The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-09-20

and the speed of the Infatuated beast,
like railroad train on a down grade,
seemed constantly increasing. What
to do was the question Just then
l bethought me that l had large
knife in my pantaloons pocket. |
quickly seized and opened 1t, and with
one slash cut the moses throat, from
ear to ear; and so 1 was relieved
from my perilous situation. l made
out to get to my camp, but it was
long time before l could resume
work"
guests, "if your clothes were off how
could you find your pocket and knife?"
We'll" said the old hunter, that's
just where the joke comes in"
At this all burst into a furious
laugh, Ellis laughing too, jumping
about the floor and gestieulating yio
lently.
Occasionally, our old hunter acted
as guide to visitors about the lake;
and it is fair to presume that If any
one could show game to sportsmen,
he could.
1t is, however quite natural to sup
pose that Injured to hardships and to
roughing 1t in the woods, as he was,
he might presume too much upon the
capabilities and endurance of those
who put themselves under his guild
ance and care; and that he would be
little careless, as to neatness in
the preparation of food, and keeping
the camp comfortable and warm.
1t is told of him that when one
evening late in the fall, and after a
hard days tramp, they had reached
place of shelter and rest for the
night he said in reply to one of the
gentlemen who scolded him little
for not keeping a better fire, why,
God bless you, my dear man, don't
you know that the light and cracking
of a big fire would attract the wild
beasts who are all about us, and they
would eat us all up, so that there
would not be left of us a grease spot
in the morning?"
Just at this moment, as rumor has
it, and as II to confirm what the old
hunter had said, an owl in the distance
began to boot: There, there" said
, Ellis, do you hear that? A panther!
Keep still and lay low!"
All through western and northern
| Somerset and Piscataqus counties,
| there are living today many men who
have a lively recollection of this
quaint, unique character.
So far as I know, he enjoyed the
reputation of being a kind-hearted and
generous man His cabin door was
always open to the tired, hungry way
farer, and his wants supplied so far
as circumstances would admit.
He would go on foot and out of his
way to relieve his suffering fellows
whom disease or accident had over
taken in the far-away forests and lum-
bering regions of northern Maine.
Mr.. Ellis continued to follow his
favorite pursuit down to a ripe old
age He made his last hunt in the
autumn and winter of 1865. In De-
cember of that year he was taken i'll
at his Home Camp, and after being
sick there for three weeks, he walked
and crawled over the ice, a distance
of about ten miles, to the house of
Samuel Hartford who lived on the
Sand Bar, so called. Noice of his sick
ness was sent to his home, and Jacob
Leeman of Abbot, an intimate friend
of the old hunter, taking someone
with him, started for the lake. On
arriving at Greenville they were
obliged to wait a few days till the
ice became strong enough to bear a
team. They then drove to the Sand
Bar, and making as comfortable a
chance as possible for the sick and
feeble man took him to his home,
where he died the following February
aged SO years.
OF Mr.. Ellis family l know nothing
except that his widow is now living
at the advanced age of SO years, and
that his son Otis. who occasionally
accompanied his father on his hunt
ing expeditions, became deeply in love
with a beautiful Indian maiden, a
daughter of distinguished chieftain
of his tribe. and. as current report
has it, married her. and so cast in
his fortunes with her race.
s. A. PATTEN
Skowhegan, Me, March %, 1898.