The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-14
EBENEZER'S TRAGIC END.
BEAR TOOK HIM TP 4 MOUNTAIN
III IHREW HIN DOWN.

NV III - 'u'NiS Va 'Vpo sShHOs
SEBEc. Me-. May 3.-Up here in Piscataquis
county. the great fish and game region OF
Maine, the country folk are complaining OF
spring feelin's - and swallowing various de-
~coctions OF barks and roots and YARDS" for
the relief OF the same. At the edges OF the
snow patches in the woods the May flowers are
blossoming. and the thick ice which still
sheets the lakes Is so honeycombed and soft
ened by the sun that the first strong wind that
shall set the open streaks OF water in motion
will break up the whole business in a few
hours. Verify. the winter is past. the SHOWS are
over and gone. the flowers appear and the
time Of the singing Of the birds Is at hand but
II. following out the words OF Solomon. the
voice of the turtle ia heard in the land. it Is
safe TO wager at any odds that the note is not
that Of Etenrzcr. The turtles Of Sebec Lake
have never been known to manifest them
selves in a vocal way. but il they should take it
into their heads to attempt so surprising a
thing Fbenezer will not count in the perform
ance. This giant turtle. the patriarch OF his
kind in the Sebec waters. has passed from the
scenes of his earthly inactlvities-is out Of the
swim-and it was a bear that arranged for his
passage.
Who christened the big turtle Ebenezer is
not Of record or tradition. but for nve-and-
twenty years this was the name by which he
was known to the fishermen who came to the
head Of Sebec Lake in the spring to fish for
landlocked salmon. Yearly he was seen by
them and always at one place. the southerly
end Of n boat channel cut across the neck OF
the long tongue OF land which divides Flag
Cove from Bucks Cove. This channel Is the
route commonly taken by fishermen going in
small boats from the salmon waters Of the
Wilson TO those OF Ship Pond Stream. The
boatman padding from Flag Cove into the
channel was pretty sure to see Ebenezer sun
ming himself on some half-submerged log or
lying aloat to one side Of the canals mouth
like q monitor guarding a harbor.
Once only he was known to have left this
locality. 1t was when a boating party. having
captured him with much difficulty. took him
greatly against his will to their camp across
the lake at South Cove Point. Here. like Sam
son among the Philistines. he made sport for
his captors who held him through one after
noon. At night. for safekeeping. he was put in
an improvised pen made OF boards. and for
greater security against his getting away he
was laid on his hack. it being assumed that a
turtle placed in that position cannot turn over
or in any way help himself. EbeneZer knew
better. but 1t suited his plans to play possum.
and when his captors left him for the night he
was lying on his back, his head drawn within
his shell. the picture OF resignation
to adverse fate. When all was still
at the camp he found no trouble In getting
upon his feet. clambering over the side Of the
pen, tearing down a part Of it in the proceed
ing. and making off into the lake. Between
South Cove Point and Flag Cove is three clear
miles OF blue water. Two days later some fish
ermen reported having seen Ebenezer at his
old haunt by the mouth OF the canal. loaflng
about as unconcernedly as II nothing had hap
pened. The men that had caught him felt so
sure OF their prize that they neglected to meas
ure him while they had the chance. and the
exact dimensions Of this turtle are lost to his
tory. The most trustworthy estimates made
at the time set his length at twenty-one inches
and his weight at thirty pounds. which is a top
notch record among fresh water turtles.
Ebenezer was a master fisherman. and being
both lazy and cunning as beftted his calling.
he managed his business SO as TO c3mbine the
taking OF all the fish he wanted with the least
amount OF eXertlon: It was al well enough
to chase the elusive eel up little %rnniets LEADING
at the head. He would have none Of this in
his, but preferred to let his prey come to him.
was at ali times during the season OF warm
weather, a fnvorite waterway for small fish:
partially for his su5slstenSSe; Roatmen
lNDlllI tbONt Wv tikoS W ldk ~ VI
the summer have often stayed to watch
the big; turtle at his fishing. At that season.
not N"'' over three feet In width and, It ays =" %
les than a fo at n de biI alHnG the middle Of
legs drawn in out OF sight. and with the water
larrly covering the upper shell. Ehcnezcr
might come along, Small ifsh are inauisitive
creatures and nv the time he had fairly, settled
como plpnr again. a school OF phnh or dnrp
tothem an odd Kind q rock; Then, as they
II the fish seized was a small one. it made
the nrSt snop, TO eat It Ehenezer would not
stir a neg from his place. but. lifting his head
under ~water-would swallow the minnow. mas
t~icating 1t vigorously as. II passed head first
through the GopocIi;2Nm n, ia laws woi iHt9 bo the ! long pP:
Any large ash that he captured, such as an eel
shore and would XIII and devonr it There.
With any land creature that he tackled
E ESHmeT Hnd d1T qSW1n EeFss SOM SS a t%erv " l yS9rs a Sso
two fishermen. named Blake and .Neyins.
casting for %pickercl at the mouth Of Wilson
Stream. saw across Flag Cove "A 1lshhawk hover
above the boat channel. and then drop straight
downward as i to seize a hsh. It. did not rise
ioadiy, ma ty stendIng up IN ne boat; NY
could see the hawk struggle and beat with IL
wings Ut tne WnteF = surface near tne mouth
OF the canal, and at last disappear from their
view behind the long grass and lilypads. They
were ASKING in luck Just then. and 80 long as
the fish. We're biting they did not think it
worth while to go over to see what tho matter
was with the bird. Later in the day their fish
ing took them into the cove and they looked
for the hawk. They found IL floating dead at
the surface above some six feet depth Of water,
its feathers drenchcd and rumpled and one leg
had been pressed In u rough wise.
On a partly sunken log not far away Ehene-
ger was standing In a state Of excitement I'M
usual with him, his head and legs extended
from the shell and his eyes sparkling viciouslv.
4 large yellow perch, torn almost in two. lay
in the water near the mouth Of the canal and
the fishermen came to the conclusion. no doubt
the correct ono. that the hawk had dropped
upou the ilsh Just as EbcneHcr seized II and
that the two had fought ont n life-nnd- death
struggle over the booty. The turtle. his Jaws
locked fast TO the hawks leg. had dragged his
enemy at last into water sufficiently deep to
drown it and SO had ended the fight.
Five years ago when the spring fishing began
at S"bcC Lake. Eh"ncT"r was. seen once or
twice 10y fishermen AT has Old haunt. Then a
canoe UHrtv. passing through tn" boat channel
one morning, saw on either bank the tracks
and benz aud hrOK"n bushes where a bear had
crossed il th"!ay before. going toward Hedge
hog Mountain, which rises. steep and hristling,
from the peninsula below the canal. Ebenezer
was gone and as he never rea1 Jared 70 the
aVaa nj man hiR paaGiDQ Waa ayEDoiAIad with