The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-10-10
Problems on the Canadian Border


\ few weeks since, Game Warden
Frank ]. Durgin OF The Forks, who
is also state constable. received in
structions to investigate conditions
along the Canadian border It was
reported that large number of
slackers were encamped in that re
gion Mr. Durgin proceeded to carry
OUT his instructions, and did find
quite a number of young men. some
Canadian and some United States citi-
2ens. in the woods all along the Dor
der Many Of them stated their in
tention to return 10 their respective
countries and conform To military re-
auirements. but it is believed few of
them have done so Mr.. Durgin has
recently been ordered TO make an
other trip To this same region and to
bring back with him all American
citizens who are liable TO military
duty. He expects to take with him
Forrest Newton of Jackman and
Henry Farley OF The Forks.
At the very northern apex of the
state of Maine lies Eagle Lake The
northern boundary OF this sheet of
water Is diHO lit JoHiiAifAis Jew Gil
the two countries Il is reported that
near this lake an unusually large
number Of slaCkers. mostly Canadians
have established camps and announe-
ed that they will defend themselves
against the demands Of their govern
ment This is one Of the places
which Mr. Durgin Will visit OF
course, if he finds an armed body OF
men Of this character, determined to
resist al any cost, he will report the
matter and troops will be sent from
both Canada and Maine
This long boundary line from New
Hampshire to New Brunswick, about
80 miles in extent has been the
scene of many mystery One
tramping through this wilderness.
until quite recently. could pass and
re-pass from Maine to Quebec with
ont knowing when he stepped across
the border, unless he CHANGED to run
across one of the iron monuments
which we're distributed along at quite
infrequent intervals There is such
marker on the line just few rods
east of where the Canadian highway
passes the border. Is miles northwest
Of Jackman. More recently how
ever, other markers have been estab-
lished and the timber along the line,
some 60 feet wide, has been felled
The boundary has always possessed
an attraction for those outside the
pale of the law Smugglers, whis-
key peddlers, game poachers, and in
times of war, bounty jumpers and
5lackers. have found it convenient to
be where they could pass in few
hours from one country to the other
One noted character OF this kind,
Peter Fontaine, has just died in a
hospital at St Camille, p q FOn
tane's chief mission consisted in
coming over into Maine and trapping
and hunting in defiance OF all the
statutes He was accustomed to kill
moose for their hides alone, both in
and out of season He also set traps
along the streams near the border. /
never having taken any trouble to
provide himself with Maine license. |
Ten years ago, Henry o. Tenpleton
of SebOOmoOk. a game warden, stlrt- i
ed ont to get him Locating Fon
taine in a camp, he erept up as care
fully as possible. and broke in the
door. rifle in hand Fontaine grab
bed his gun. but the game warden
shot first and the bullet entered Fon |
taine's shoulder near his heart Tenn |
pleton thought his man could live but /
few hours or days. and so conveyed |
him. as best he could, 10 his friends |
on the Canadian side OF the line, feel
ing sure he would not recover to
again prove a nuisance among law
abiding citizens. He did, however. |
and for the past ten years had been
an ever present problem to the OF
hcers of both countries
The nature of the country along
tfIe border has changed In recent
years. In former times. of course,
it was an unbroken wilderness. Lum-
bering operations on an intensive
scale have changed this somewhat. It |
is now possible 10 go from Moosehead |
Lake by automobile we'll over toward /
the Canadian line In years to come T
this section will not be so convenient I
" inaccessible rs formerly for those T
who desire to live independent of the F
pstrictiOuS of society