Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-01-27

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mingled with ferocity, appearing to take
their coloring from the scenes and objects
which surround them. Knowing no wants
saving those of nature, their sole care is to
procure sufficient food to support life, and
the necessary clothing to protect them from
the rigorous climate. This, with the as
sistance of their trusty rifles, they are gen
orally able to effect, but sometimes at the
expense of great peril and hardship. When
engaged in their avocation, the natural In
stlnct of primitive man is ever alive, for
the purpose of guarding against danger and
the provision of necessary food
/ Keen observers of nature, they rival the
beasts of prev in discovering tue
habits of game, and in their skill anu cum
ming in capturing it. Constantly exposed
to perils of all kinds, they become calous
to any feeling of danger, and destroy hu-
man as well as animal life with as little
scruple and as freely as they expose their
own. Of laws, human or divine, they nei-
ther know nor care TO know. Their wish
is their law, and to attain it they do not
/ scruple as to ways and means. Firm
friends and bitter enemies, with them it is
ga word and blow," and the blow often
first. They may have good qualities, but
they are those of the animal and people
/ fond of giving hard names call them re-
vengeful, blood-thirsty drunkards (when
the wherewithal is to be had), gamblers, re-
gardless of the laws of meum and tUum-in
fact, "White Indians" However, there
are exceptions, and Ihave met honest noun
tain-men. Their animal qualities, how
ever, are undeniable. Strong, active, har-
dy as bears, daring, expert in the use of
their weapons, they are just what uncivili-
zed white man might be supposed to be in
brute state, depending upon his instinct for
the support Of life. Not hole or corner
in the vast wilderness of the eFar West"
! but has heen ransacked by these hardy
men. From the Mississippi to the mouth
of the Colorado Of the West, from the fro
zen regions of the North to the Gla in
! Mexico, the beaver-hunter has set his traps
in every creek and stream. All this vast
country, but for the daring enterprise of
/ these men, would be even now a terra in
/ cognifa TO geographers, as indeed a great
| portion still is; but there is not an acre that
4 has not been passed and repassed by trap
| pers in their perilous excursions. The
! mountains and streams still retain the names
assigned to them by the rude hunters: and
these alone. are the hardy pioneers who
/ have paved the way for the settlement Of
| the western country. ..........
Trappers are of two kinds, the ''hired
hand" and the Stree trapper:" the former
hired for the huIt by the fur companies !;
the latter, supplied with animals and traps
I by the company, is paid certain price for
his furs and peltries.
There is also the trapper 0on his own
hook" but this class is very small. He
has his own animals and traps, hunts where
he chooses, and sells his peltry to whom he
pleases. - .a. L.. ....e.s .... 90.
On starting for hunt, the trapper fits
himself out with the necessary equipment,
either from the Indian trading forts, or from
some of the petty traders-coureurS des bois
who frequent the western country. This
. equipment consists usually Of two or three
horses or mules-one for saddle, the other
for packs-and six traps which are carried
in bag of leather called trap sack. Am
munition, few pounds of tobacco, dressed
deer-skins for moccasins, &c, are carried
in wallet of dressed buffalo-skin, called a
possible-sack. His ''possibles' and strap
sack" are generally carried on the saddle
mule when hunting, the others being pack
ed with the furs. The costume of the trap
per is hunting-shirt of dressed buckskin,
ornamented with long fringes; pantaloons
of the same material, and decorated with
porcupine-quils and long fringes down the
outside of the leg. A flexible felt hat and
moccasons clothe his eXtremites. Over
his left shoulder and under his right arm
hang his powder-horn and bullet-pouch, in
which he carries his balls, flint, and steel,
and odds and ends of all kinds. Round the
waist is belt, in which is stuck a large
butcher-knife in sheath of buffalo hide
made fast 10 the belt by a chain or guard o.
steel, which also supports a little buck-skir
case containing milestone. A tomahawk
is also often added; and of course, long
heavy rifle is part and parcel OF his equip
ment. had nearly forgotten the pi pc.
: holder, which hangs round his neck, and i.
! generally gage d'amour, and a triumph o
: squaw workmanship, in the shape of {
heart, garnished with beads and porcupine.
; quills. ...... .......s ..,. ..''....-.,
) Thus provided, and having determinec
: the locality of his trapping-ground, he start
to the mountains, sometimes alone, some.
| times with three or four in company, a
soon as the breaking Of the ice allows hin
, to commence operations. Arrived on hi
I hunting-grounds he follows the creeks ant
, streams, keeping sharp lookout for ''sign.'
Ii he sees PROSTATE cottonwood tree, ht
examines it to discover if it be the work o
beaver-whether ''thrown" for the pur
pose OF food, or to dam the stream. The
! track OF the beaver on the mud or sand un.
/ der the bank is also examined and if the
! ''sign" be fresh he sets his trap in the rur
, of the animal, hiding il under water, ant
attaching it by a stout chain to pickle
driven in the bank, or to brush or tree
! A "hoat-stick" is made fast to the trap by ;
, a cord a few feet long, which, if the ami
: NAL carry away the trap, floats on the wa
, ter and points out its position. The trap il
| baital NTH Tho ss,na1,c,no on - 4