Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-06-16

1t is rapidly becoming settled fact
that it is dangerous for moose to leave
their wild wood homes and venture
within the confines Of civilization.
Each time that one Of tie big ungain
animals does this he comes to grief. 1t
doesn't always follow that he falls at
| the hand of n hunter, for frequently
their own rashness is the cause of it.
Many times since the Bangor & ArooS-
| took pushed it's way through the north
crn wilderness a big bull moose has
| come forth to dispute the progress of
| the iron horse and always with fatal
| rV5ult-to the moose, for it yet is to be
| recorded where the locomotive came
out second best lin one of these encoun-
| tcrS.
But the latest case of the downfall of
| Il moose is reported from Fort Fair
| field and occurred on Sunday, last. The
story Of how the moose paid the penal
| ty of his careleSSncSS is told to the
commissioners and vouchcd for by +.
| w. Burns of Fort Fairfield, the Deputy
| customs collector who had a fierce bat
tie with smugglcrs a few years ago in
which he WAS severely wounded by one
Kelley. The story is as follows:
| About noon on Sunday Il big bull
moose came into the lower part of the
village of Fort Fairfield. lie was max
| ing no disturbance, just taking
a look at the place, possibly
with view of locating there.
A party of young men were assembled
near the Episcopal church and saw the
! \. hot
Naturally they were Interested, for
though moose are very, very common
in Aroostook county they are not frc-
oucnt!y Sc"n in the village streets. The
loyS decided to have a better view OF
), the animal. They started towards him
The moose saw them. Not liking theil
looks he increased his pace. Boys were
anxious to see more of the moose Sc
did likewise.
1t may have been that this particular
moose had previously had dealings
with the human race and that caused
linn to suspicion the motives of the
boys. Whatever it was, he proceeded
to get out of the way. In so doing he
broke into a trot. Now those VIII" have
seen n moose move when he has al
idea that trouble is behind him know
that he can go some. In this case he
Travelled fast and the boys were loosing
| ground. When a moose is or thlnk'
he is pursued he rarely looks behind
dcvoting all his attentions to goint
ahead. This trait of the animal, un-
doubtcdly, explains why he did no
slack the pace when the young mel
| began falling behind, though they die
not give up the chase. 1t was an ex-
citing contest and the moose had tho
est of it.. H.. made towards the track:
| of the Bangor and ArooStoOk and th'
wilderness. Before reaching the rail
,cad track II" jumped two fences with
| out trouble. but in taking Il third one
after crossing the tracks, he met hi:
| fate.
For sona reason he failed to properl!
gauge the height of the fence and whcl
he went over one foot caught and In
tunblcd in IN ignominous heap. AZ
he failed to move the pursucrs made al
examination and found that he wa:
dead Word was taken to Deputy
InIrns. who made an examination ant
founI that the FIJI had broken the ami
mails neck
Under the direction of Mr.. Burns th'
| carcass was buried. Il piece oi the vert;
| bra being taken out to show that II ha'
bccn fractured by the fall The bone
} will be brought to Augusta and place
in the museum of the fish and game
commissioners.