New-York tribune., 1902-08-24
Ia FONTALNE NOT DEAD.
HOW HE WAS WOUNDED AND WENI
HOME TO CANADA.


- -, I-rayct canadian poacher for whom the
came ,yardens of Maine have hunted IN VAIN for
wears and for whom they entertain d "-o'e'oiiie
fear is alive and well NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 'e va
ranorts that he had died Of gunshot WouiloS III
eta last March by Warden Herbert Tempieton,
Who il, company with Warden Houston SURPRISE
4he roacher at his camp near turner oiiU "
fired before he could touch a trigger II - hi1o
aud admitted by the wardens that La Fontalne mas
bee.a in Maine since he was shoi pu' "i'i'e
--arsors say that he remained only long enough
~ gather I'D his traps and get BACK over 'ie poi
dor mon who have just returned from 'he iesi'i
north of Moosehead Lake say that ne olo MOI s'
1act 10 Canada but is still in Maine ana plsihs
"a "a - ,-ocatton with as much boIdness and
success as before
Many trap had been lad for La ol'aiiie' - 80.
,oav a long chase the wardens had given Hlih' pN'
an in vain until last winter the Game Co1nihis-
s5oners having received news that the poacher was
1-;llino many beaver in the region around BAKER
lake detailed Warden Templeton TO go INTO tA"'
country and capture him at whatever cos'-
- a bip muscular young woodsman and gulde'
,er,,,,ad TO be one of the most skllIul anu ieaii
,zardens on Commissioner Carletons $ stan al oi @
,,renay,ed for the expedition, and when nan way
into the poacher's stamping ground was Joiiie" =!
warden Houston This was early IN March' anu
- 80 10Th of that month. after many miles VI
-ra,-el On snowshoes the TWO arrived at a AuniOei
-, ,,,,era la Fontaine had passed lew houEs
7,,eyiously They pushed On and soon caiie up =
his trail which was easily followed on account u
a snow that was laiiiiis din 't ~
was drawing a handsled
= d,,sk la Foutaine went into camp in a snack
on the bank of a brook near Turner foid' anu
while he prepared his supper the wardenS tay con- on
Smoke from the shack had died away, ana II WIs x
evident that la Fonta!ne haa itlL ~ tbrowing
o1eu me shack 0oor, surprised Peter as ne ias
1lpon his couch of boughs and blankets with nus
feet to the rrnbers of his AS TeTnpleton, who
stood in the doorway, aftefWaro ae9SdLo a a,Sn+
the SOUND OF latch as it was lifted. had sprung
iron. hls couch and upon his knees, rlTe. IN
hand, when Iempletons revolver co'ered nm. nm
Before ne had time press the trigger Tempeton
gsq hesl the ahd Da ot bek Of the Shoulder blade
The scene of he shooting was far from any
border and as, in the judgment OF the wardens La
head Lake on tote sled, the only available or
practicable Of conveyance, IL was decided 10
Right il have fairly comfortabe passage en- woods
team over the border TO his home IN St FranGis: il
wounded. and ne shared the opinion of his captors
was concluded better TO send him home his
family than TO bring his corpse through the wilder
So Peter La FOntaine. bundled up in blankets and
them, went home tote team TO ST.
Francis accompanied 10y loggers who knew him
and were friendly TO him. and that was the last
seen or heard Of the famous poacher for many
weei5s-until the SHOWS had vanished from the deep
woods and the ice had gone from the lakes and
streams. The wardens thought that he would be
al all and they sincerely hoped that he would stay
in Canada and trouble them more. 1t
self had said that he was tired of fighting the Of
nee lcers & ana Iaat me ne wouiq f neSer Ten 70 maine,
ton by the authorities.
But there appears to have been some mistake
about ii al In The first place La Fontanes
known that he was back in the Baker Lake region
early in the summer. accompanied by one two
man TO help him. gathered up his traps and went
back 20 Canada, saying that he was done with
nus ms sT fT IN IN nea S S entyenT 10 Seia 5H ls fr
hf
the woodsmen and others who come down from the
Baker Lake country to Northwest Garry, at the
head7o1 Moosehead Lake, declare that La Fontaine
came months ago accompanied by his son and
IN open defiance of the law
Whether La Fontaine is back in Maine is
a question that can he settled only by another cx-
pedition after him. In the opinion of some woods
again in a hurry. They intimate that the quest
would be even more dangerous than before: now
lions Of the authorities, and his hostility the Of
Therp,-rdens have long regarded La Fontaine as a
most dangerous man. and they win not take any
chances with him. He is known 20 be dead shot.
and is considered 10 be the most skful in
tsnents ot wooccraft He was born and brought
Up IN the Wilderness and there is nothing in the
lie Knows every animals habits the ways of birds
plieated network of forest paths and trails-a
puzzle to most men-is all plain 10 him and his
faces of old friends, This is the explanation Of
s @ @ Sim fy a6 al II ts dRGs sent in 41r
spirit. surprising strength and agility and an aim
understand why he Is admired by the back woods
men n aIsd Nd, feared by the game wardens.
and rruscular, weighing about l65 pounds. fairly
good booking. naturally bright and possessed of
some little education. His native tongue the
eTepied i5sic freneh gf Lover ousbse &c and he
makes no denial of the charge of poaching but
VIII not admit that he commits any crime when
he shoots traps what he likes in the woods of
Maine He holds. with the Indians that the game
belongs to the people. and that the State has no
right 70 forbid the people enjoying the benefits
that God has spread before them That is Peter
La Fontaines defence. and il the prosecution Is
10 prevail against him the opening argument must
be mace in the open court of the northern woods.