By Jeannie Maschino

Copyright berkshireeagle

A pair of wandering sheep climaxed a three-week travel vacation from their Hancock fold by plunging into the frigid water of Pontoosuc Lake yesterday afternoon. They were rescued through the combined efforts of a lakeside dweller, state police and SPCA Agent T. King Haswell.

The wooly wanderers, a ram and a ewe, were spotted by a woman on Sunrise Street at the Lanesborough end of the lake, ambling toward the waterfront. She called state police after the pair jumped in the water and started swimming toward Baker Farm.

Troopers George Nelson and Malcolm Baker responded to the alarm along with Mr. Haswell from the SPCA shelter on Cheshire Road. Using a row boat powered by an outboard motor they were able to haul the exhausted animals out of the water about 200 feet offshore.

Mr. Haswell said the sheep were near the end of their endurance and would undoubtedly have drowned if help had not arrived when it did. When the animals were brought to shore they were too weak to stand. Mr. Haswell said he never heard of sheep taking a swim for fun, and ventured the opinion that they must have been forced into the lake by dogs.

It was later disclosed that the sheep had been reported missing three weeks ago by their owner, Corcoran Campbell of Hancock. They had apparently walked 10 miles over rugged Brody or Potter Mountains, living off the fat of the land during their long, adventuresome journey.