Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-10-09
FIRED At FROM AMBUSH.
Game Warden Tempieton's Narrow ESQ pc
From Dealh Near Knee.

Kneo. Moosehead Lake, Me, Oct. -
Deputy Game Warden Herman Tenn
pleton spent d Few days here last week,
on trip out from the wilderness,
where he has been since early in the
summer His coming gives the first ac-
curate account of the attempt on his
life, which was reported recently to
the Herald through some New York
sportsmen.
Templeton was polling his canoe along
in wild spot on what is known as
Baker Bog" when suddenly the sharp
crack of rifle rang out and he expe-
rienced It peculiar sensation. He pulled
off his hat hastily and found bullet
hole through il. and then placing his
hand to his head he found where the
bullet had grazed the scalp, taking out
little furrow of hair.
The action required but an instant
and, turning toward the direction of
the shot. he saw smoke rising from the
bushes on the high bank of the bog
Whipping out a heavy revolver, which
is his constant companion, and which
he knows how to use with the skill Of
a cowboy. he fired several shots into
the bushes below the smoke. and then
pushed his canoe hastily toward the
shore and landed.
Just as he was about to plunge into
the bushes it occurred to him that he
ought to leave some record behind in
f.D ic% eli III hi i'm
Looking up he saw that he stood be-
fore blackened tree stump ana pull
ing out 4 bit of red chalk which he
uses for "spotting' sometimes in place
of an axe. he wrote on the stump in
large letters brief account Of what
had happened ana what he proposed to
DO. Then he started in and found tho
point from which the shot had been
fred. on the ground lay 45-70 shell.
The assailant had evidently loaded his
gun for second shot. but had decided
not to fire it when the revolver bullets
began to come his way. The footprints
Of a moccasin Were then followed for
some distance. but after a little while
Templeton decided that it was useless
to push forward on the trail. He knew
that his assailant had start enough to
keep out Of the way. if he 80 desired.
and that in case he chose to lie in am
bush he had every advantage He ac-
cordingly returned TO his canoe and
pushed out.
1t was then that he realized what
had happened. and for 4 few minutes
every bush ana tree hid an imaginary
foe. Templeton says he has no idea
who could have fired the shot. but he
is confident that an attempt was made
upon his life. At the time the shot was
fired he was standing in his canoe
polling il along through The shallow
water Of the bog. ana thus kept him
moving backward and forward. making
his head a very difficult mark. The as
saiant fell a bit short on his calcula-
ton Of the distance Templetons head
would move forward. ana this miscal-
culation without doubt saved his life.
Tempeton is ? young man ana for
some years has made his home about
the lake. principally at kineo. where
he has guided during the season. In
the winter he has trapped and hunted
a good deal. and he is therefore famil-
lar with the country over which he now
roams in the capacity of game war
den. Early in the spring Templeton
accepted an offer to become deputy
warden. At that time he had agreed
10 60 with several spring parties. and
he desired to say nothing about his APP
pointment until he ceased guiding In
some way the knowledge of his APP
pointment leaked out before it should
have done.
Templeton has never done anything
by halves. He has the spirit and cour-
age Of his convictions, and he deter
mined to give the State his best efforts.
II was his desire TO be stationed in the
woods. where he could be at the seat
Of poachng. and his wish was graft
fled by the commission.
Boys" he said to some companions,
the day he became a warden. Il forget
the past and from this day | am
game warden in everything it means. =
Templeton is well liked here and
popular among the guides. His enforce
ment Of the law has not been unrea-
sonable. and it is difficult to under
stand what could have prompted the
attempt upon his life.-Boston Herarld