The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-05
srLr sreAn-cunkp prAn.
A Surprise for n Gatherer of Maple Syrup
In the Maine Woods.

~ ANNAa -
DEDHAN. Me-. March 3.-As soon as the
cap begins 10 climb up under the bark Of the
rock maple trees and tho pmell OF boiling
syrup spreads through the woods the lean old
bears and the active ones that have slept
lightly through the winter rub their eyes and
snarl In their dreams for a iay or two. and
then come out hungry for the sweets which
their nostrils have detected. For this reason
no wise sap gatherer ever goes into the Maine
woods without taking his rifle and bear traps.
The best sap orchard In eastern Maine Is
owned and operated by Fred King, n Veazie
Frenchman. 1t Is on the south side OF Blacks
Mountain. four miles from Dedhnm tannery.
King tapped his first tree on St. Valentines
Day. A week later. when ho began boiling.
two bears came out to pay him n friendly even
Ing call. He had Just piled some hardwood
sticks underline great iron kettle and was nod
ding of to sleep when he heard the "ooil oofl"
of an Old bear. Presently q dead limb cracked
among the trees on the hillside. Then he
heard the soft patter Of feet on the new snow.
and looking up saw two bears emerge from n
woods road and walk into the circle, Of light.
minutes. sampline the air with their noses.
and running out their tongues IN anticipa-
tiop, OF o feast. The big bear then walked over
to the little one, touched noses and nodded In
the direction OF the kettle. telling him in pan
tomime TO go ahead and help himself. When
me ennsIl one nolu BACK ana implied that age
should take. precedence. the old one suarieG
savagely and walked forward n rod or two In
the direction OF the kettle; He then beckoned
TO the youthful bear. who came up and re-
newed the argument.
This forward moyement placed a large hem
lock tree between'Ki and the bears and en-
abled him TO crawl back to camp and secure
his rife. Though he was not gone five min
ut ates; when ZEN he sE sEept back 6ehiad the hemlock
moonlight night. King put on his snowshoes
and gave chase. The tracks led around to the
company. Believing the large bear the more
hills into the town OF Otis; On the north side
the south side. where the snow was soft. King
more than made up for his losses. He saw
the The bear more than a dozen times; AMI fred at
and angry grunts. At . O'Clock in the morn
ing; when King felt himself sure Of his game
and was wondering how he should take the
in u cave on the side Of Beech Hill, and King
retnraced his steps to, camp. ten miles away;
the huge kettle was burned down to gray
ashes when King Grept into his bunk with his
wet clothes on He slept until the blueiays
fast. Being tired and disappointed he was in
no hurry to begin work, Along in the middle
woods with a pail OF sap. he looked In the ket-
tie and saw something which nearl" took his
breath away. On the snow. about the fire pit
were shapeless masses of dirty maple sugar.
while inside the kettle. soldered and sealed
iast IN a mat.iX Of sugar. was q dead bear, cub
weighing nearly 100 pounds. The younE hear
seen by King had returned to camp after getting
rid OF his companion. He had waited until the
fire, was ont and then climbed the forked
Rorging himself with sweets he had evidently
Slipped from the pole and became immersed
Two days later King was in Bangor asking
war times prices Tor sugar-cured bear meat.