The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-17
RODE A CARIBOU.
Hunter Had a Thrilling Adventure in
the Maine Woods.

Bangor (Maine) Cor. Chicago Post.
w. L. Ashby of Caribou Is one of tine
two men in Maine who claim to have had
ride on the back OF live caribou. lie
says, In regard to It,
willard Corliss, Il hunter, when he
lived at Ludlow many years ago, diseov-
cred that when the snow was about two
feet deep and and very light, the caribou
could not get through it as fast an
active man; as they cannot trot then.
they have to gallon, and this appears to
distress them greatly He used to get OIL
their backs and ride till they were done
out. and then lead them to camp. no
sold several to showmen for 500 each,
but they soon died
lone Sunday morning, several years
ago, a man named Wallace Smith and
myself went out onto a hard wood ridge
to cut some wood for ak heves; tine
snow was about two feet deep and as
light as feathers. Caribou tracks were
plentiful. and soon saw three OF the
animals themselves eating moss from a
fallen tree. We crept toward them till
they began to prick up their ears, then we
threw our axes and with horridt yels
rushed after them. The frightened, be-
wildered animals ran in n circle. and
bleated like scared calves. | got after one
and Smith selected another.
I'VE chased them over logs and under
windfalls. | soon got ciose TO mine. |
thew away my mitts and clinched my
fingers in his long hair. and after while
got ON his back. You could then hear
him bleat a mile.
Some forty rods away there was a
logging road, hard ana smooth, and
straight TO the river. three miles away.
My caribou headed straight for this, and
| couldn't stop him. | got him by the
ears and tried to rein him, but he was
stubborn IA mule. A moment later |
saw the road ahead and heard my carl
bou give a pleased little pIeat.
"A little later everything was changed.
| was still astride my beast, but wished
| was off, for we were going down the
Icy road at a 4;40 clip, and the caribou
was snorting and bucking like bron-
cho. Presently he SHE'D at a dirty spot
In the road, and / was thrown with some
Violence on the ice. While | was rubbing
my bruised elbow and getting my breath
/ head loud shouts up the road and saw
Wallace coming at great speed an
other caribou.
Stop him! Stop him, for Gods sake,
stop him. He's running away with me-
he yelled.
Il felt for my hat to shoe him with.
but II was gone; / seized a fir brush that
had been cut from the road and damned
1t in the face OF the frantic animal As
1t turned to get by | seized horn, but II
soon dragged me down and stripped away
my clothes with its sharp hoofs. 1t also
cut my breast so badly that / will carry
the scar to my grave.
Not many years ago there were large
numbers of caribou in this locality. Their
mounted heads are still found on the
walls of many Aroostook homes. There
is a large and thriving town here named
for this noble, game animal, and IL he
never returns he will not be forgotten.
There are no caribou in Maine now.
Some well Informed guides and hunters
think they Will never return. | am not
30 sure about that. I think if we could
have a good crop OF toadstools they will
come again II their old enemy the deer.
do not get too plentiful"