Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1907-03-21
RODE A CARIBOU.
An Exciting Experience Described by
Maine Hunter.

From the New York Tribune
W. L. Ashby, of Caribou, is one of the
Two mon IN Maine who claim to have had
a ride on the back of a live caribou lie
saws in regard to it: Willard Corlss q;
hunter, when he lived AT LUDLOW, many
years ago, discovered that when the snow
was about two feet deep and very light,
The caribou could not get through 1t as
fast as active man. as they cannot
trot then, they have to sallop, and this
appears 10 distress them greatly. He
used 10 get on their backs and ride till
they were done out, and then lead them
To camp. He sold several to showmcn
for 500 each. but hey soon died
'iOns sunday morning, several years ago,
II man named Wallace Smith and myself
Went out onto a hardwood ridge To cut
some wood for aN helves; the snow was
about two foe, incp and as light as teath-
crs Caribou tracks were plenty, and We
soon saw three Ct the animals themselves
eating moss from a fallen tree. We crept
| toward then till they began TO prick up
I their ears then We threw our axes and
with ilorria srils rushed after them. The
! frightened. bewildercd ANIMALS ran in u
circle, and Dictated like scared calves. L
got after one and Smith selected another.
We chased them OYER logs and under
wndfalls. soon got clcse 10 mine.
/ threw away my nuts and clincled my fin
got on MS back. You could then hear him
l.bleat {, mile. Some ioris rods away there
l was logging road hard and smooth and
straight 10 the river. three miles away
My carbon headed straight for this, and
/ ! couldn't step ilm. got him by the ears
and tried 10 RON hum. ',u; he was as stub
born as mule. y moment later 1 saw
the road ahead and heard my caribou give
! u pleased little bleat.
IA little later everything was changed.
/ l was still astride my beast. but wished
was off, for were going down the
/ icy road al $40 clip. and the caribou
! Was snar,ing and bucking like IA bronco.
Presently III SHE'D at 4 dirty spot III the
/ Dad and WAS thrown with some vio-
.cnce the ice. While was rubbing
1 my bruised elbow and getting my breath.
i heard loud shouts up the road, and saw
| Wallace coming at great i)pesd on another
caribou.
Stop him. Stop him, for Gods sake,
4 stop HIM He's running away with me-.
ne yelled
II felt for my hat to shoe him with
ou, it WAS gone. | seized Il fur brush
hat had been cut from tho road and
i;lmne,l it in the face of the frantic amt
nal AS il TUNED To get by | seized q
norm, but ii soon dragged me down and
stripped away my clothes with its sharp
noofs 1T also cut my breast so badly
I hat viii carry the scar TO my grave.
4 Not many wears ago there We're large
4 almp,rs of caribou in this locality.
rhcir mounted heads are still found on
.he wallis of many Aroostook homes.
There is Il large aud thriving town here
/ named for this noble game animal, and
1 q he never returns he will not be for
gotten
There are no caribou in Maine now.
Some we'll Informed guides and hunters
.hink they will never return. am not
so sure about that. think it we should
nave a good crop nf toadstools they will
come again if their old enemy, the deer,
10 not get too plenty"