The Republican journal., 1907-01-03
SHARING A STEER.

How Two Maine Boys Captured a Runaway.
In the early fall big steer owned by
Frank Gray, who has a stock farm on
Verona island, got out of the pasture
and went wild, ranging in the woods
and sWampS of the island and eluding
all efforts at capture until Sunday.
Men have chased the steer for miles
and fired at him scores of times, but he
was as swift on foot as a buck deer and
much more crafty. Time and again he
had been all but cornered, when he
would break away and not be seen
again for days. He got his living by
browsing around barnyards in the night
and appeared to be thriving in his wild
condition.
1t remained, however, for two bright
boys to Outwit the runaway, and Christ
mas appeared much brighter to Ezra and
Levi Grindle than it did before they re-
ceived crisp five-dollar note apiece for
capturing Pierpont. His yoke-mate was
named John D. Mr.. Gray was one night
relating his troubles and failures i'll at
tempts to capture the steer to the crowd
down at the corner store and then and
there offered a reward OF SO for the
capture of Pierpont.
Although only IA and 16 years old, the
Grindle boys had hunted and trapped
every kind of wild beast that the island
of Verona could furnish. While a big,
wild and no doubt ugly steer was bigger
game than they had ever trailed, they
laid plans to land Pierpont in the other
side of the yoke with John d., who is a
very docile and well-behaved animal.
They determined upon plan of at
tack contemplating more strategy than
| force OF arms. For number OF nights
they ''baited" Pierpont with tempting
| free lunch of carrots, cabbage, corn and
| hay. He soon found the route and by
gradually extending the trail the boys
got him coming every night to small
| clearing with thick underbruSh on every
side.
Then they took several strong ropes,
made nooses and covering these from
sight in the light snow so arranged
them that while the steer was MUNICH
ing the carrots he would be quite likely
to step within the coils. The first night
was not a success. After waiting pa
tiently for some time the steer came
but persisted in stepping anywhere but
| in the nooSes.
Celebrating upon the plan they ar
ranged some windfalls and placed a
huge lump of salt i'll such a position
that the steer must stand in the snares
to get at it. That night the weather
was very cold and the boys, lying in the
underbrush, each with hand on rope,
were nearly frozen before Pierpont ap;;
peared. AS expected, the steer stepped
exactly in the moose, and suddenly was
surprised to find one front and one hind
| leg tangled in something.
| With a terrible roar he made Wild
dash in Lewis direction, and Ezra bare.
ly saved his brother by taking turn
around tree, which brought Plerp0n'
up all standing. Then he dashed madiy
head down, tor Ezra, and just in the
nick of time Levi hauled in the SLACK
and took turn around big hem!ock
One way. then the other. dashed the
steer in a wild endeavor to hurt some
one, but the boys hung on for thell
lives. Finally the steer tripped himself
and fell, which gave the boys chance
to haul taut and Delay. 1t took Mr.
Gray and two hired men, with rigging
enough to fit small schooner, fnaily
to get the steer under way for home
| The boys got their money and thlns
that they have earned it.