Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-07
Town Of Shirley Has
Cow Moose Story.
Animal Resents Presence Of
Mule In Maine Woods,
svpt. Smith Assigns Dates Of Su.
lperintendents' Conferences,
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting Of Governor and Council
Thursday, July 30, at 10 A. M.


It begins to look as if the moose
which inhabit the Maine wiIds are
hound to get themselves into the
newspapers during close time as well
as when the law is off and a man can
kill one, provided that he can find the
moose and then shoot straight enough
to hit it after he finds it. But while
at such times it is always the bulls
which get honorable mention, it is the
cows that are now rushing into print.
It was only last week that story
found its way out of the wilderness
which told of COW moose up in the
Moxie region which died Of a broken
heart through the loss of her calf and
whose demise was also no doubt has
tened by her having got mixed UP
with a jam Of logs in a wild rushing
stream, and now comes another story
Of cow moose up in the town of
Shirley, but while the story of the
Moxie COW was d straight tragedy,
that of the Shirley COW is comedy way
through. The latter story was brought
down to Augusta by a game warden
of unquestionable veracity, and in adj
ditioa to that there are papers on file
at the fish ana game department to
show that the tale is a true one.
If one looks on the map Of Maine he
will find that the little town Of Shr-
Icy is in the southwestern part of
Piscataquis county. The census of
1900 gave the town a population of 248
but which has presumably increased to
quite an extent by this time. and num-
tercd among the citizens of the town
is a gentleman named Locky McDon-
old. whom his friends call "Lucky" for
short. According to the story Mr..
Mcdonald is a fisherman of some re-
pute and is a devoted follower of the
peaceful sport Among his other
worldly possessions Mr.. Mcdonald has
an old mule which ne sometimes works
into his fishing trips as Il beast of bur
den, not Away; to carry the catch. but
rather for the purpose of transporting
the camp outfit and in the past it is
said that the old mule has come in
very handy.
Accordingly, when about a week ago
Mr.. Mcdonald decided to make Il trip
over to GrdWay pond, some four miles
from town, for Il few days, he be-
thought himself of the old mule, and
loading her down with the tent and
bedding, fishing tackle and grub he
added himself to the load and lighting
his corncob pipe, set forth Tor the
wilderness. Tie first part of the trip
was Il pleasant one for both man and
beast. the man anticipating the fun
that he was to have when he reached
the pond. and the mule pleased with
the fact that she was allowed to jog
peacefully along without being har
rd&scu by whip or spur.
All would have been well had the
dcnzens Of the forest kept out OF
the way, but as the pair were plodding
peacefully along. out into the wood
road came II COW moose. 1t is said
that COW moose ut this SEASON of the
year, when their calves are still run
ming with them, are not possessed of
temper that is wholly angelic, and
when the COW in question sighted the
mule with her strange load advancing
IN her direction she did not for mo-
ment think of submitting the question
of the invasion of her domain to arbi |
tration, but charged at once toward
the invaders
Now the mule had never seen a COW |
moose, and as the Infatuated animal
bore down upon her, with the instinct
born in all mules she quickly wheeled |
In the road and bracing herself let go
both ner heels at the advancing foe. |
The action was prompt and might
have been accompanied by success had |
her heels struck the object aimed at, |
bct they didn't, for as the mule swung |
around in the road it is said that
unly ,,', IL,
down in the road behind the mule, got |
the full benefit of the kick. which did
nm up so that he was confined to the |
house for several days and was obliged |
70 nave the services of DIR. Hunt OF
Gfecnville on account of his bruises.
After the mule had delivered her |
oroadside She lost no time in getting |
out of that locality as fast as her legs |
would carry her, and no induccment |
can make her enter those woods again. |
AS for the moose, it is said that her |
anger was appeased with the disap- |
pearance of the mule and without TAX |
ms any notice of the man in the road |
she plunged into the bushes and went |
back to her calf
Announcement was made Monday at
'he office of the State superintendent of
'he public schools of Maine that no |
"ces had been sent out to the school |
soPerlnt"ndentS Of the State to the
superlntcndontS conferences which |
VIII be held during the present month.
Inc first conference will be held at
rafmngton. on Monday. Tuesday and
Wednesday, July 49, IA and Is. The
sessions will be held Monday afternoon