The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01
CAUGHT IN HIS OWN TRAP.
A Hunter Builds a Trap for a Bear,
and Comes near Perishing.

and Comes near Perishing.
From the Virginia (Nev.) Chronicle, Nov. IS.
A party of hunters from this city, who
have just returned from an expedition
into the Sierra Nevadas, about forty
miles from town, relate the following re
markable incident: On last Thursday
afternoon about three o'clock, two of the
party were on the trail of deer, which
led them into a remote favine in the
fastnesses of the mountains, into which
they had not ventured. The snow being
about two feet deep, and the walk being
very heavy, they became discouraged
and losidg all hope of overtaking the
deer, which they had wounded, they
abandoned the pursuit. On their re.
turn, one of them DISCHARGED his gun al
hare, and soon after faint halloo wa:
heard at some distance TO the right, as i
from some one in distress. Uncertain
whether they were mistaken, and had
not been deceived by the whistling ot
the wind, they shouted aloud, when the
cry was repeated.
As night would soon come on, they
held a consultation, and were about pro-
ceeding to their camp, three or fouI
miles away, concluding that the noise
was made by wandering Indians, oil
came from a party of wood-choppers
They started on, but soon a prolonged
and mournful howl was horne down the
wind and again reached their ears
They stared at each other q moment, and
then, by simultaneous impulse, turned
in the direction from which the sound
proceeded. They went out for some dis
tance foundering through the snow
down a precipitous descent which led
them into a gloomy canyon. As they
drew nearer, the voice of a human be-
ing could be distinctly heard calling for
relief They answered that aid was ap.
preaching.
The mans yells of misery changed to
cries of joy, and they could hear him al
intervals shouting, "For Gods sake
don't go away and leave mel' "Comc
and get me outl lam caught and starv.
ing" Still they could see nothing; but
guided by the mans cries. and cheering
answers as they advanced, they pushed
forward and at last discerned what seem.
ed to be small cabin built of logs
without windows or doors. The snow
had drifted against one side of the hut
nearly as high as the roof, and as they
could see no entrance, they went around
to the other side. As soon as the occu.
pant saw them he uttered exclamations
of the greatest joy, and explained his
situation by stating that he had built q
bear-trap and had caught himself in il
five days before. The door was made OF
heavy logs. and so arranged as to slip
down into its place from above. They
tried to lift it up, but failed.
Finally, by means of stick of tim
Der, which lay near by, they pried it ur
sufficient for the prisoner to crawl be.
meath. He appeared more dead than
alive, but by the judicious use of a flask
of brandy they were able to get him
to their camp about dark, where
their companions had a blazing fire
awaiting their return. The half -famish.
ed man ate revenously. He was sup
piled with plenty of hot coffee and
smoked pipe, after which his strength
somewhat revived, and he gave the fol.
lowing account of how he got into the
situation in which he was found. He
said his name was Thomas Way, and
that he had been engaged in choppine
wood in the mountains during last sum.
mer. Since the first snow fall, about a
month ago, he had frequently noticed
tracks of bears among the pine trees
and often tried to get a shot at them
but without success. At last the idea
struck him to build a pen, such as he
had often seen grizzly bears caught in
in Lake county, California, where he
used &c live.
He explained that bear trap is made
by building a small square house O.
heavy hewed logs, and covering it witt
a strong roof The door is of heavy
logs also, and slides mp and down il
!. grooves. When it is up there is an oper
entrance about five feet high and foul
feet wide. A sheep is killed and hung
up inside of the pen attached to a rope
which is connected with trigger, 81
that when the bear enters and seizes thu
mutton the door falls and he is Gagged
Way went to work and completed hi
trap to his satisfaction, and intended t.
bait it the same night. Having curl
osity to see how it would work, he wen
in and pulled the rope slightly, whel
. the door fell down.
He attempted to raise it, but was hor
ror-stricken and his hair stood on ent
when he found that he was unable t
bulge it an inch. He worked and strug
gled, but the heavy weight refused t
move. The pen worked only too sue
cessfully, and he was caught in his owl
trap. He yelled, shouted, called 70
, help, but knowing that he was mile
from a human habitation, and in savag
= locality where few persons ever ventuI
ed, he sat down in blank despair. H
, spent that night in agony, and got bu
r little sleep. 1t commenced to snow, bu
fortunately he had a heavy blanket over
coat which kept him comparatively CON
Portable. The next morning he com
menced to shout again until his thros
was sore, but was only answered by how
r ling of the tempest. He had set hi
gun against a stump outside and longe
I to get at it, that he might fire it off an
y attract somebody's attention. He 500
began to get hungry. His thirst b
quenced by thrusting his hand throug
It the chinks between the logs and rakin
a up snow and eating il. Thus day aft'
# day elapsed, during which his menti
s. sufferIngs were terrible. 81 tell yor
l. men," said he, Il thought of everythin
e I had ever done in all my life, from Il
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