Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-08
RACE WITH A MOOSE.
A Wonderful Hunting Adventure in the
Raneeley Region.

"The hottest race l ever had" re-
marked old Jim Mace, in the Powers
Hotel lobby recently. just before leav-
ing for the st. Louis Exposition, was
up near the Rangcicy Lakes, Maine,
when my chum, Kinman, and myself
rode out on our wheels to snap few
pictures of the old Thomas place. a
deserted country house built years back
by a wealthy bachelor. He had laid
out a private race track and had as
tOnished the natives in his day, but
now the house is seldom visited and
the little track is almost forgotten.
We had wheeled along a grass grown
road hunting for the place, when a big
and Kinman thought it would be funny
to scare him by ringing his bell.
1.-The result surpassed expectation.
With one snort of rage the moose
Jumped into the road, and after stamp
fng his sharp hoofs into the turf for Il
few seconds, sprang toward us. L
picked up the pace set by kinman, VINO
was rod ahead, We each had mar
row rut, burned iron hard by the sun.
and in these we spun along. bending
low to keep our eyes open for obstacles.
We made "a turn i'm the road, careening
over to an abominable angle, and then
Strengthened up for the straight away
stretch. My heart sank as l saw 200
rods ahead that the road led up hill,
with open country on either side.
".James.' shouted Kinman under his
left arm, and | caught glimpse of n
big tumble down structure cut out in
the skyline.
81 overheard my friend as I felt the
moose almost upon me, and we jump
ed our machines for all we were worth.
A spill would cost us all The dead
grass hung over the ruts in places so
as to render our pathways unseen. and
at any minute l expected to strike a
rock or a washout and go down i'll Il
heap
"'To the right screamed Kinman,
letting out kink and jumping his
wheel over a narrow ditch to pass
through an opening in q ragged board
fence.
"Instinctively I followed him, and
before | knew it found myself skilnming
along on Il smooth speedway.
1.-The old race track painted Kim
man, as we flew by the low bushes
"The moose had paused when we took
the field, but now was hot on our trail.
If the roadway was better for us, so
| it was for him; looking over my Shout
der at the first quarter l saw him hug
cling the pole and bearing down like an
express train. Fortunately for us, we
| had won some renOWn as SprintcrS. and
gripping the handle bars we began to
show the moose a fancy pace. Soon
we were at the opening, but kinman
cried Keep on and / knew without
Icing told that to take the road again
| meant suicide. Besides, l think we
both began to enjoy the situation IL
bit The moose, while doing his best.
could not catch up with us, although
| he held his own nicely. The only ques-
ton was. would our endurance outlast
| his tcnacity?
81 don't hear him. cried, and we
both slowed up.
"Iiuess he's got enough gaspcd Kin
man, wiping the sweat from his eyes.
Then he shrieked. Turn. turn and
caught the thunder of hoofs ahead.
THE moose had turned and had gone
around to meet us.
| Just as he doomed in sight We swung
| about and flew for life. His little trick
nearly succeeded, for his momentum was
SO great that he nearly had us before we
| could get back into our old form. For a
| quarter of mile it was nip and tuck
| whether he would end the race or We
should get clear Then he grew disguised
and lost ground and we drew away. But
| the fun of the thing was gone now. lie
tt-t.,
ton to cut bases and lay ambuscadcs
made us sweat with new fear. and no
more did We try to draw out of sight
HISS af,sr turned med again r;od T1 innd and
| wheeling about we put back until We
caught sight of his TANKS.
1T was grimly humorous. this new
man wanted to boot at the animal. to
make him more angry, but l objected.
The moose was matching his cunning
against ours, and just now we were out
advantage for the sake Of evincing our
derision. But as he circled around and
| met no bicyClists he became more en-
'woofedxfn anger. Our wheels mao
only a faint burning sound, as If some
one were tearing off innumerable yards
| of, cloth Suddenly the moose paused.
u.s. Quick as cat ne pivoted, and away
we went again, this time in the lead
i Inen he stopped ana we cautiously
| wheeled back to find him. We crepe
half way around the track, and yet we
| could not hear him. We began to grow
nervous
Wonder what he's got up his hoof
now? muttercd kinman.
Easy I gasped. he's hiding in the
bushes somewhere
Just as l said this there was a
crash and the moose was fairly upon
u.s. kinman swerved his wheel and kept
dead ahead. and the moose chased him.
This saved me, as l had time to complete
my circle and race back. l should have
Kept on after my friend and the enemy,
but l was too dazed to think quickly So
tore back down the track at my sharp
est gait. Suddenly l met them. and in a
| flash had sped by. The moose. within
ten feet Of Kinman. who seemed to be
J tired, wheeled and put after me. But be-
fore ! met my companion he stopped
again. r4is was at the back of the