Eagle River Review (Eagle River, Wis.), January 15th 1909
Specter Moose Again.
King of Maine Woods, Weighing 2000 Pounds, Being Sought by Many Hunters.
Again the king of all Maine moose, sometimes called the specter moose, because of the weird appearance of the grey monster at night, has been seen near Lobster lake, and the news has made all the sportsmen, native hunters and guides anxious to get a shot at him.
The average weight of Maine moose is 800 and 900 pounds, with antlers spread 4 to 4 1/2 feet, and 8 to 12 points to a side, while 8 or 9 inches is good length for a bell, the appendage under the animal’s neck. All who have seen the big moose of Lobster lake, however, aver that he must weigh 2000 pounds, and that his antlers spread not less than 10 feet, while the bell is declared to be not less than 18 inches long.
The latest report of the giant moose is brought to Bangor by George H. Houston, a timber cruiser, who saw the big fellow with sixteen other moose.
It was in 1901 that this moose was seen first by Clarence Duffy of Oldtown, a guide, who was cruising around Lobster lake. Duffy did not get near enough for a shot, but he could see him plainly, and gave a detailed description of the animals when he came back to town. Everybody laughed at the story, and Duffy was set down as a romancer. Not long afterward, however, John Ross, a Bangor lumberman, while crossing between Big Lobster and Little Lobster lakes, saw the big moose. When he told his story people began to believe that there was something up there worth shooting at.
For some years hunters searched the woods in vain for the big fellow, but not until 1905, was the monster seen again. Granville Gray, a Bangor taxidermist, got sigh of him at a little distance, and since then he has had a second view. Gilman Brown of West Newbury, Mass., got nearer to the monster than any of the others and shot at him. Brown says the moose stands 15 feet high. Like most of the others, Brown saw the moose at dark. He got several shots at him, but he does not think he inflicted serious wounds. He was so close that he could count twenty-two points on one side of the antlers, and thinks there are more.
From all descriptions, this moose is like those of British Columbia, and some think he may have wandered into Maine from some distant point over the border. – New York Times.
Disclaimer: This 1909 newspaper article was published prior to 1931. Under United States copyright law (specifically the 95-year rule), this work has entered the public domain and is thus free to use or republish. It is presented here as an interesting and folkloric newspaper oddity.
Source(s): https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn85040614/1909-01-15/ed-1/?sp=7
Categories: Newspapers, Ghostly Animals