Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-07
The Trials Of the Maine
Border Wardens.
Unpleasant Experience Of Two
On the ST. John River.
Androscoggin County Teachers
Convention at Lewiston, Feb. 4.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting Of Governor and Council
Tuesday, Feb. Is, at 10 A. M.


A subject of which the people in
general have but very little or no idea
is that of the Winter life of the Maine
game wardens. 1t is known in
general way that a force of fearless
men is maintained for the purpose Of
protecting the wild game of the State
at such times as the hunting and kill
ing of the same is forbidden by law,
and that each man is given a certain
amount of territory to cover, but be-
yond that point the life of the wardens
is as an unwritten book. One is apt
TO think of the task of the warden as
one to be carried out in the summer
time. and to be surrounded by all the
pleasures which come with camp life
in the woods. but while this may to
certain extent be true. 1t constitutes
but 4 small part OF the wardcn's real
work.
Were 1t always summer in Maine the
duties of the wardcns would be ligat
but the average season is so arranged
that with the coming of winter. the
winter itself, and the going Of winter,
about five months of the II could
really be called winter The wardens
are busy during the hunting seasons
with the various duties imposed upon
them, and more busy after the hunting
season has closed with the work of as
surfing themselves that inc game laws
are not being violated. 1t is then that
they have to be the most vigilant tor
the tendency for violation Of the laws
is greater than at any other time dur
ing the year.
The presence of large numbers IF
men in the various lumber camps in
the northern section of the State. inc
scarcity of fresh meat, and finally the
delicacy which has its being in saddle
Of venison or quarter OF moose meat,
all combine to produce condition Of
things which is liable to result in the
violation of the laws il it can be
carried into effect without a probability
of detection.
To prevent this is the chief object of
the warden service, and that the work
is well done is shown by the in
frequency of the cases which are
brought before the courts. To accom-
plish these results requires hard work
and constant vigilance on the part of
the wardens and often long and lone
some tramps through the woods and
snow, and the work is sometimes ac-
companied by an element of danger.
but happily it may be said that in the
majority of cases when an offender Is
rounded up by the wardens he submits
peacefullv instead of showing fight.
But of the entire warden force those
who do perhaps the hardest work dur
ing the winter months. and certainly the
most lonesome are those posted along
of Stale.
the Canadian boundary and along the
shores of the ST John river. They arc
remote from civilization, have a wide
range Of territory to cover, and this in
the rigors of the winter which prevails
in that section.
good idea of the difficulties with
which life in these remote sections Is
sometimes surrounded is shown by an
experience which lately befell Wardens
Alfred Clarke and a. M. Tarr, ano
which were told in a letter received
ycstcrdap by Chairman Carleton of li'
Commission of Inland Fisheries ant
Came from Warden Clarke. The TIVE
wardenS have several camps in thd
section. the home camp being at Sever
Islands on the st. John river, IN tAt
southwestern part of AroostoolS county
Pomphle, p. G.. Feb. > and was
written by Warden Clarke. inc
warden stated that they had beer
sl,Ish- bound at Churchill lake for the
past rs days. and during that time hat
not seen q human being. In addition
TO their other trials their stock of pro
visions had got dangerously low ant
they had to make q break for one O
Marsh & Ayers camps. distince o
six miles which was finally reached
only to find the camp deserted
Warden Clarke then went out TO 81
Pomphile last Friday. thinking 1t woui'
be q good time to get in some Prov
sions. and ran into the worst bilZZar'
which he had ever encountered
Warden Tarr did not go with him owe
into the Province but remained in IN
section around the home camp. Wardel
Clarke said that he should start 10
home Feb. 4, and that it would mean
snowshoe trip of 81 miles. 1t will b.
remembered that it was In this section
that Commissioner Carleton was takei
very ill two years ago last fall, Will
on a trip to that country, and suffered
many Inconvenience before reaching ;
place where he could secure prope
treatment.
Announcement WAS made at the edu
cational department yesterday that tn
County Teachers Association would b
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