The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1899-07-08
A. CANINE FISHER.
SAM, WONDERFUL DOG OF
- HAZE HUSON.

He Brings In Trout and Duck from the
Lake-Puts Out a Fire In the Hunters
Camp by Bringing and Pouring Water
Other Knowing Tricks. q
Haze Huson, a noted hunter in the
wilderness around SQuaw Pond Lake,
in Aroostook county, Maine, owns a
mongrel dog which much fine gold an
not buy. This dog knows nothing
about the pampered life which his city
cousins lead. He answers to the nam
of Sam, is three years old and weighs
forty pounds. Haze got him when. a
pup from a Tobique River Indian, CIV
ing in exchange for him two muskrat
skins and a half pint of red liquor.
Sam gave proofs early in his career
that he was no ordinary dog. He never
wasted time OF running after small
birds, and has never been known to
exert his energy in chasing cats or
baying at the moon, but gives his leis-
ure time to more Industrious pursuits.
His sagacity, intelligence and remark
able doings have been the topics for
many an evenings discussion at the
village grocery, where the residents of
he town congregate twice a week to
get their letters and papers from down
the state. Huson has a camp on the
shore of Squaw Pond Lake, where he
spends the greater part of his time, and
Sam constantly keeps an eye out for
bear, etc. The region abounds in bear.
deer, moose and caribou, but Sam has
learned the laws of the state and in
close time will not chase one of the
animals. However, If any of them
strays into the camp yard, Sam sees to
it that he does not long remain. Nc
charge of illegal killing has ever been
laid at the dogs door, so to speak. AS
a fisherman Sam has become an expert.
In the lake nearby are many fine trout
that are rot molested by the high
priced kit Of the city fisherman, and
the dog spends much of his time on
the shores Of the lake, where he
watches with great interest the Shiny
bottom of the lake where the trout
come up to feed off the water weeds.
When Huson wants a trout for dinner
he calls Sam and tells the animal to
bring a trout. Sam Immediately goes
to the shore of the lake, watches a few
minutes, and then swims out. Shortly
after he dives toward the bottom, and
nine times out of ten when he reap
pears at the surface he has the fish in
his mouth. Sam dislikes club, eels and
suckers and never touches them. Near
the lake there are fine 1ocks of ducks.
They come up in the fall and remain
for a few weeks, and Sam is then on
velvet. His long suit is catching ducks.
He enters the water some distance
from where a flock is, and swims along
carefully until within a few feet Of the
birds. Then he goes under water and
rises underneath a duck and pulls it
under the water. Then he starts for
shore, leaves his catch and goes after
another. Sans most notable exploit
was last June. Huson's camp is built
along the side of a big, sloping rock,
the top Of which is nearly even with
the ives Of the cabin roof. One day,
just after dinner, Haze started in his
canoe across the lake. A slight fire
was burning in the camps stove at the
time, and the ~stovepipe being defec-
tive, sparks fell on the dry roof. A
flame was soon started, and the camp
was in danger Of being burned unless
was done quickly to prevent
it. Sam was lying in the yard, having
his MONDAY nap, when he smelled the
smoke. He awoke and found a small
blaze on the roof. Without ringing in
an alarm by barking the dog rushed
into the camp and grabbed a water
pail in his teeth and ran to the lake.
he filled the vessel and ran back
the house, climbed the rock and
the water onto the blazing roof.
He repeated this operation several
times until the fire was extinguished,
and before Huson, who had seen the
names from his canoe, could reach the
house. Last April Sam added another
number to his list Of remarkable per-
whereby the grandfather
1t Maine bears vas captured and the
pelt is now stretched in the warm sun
front Of Huson's camp. One fine
afternoon Haze was at work about a
mile from his camp, getting out some
new cedar splits for a roof Is his camp.
As was his custom on such occasions.
he had left his rifle at the camp. MOI
thinking that he would have a use for
It. Sam was with his master at the |
lime. but after DOING in the warm
Jun for a while. he arose, shifted the
air once or twice and then mosied of
INTO the woods. About an hour and
! half later he returned over the road
eading from the camp to the place
where Huson was at work, bringing be-
;ween his teeth his masters rife.
Dropping the rife at Huson's feet the
log made certain motions that indi-
'ated that there was important BUSH
less to be transacted In the vicinity.
Iaze picked up the rifle and followed
he dog for about q mile, and they
truck q fresh bear track. They fol-
the trail for some distance out
yer the burned land, which for years
lad been q favorite resort for Bruin.
n less than twenty minutes after strik-
ng the trail on the burned land they
ound the bear summing himself on q
title knoll only asshort distance ahead