The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-01-07
THE TRIBUNE.
THE TRAPPER TRAPPED.

From the Virginia New Chronicle, Dec. 18th.
A party of hunters from this city, who
rned from an expedition
into the Sierra Nevada, about forty
miles from town, relate the following re-
markable incident:
On last Thursday afternoon, about
o'clock, two of the party were on the
trail of deer, which led them into.
remote ravine in the businesses OF the
mountains, into which they had not be-
fore yentured. The snow being about
two foot deep, and the walking very
heavy, they became discouraged and
losing all hope of overtaking the deer,
which they had wounded, they aboun-
doned the pursuit. On their return one
of them discharged his gun at hare
and soon after faint halloo was heard
at some distance to the right, as If from
some one in distress. Uncertain wheth-
er they were not mistaken, and had not
been deceived by the whistllng OF the
wind, they shouted aloud, when the cry
was repeated. AS night would soon
come on, they held a consultation, and
were about proceeding to their camp,
three or four miles away, concluding
that the noise was made by wandering
Indians, or came from party OF wood
choppers. They started on, but soon
prolonged and mournful howl was borne
down by the wind, and again reached
their ears They stared at each other
a moment, and then turned In the direct
ton from which the sound proceeded.
They went on for some distance, found
ering through the snow down preclpt-
GUS descent which led Them into gloomy
canon. AS they drew nearer the voice
of human being could be distinctly
heared calling for relief. They answer
ed that aid was approaching. The
mans yells of misery were instantly
changed to cries of joy, and they could
hear him at intervals, shouting, "For
Gods sake don't go away a nd leayeme!'
ssCome and get me out - 81 am caught
and starving!" Still they could see
nothing. But, guided by the mans
cries and cheering him with hopeful
answers as they advanced, they pushed
forward and at last discerned what ap-
peared to be small cabin built of heavy
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 occupant saw them he uttered ex-
carnations of the greatest JOY, and ex
planned his situation la a few words, by /
stating that he had built a bear trap and
had caught himself III it five days be-
fore. The door was made of heavy
logs, and was so arranged as to slip
down into its place from above. They
tried to lift it, bat failed. Fiually, by
means of stick of timber which lay
near by, they pried it up sufficiently for
the prisoner to crawl beneath. He APP
peared more dead than alive, but, by
the iudicious 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-famished man ate ravenously
He was supplied with plenty of hot cof-
fee and smoked pipe, after which his |
somewhat revived, and he gave
the following 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 chopping
wood in the mountains during the sum-
mer. Since the first snow fell, about a
ago. he had frequently noticed |
tracks of bears among the pine trees, |
and had 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
III Lake county, California, where he
used to live. He explained that the
bear trap if made by building small,
square house of heavy, hewed logs, and |
covering it with a strong roof. The door
is of heavy logs also, and slides up and |
down in the grooves. When it is up
there is an entrance about five feet high !
and four feet wide. A sheep is killed |
and hung up inside of the pen attached !
to a rope, which Is connected with'a |
trigger, so that when the bear enters |
and seizes the mutton, the door falls,
and he is Gagged. Way went to work and |
his trap to his satisfaction,
and intended 30 bait it the same night. !
Having a curiosity to see chow it would
work, he went In and pulled the rope
when the door fell down. He