The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-01-02
CANADA,s LoUp CERyiER.
a stupid Brute Bat Dangerous some
times TO Hunters.
New York SUM-


the huge catlike Lynx Canadensis or
loup cervier OF the French-Oanadians the
paysho OF the Montagnais Indians Oh
enormous strength and agility, the Cana
nd lynx, the largest and most fsrcclous of
Its species is stupid bruts 50 far AS es-
cape from danger is concerned aud lie cas-
lily oorne-ed. A loud ami Sudden CRY
from the hunter pursuing 1t Is sufficient
TO arrest its course for q time long
enough to permit him to fire, ana some
times several shots are ootainei at the
same amin nj In this manner. Woe 10 the
unfortunate hunter. however,. II the
wounded lynx succssds In springins
upon him. Its ferocity Is only squalisd
by Its strength aud agility. One OF the
most desperate personal encounters be-
tween q man and a loup cervisr on re,ord
is that In which Peter Mackenzie, chief
factor Of the Hudson Bar company. came
near losing his life on an island In Min
gan Bay, on the coast Of Labrador.
II was in the spring Of the year, short
IL after the Toe had paired, tina, Mr..
Mackenzie went across the bay in his
canoe, move for exercise than anything
else. Consequently he tad no gun with
hin--nothing but a Montsgnais bow AMI
arrow, a knife and snow shoes. Landing
on the island oppoIits Mlngan, he saw
the fresh tracks of u lynx. Hs adjusted
his snow shoes, soon found the animal,
and followed It closely several times
round the leland without coming within
bowshot of st. Toward evening he saw
that IL was getting very fatigus5, for he
got two opportunities of striking 1t with
the heavy Montsgnais arrow which Is
used for killing smaller game. AT last
he came within twenty yards. The cat
turned round, rose on its hind legs.
snarled and bsgan to paw the air. Mr..
Msskenzle discharged another arrow, but
at the same moment his snowshoss
tripped him mp, and he fell heAdlong
with his fscs In tae snow. The cat In
stantly sprang upon him, tearing with
one stroke the coat from his back. Mr..
Mackenzie turned round at once. caught
the cat by the throst by . lucky plunge
with one hand, and with the other drew
his knife; but % he made q hinge they
rolled over together, and he received
some very severe scratches. Still hold.
ing on firmly to the throat Of the animal,
he avoided being bitten, although ne was
in danger of having his bowels torn out
BY the hind feet of ths cat, which was
making a vigorous resistance. A second
iunge with the knife was fatal; the blade
passed through tn, animals heart, but
the struggle left Mr.. Mackenzie ex-
haustsd and bleeding on the snow. 1t
was some time before hs recovered. but
he finally carried this booty In triumph
to the post.
Some hunters have proved less fortu-
maize In their hand hand encounters
with the Canada lynx than MIR. Maoken-
ale Was A Montagnais Indian known as
Pierre was visiting line of marten traps
near the forks of the Mosio Labrador.
when he met an Indian with Q sledge
drawn by two dogs. 1t was heavy load,
ard as IL was growing dusk, he as ked
permission to take this sieoge into tn |,
lodge of the hunter. "for" said he. 81
have a body there and am afraid the
dogs will eat 1t If 1t is left outside" AT
ter the two tad smoked together for
sometime in silence according to the In
dian manner, the visitor was induced to
tell his story.
"Did you bring the body farf" asked
"si1 days up the St Marguerite. eight
days in all from here"
show did he der
The othsr looked at the fire and for
some time said nothing. 1t was evident
that hs had a very sorrowful tale to tell
or he would have spoken at once. After
n long pause he said. "He Is my cousin.
am taking him to be buried at the post.
He asked me. ! promised him. 1t Ia
long journey In wintsr but he wished
1t, ana he win soon be there.
Ihsp he told how 10 had happened.
''Ae and J." he said. pointing to the
body, but mentioning no nams. "wsrs
hunting together. whsn we came upon
the track OF ioup cervier and followed
It, My cousin was first and he turned
round and said to me TN 60 round thai
mountain II you 60 up the valley with
the dogs and we are sure to get HIM.
We separated. In an hour heard Q gun.
and thsn sat down and waited long. &
night was coming on l thought l would
90 and look. could find nothing, SO as
answer. l fired again. No answer.
'Someth hing, said, has happened to my
cousin. / must follow his tracks as soon
as 1t Ia daylight After sleeping tina;
night on number of spruce branches
spread ON the snow, followed the tracks
early In the morning. and before got
half way round this mountain l saw my
cousin. He was nearly dead, and could
not speak. Close to him was the lour
cervier fozen stiff. My cousin had slipped
into cleft Of this rock just after hs had
fired and wounded the lynx and when he
was within twenty yards of 1t. One Of
his'legs was broken. As soon as he feiitht
lynx sprang upon him, and tore of part
Of his scalp. He killed It with his knife
but could not get out Of the hole In the
rock on account Of his broken leg. Nol
could be reach his gun to fire 1t OF and
let me know. There he must have re-
manned and died alone II l had moi
CHANGED TO come. lifted him out Of the
crack but his fingers snapped on-thsy
were frozen"
The lynx plays an important part In
Montagnais mythology. The heather
Indians suppose that the world wal
created by Atahocam, and that deity
named Aesson repaired It when 1t was
old. One day Messon was hunting witt
lynxes instead of dogs. His savage com
panions swan into a great lake snt
wers Lost. Messon searched for them ev
erywhere without success, when q bird
told him that he would find them in the