Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1926-09-22
DUCK HUNTING.
Strange Adventure of Two Els
worth Men at Graham Lake.

| Strange Adventure OF Two ELS
worth Men at Graham Lake.
Strange adventures are frequent
and doubtful stories are often told
Sometimes the listener finds II
necessary to accept story with 6
grain of salt. Following is a tale
which from appearances, requires
more than one grain of salt, yet the
honesty of the persons implicated
forces one to accept it for truth
The evidence is convincing, too.
Saturday morning, Frank Ander-
son and Hugh Campbell Of Ellis
worth went to Graham lake on a
duck-hunting trip. It was early
morning, and dark when they left
Mr.. Anderson's Ford beside the Wal
than road and padded out on the
| lake in a canoe. Shortly after day
| break, the hunters commenced
| operations.
A quacking in the bushes close by
the shore, located the first duck.
| Anderson got his gun in readiness,
and when the bird left the water,
fired 1t was clean miss. He,
naturally, was disappointed, but he
promised his companion that the
next one WOuldnt escape.
Soon, more quacking announced
the presence of game. Mr.. Anderson
was prepared, and when the second
duck left the water and sailed into
view, he stood up, sighted the flying
bird, and pulled the trigger. There
was a loud report, a louder splash,
and Anderson was in the water.
Mr.. Campbell was close second, as
the canoe capsized.
Anderson cleared the canoe, but
"Hughie" was not so fortunate,
coming. up beneath the overturned
craft. Here he found an air space
which afforded him a breathing spell
and a chance to expel a great guam
tity of water which he had swal-
lowed against his will. In the mean
time, Anderson was struggling with
a pair of rubber boots and a sheep
skin overcoat. Then Campbell
cleared the canoe and came to the
surface. Both men were relieved to
see each other but Anderson's first
remark was IT got the duck!"
About 1875 yards of water, choked
with underbrush and decaying vege-
tation, lay between the hunters and
dry lduu. hey loohOu ouO"' ~
help and discovered a small island
nearby. Kicking and splash1ng,
they reached it, only to discover that
the island was delusion and
snare-a floating island which would
not bear their weight
This was a hard blow, but both
men were fighters and refused to
give up. Anderson removed his
boots, and between them they bailed
some of the water out of the canoe
Then Anderson left Campbell hang
ing on an alder bush, and padded
ashore to dump the canoe. While
waiting for his return, "Hughle'
was confronted with new danger.
A large and ravenous family of
bloodsuckers discovered his pres
ence, and set out to have hearty
breakfast. Mr.. Campbell was
strongly opposed to the idea, and
with a stick fought them off until
his companion returned and rescued
him.
The men had floundered around
in the cold water for an hour. They
promptly came to Ellsworth, where
hot coffee, secured at the Anderson
Inn, did much to brighten their
spirits.
Ordinarily, this would complete
an exceedingly interesting story, but
it doesn't in this case. Sunday
afternoon, Mr.. Anderson and Mr..
Campbell returned to the scene of
their adventure to reclaim their
guns. submerged in ten feet of
water. They were armed with a
long garden rake attached to pole.
Anderson secured his first, after hsh-
ing for it only two and half hours.
Then at last "Hughie" located his
double barrel twelve-gauge hammer
less shotgun, and commenced pull
ing it toward the surface. When 1t
was within about two feet OF the
canoe. he reached down to grasp 1t.
Something happened! He had
hooked the rake into the trigger
guard, and the gun exploded when
he reached for it. The conclusion
was terrific. The canoe was almost
lifted from the water, and bubbles
and dead fish appeared on the sur
face for yards around.
Both men glued their eyes on the
bottom of the fragile canoe, expect
ing to find a geyser of water rushing
through, but it was intact. The gun
was a total loss. One barrel was
split wide open, the other looked as
though it had been wrapped around
a tree. "Hughe" is not discouraged.
He takes an optomistic view. 1T
is better to lose your gun than your
life" he says.