Martinsburgh Gazette

Narrow escape.—Mr. John Ellis, of Mercer, (Maine) a celebrated hunter, recently had a dangerous encounter with a large moose, near Moose river. When discovered, the animal took to the river, and the hunter to his canoe, and started in pursuit of him. Having approached within six or eight rods, he fired, and the ball taking effect, the moose made for the shore. Mr. E. having reloaded his gun, proceeded in search of him. The moose was soon come up with, and, rather unexpectedly, Ellis had approached within twenty or thirty feet of the animal before he discovered him—he instantly fired, but being somewhat agitated by finding himself so near the moose, missed his object, the ball entering a small tree which intervened between them; whereupon the moose immediately made at him with desperate fury, taking him between his horns, one of which entered his clothes near his waistband of the pantaloons in front, and passed out near his chin, and the other at the small of his back, taking the skin in its course. While in this dangerous critical situation, the moose made 4 or 5 bounds with him, clearing a rod or more at a leap, when his clothes giving way, he fell to the ground. The moose passed over him, and after going 15 or 20 rods fell and expired. Mr. Ellis received considerable injury, but trifling compared with what might have been expected from the circumstance in which he was placed.