Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-04-30
Ca,EK AZ # AIRS.

MAN TRAPs'-We have indisnc recollection
OF having seen somewhere in this good city, many
years ago, rough sign board with the words oman
TRAPS HERE" rudely painted thereon. We incline
to the opinion that this board ornamented the front
paings OF lot in the lower portion of The cv Who'll.
y devoted to the cultivation of choice fruits; but are
not sure that our memory US. Full well we re-
collect however, that the omnous words made deco
impression upon our boysh fancy. We ina ined the
garden to be OF unlike that of the tabled Hesperides
which, lift did produce golden apples least bore
apples which were convertible into gold-and which
was guarded, not by dragon, but by some subtle me-
| chanlcal contrivance known as "Man Traps" Not
oeng possessed of the proves of Hercules and feal
log no desire TO lest the capacity ofhe "Man Trans"
we we'll recolect the great degree of caution with
which we approached the fence for the purnose Of
gratifying an anxious boyh desire to see the WONDER
lui contriVances which rendered the garden nvoIate
careful survey OF the premises did not reveal to our
ssh1 even the outlines OF an "mierna machine" and
we quieuy lett the fence with the impression that the
cruel owner had so arranged the "Mar Traps as 10
capture nteropefs unawares and at all te'approactes
From" dan Traps" our thoughts naturally wandered
TO wards the inventor and to the owner of the garden
"hom we Imagined in our pnoiarce tote stern. &C.
we're man, whose ohdurate heart filled with esh'
an lshmaelre, indeed, whose hand had been raised
~7o'"os hio iaCe. aaS! now deeply WrOnped that
man by even these boysh suspicious time and exne.
rience has proven He deserves to be remembered
as beneactor This kind, because he took the trou-
bic to warn all ransgressors of the dangers theyen
counered in violating the moral law That sipn.bosrd
all rude and unseemly though it was might ius,lv ba
regarded as lamp the feet OF the -farino man
How many M an Traps there are even in this moral
c lty, whose precincts unguarded bv even ride
sign board, we leave others to determine Our own
ooser vation teaches US thai they neither few nor
lar between. But set out with the DETERMINATION r.,
describe species of" Man TRAPS" which opr orch;.
tects and builders too pene TO set in all horizons
ofthe city, and which are really great grievance
On the corner OF Main and 18th streets as all "te
Town are aware, an Unusually deep foundation has
been dug Tor the purpose OF erecting tenement which
snail overshadow even the "American hotelo ;ndoino
from the massiveness of the stone walls which are
no" slowly gong up as supports to the towering ia
pflc Inc excavation for this building cost the live,
OF two human beings and unless the yvorknoer .ro
cse greater care in placing barriers around this deep
'hough not pottoness pit, other lives will be sacrificed
before the walls reach the level of the street For the
purpose OF dir ectlng attention to this matter we NAV
inehuon mat on Sunday night alb out 10 O'Clock white
man IN passing up 18th street walked into this founda
tlon and narrowly escaped death. He fell about %
leet. his back striking the foundation wall: but. being
a. eiastlc as whalebone, bones were broken. The
eooo oamarltans engaged in the Times office heard
'ne poor mans groans, shortly after falling and render
Gu ,h every assistance. Lights procured, and
OF valor performed in rescuing the sufferer
rom his unfortunate position. On being placed nm
on his legs, he thanked his preseryers and daclarna
MS ability to walk mped off He appeared 10 be res
pecable citizen, Of sober habits and one well acouaot
ed with the city. How he escaped with whole bones
nay, how he managed to escape instant destruction
seems almost miracle. We trust this stupendou-
Man Trap" may be eperly guarded for the future
Let barrcades be placed around nightly and proper
regard be the paid the limbs and lives of the citizens