigan seems to have been accepted as q de-
sirable compromise by these rival factions. 3,
In his youth Mr.. Costigan received q liberal
education. hut his heart was in the woods and
trapping and hunting formed his chief occupa-
ton. Beaver were plentiful in those days on
the tributary streams OF Green River and SAL
mon River and Mr.. Costigan recalls that in
one winter he caught no fewer than seventy
five OF these valuable animals. besides n large
amount OF other peltry. He was noted far and,
wide in those DAYS for his immense personal
strength. and among.the stalwart loggers and
river men. to whom fighting and wrestling
formed the chief Joy of life. few could be found.
who cared to measure muscles with CostiRan.
Gven now. at the age OF 81. Mr.. Costigan thinks
nothing of carryiDgsa siXty-pound pack. with
a birch canoe on top OF that. over the carry
from Mud to Trousers Lake. He is the most
daring and sIilful clnoeman to be found any
where in. the Toblque country and will ven-
ture in HE frail bark upon the whitecapped
waves Of Trousers Lake when this loggers are
afraid to launch a batteau.
In his long experience as q trapper and
hunter Mr.. CostiRan has had many exciting
adventures. He was once padding up the
east side OF Island Lake accompanied by a
friend. when "a rifle was accidentally discharged.
the bullet narrowly missing Mr.. Costigan and
ploughing a big hole in the canoe. 1t was
only by, despsrote eXertions that they were able
to reach the shore before the canoe sank be-
meath them. On, another occasion he had
walked on snowshoes many miles from camp
wind and bitter cold. Thinking to shorten his
return to camp Mr. CostigqPn, struck out on a
very heavy and the falling snow so obscured
the natural. landmarks that he lost his way and
and without food or fire. He was on the point
2t giving himself w for lost when he happened
and it seemed to give him renewed strength
and courage. He made another ATTEMPT TO
strike a lumber road. by which he reached the
camp Mr.; Costigap says that it was the sable
periences with the bull moose that infest ais
Long Lake with an Indian named Tom Bear.
when a mammoth moose, either seeing the ca
else attracted by the snlashlnG Of the paddles.
charged straight down into the lake and swan
stern. became so confused that the canoe sim
Drew fs WITTY T near M snd C F99nd as Sit the Sot moose SfsS
TO shoot the moose. as 1t would be dinicuit to
handle the carcass SO far from shore. He
and when within, a few yards Of the can 90 the
moose, turned about. The approach of the
that valiant redskin suddenly sprans up in
the canoe. Jumped overheard on the opposite
side from the moose and started TO swim
The splash seemed to, attract the notice Of
e eae mUHi Headed aGe HG FAR al o iof the IS9f fndi sToup The sa sIiu-
alton was now really, serious. as the moose
would soon o%vertake the Indian and doubtless
disable him with q single stroke of his lance
Xix? hoofs, Mr.. CostiGHn at once seized the
paddle and with q few powerful shoves inter
posed the canoe between the moose and the
red man. at the same time shouting with all
his might to induce the moose TO change his
course; The savage monster merely respond
ed with a roar and struck ut the canoe with
his loot, He was unable. however, to raise his
horns eollLded with the uplifted bow. OF the
canoe the danger Of n cqpsize was imminent.
long lead I'M his desperate efforts to gain the
shore. In passing the bow. Of the canoe the
started for him. Mr.. Costigan knew the In
dian, was a fine swimmer and could, not help
alton. but as the moose gained-rapidly. and
seemed to be bent UPON mischief. he suddenly
without running, a great risk of striking the
indi anj Mri = G ;P;.d then picked W the pad.
as he hurried, to the rescue; As he hauled up
sl0ngside Of the moose the latter was within a
time to cock and level the rifle. SO Mr.. Costi-
G fhe b itFHsk ct ff Ills m po9die, Ae TSis d thS nese f SIta
third time, the hostile purpose OF the moose.
Just then the animal struck bottom and start
animal was wounded mortalIy. aud he fell as
he ley the water. Mr.. Bear then ,gaspinRlyr
"By tuHder r JOHN. I'm not "S's SO > good ods catoIio
as YOU. sartin, fought II one got to 60 you
The next season after this Mr.. Costigan was
camping on, Long Lake when he discovered
unmistakable signs Of the presence Of a mon
tho lake and nearer the outlet was encnmped
al Old Indian named John Bernard, who was
known TO be a very skilful caller. Mr.. Costi-
gan tried TO induce the Indian TO call the
moose for him. but the latter had an eve to tho
moose on his own account and declined tho
offer. When the moon was nt the full the In
dian slipped down TO the outlet one evening to
to the result. ,Mr. Costigan LAUNCHED his canoe
and quietly followed. him. Twice the tremu;
eddied among the wooded banks aud hills and
then was heard the Impressive answering
the outlet he banged the trees with his mas
sive horns and raised "A rumpus that could be
bang from the Indians gun. followed at once
by yells and a wild tumult in the water, Mr..
tOstiRan reached the scene as soon as pOSsi-
BILE. but too late TO take n hand IN the fray.
he found the Indian, half dead with fright,
covered with mud and water. hiding beneath
the root Of n fallen tree. while the moose had
gone away unframed. In the moonlit waters
OF the outlet was floating the wreck OF Ber-
nnrd's cnnoe, The moose had come out on