Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-10-10
HUNTING IN GREENWOOD.
HOW MUCH DAMAGE Is PRExsNrED

nv" "och DAMAGE Is PBEx1NfED
Frederick Wagner, the rr.ppssif the Gem
etsnyEEstch,nE sG: S;cs. &c &ChiI%.ss MoIes
All" Csssser ,ssaA Hi. I1ln ~sss Wsrs e: sses Ms"''
Very few people .ttbiiing through
: Greenwood cemetery. New York. have
, probably ever thought Of the place as a
hunting ground. The.most enthusiastic
sportsman would seldo4p think of pursu
ing his game in a modern burial place.
Nevertheless Greenwood cemetery is a
real hunting ground. The trustees have
known this for some time Believing that a
peaceful funeral ought not to he broken up
oy the reports Of guns or the swapping Of
steel traps, they employed trapper to ex-
; terminate, If possible, the mOles and chip
munks. Frederick Wagner, or. as he is
known in the ceustery, 1.-THE Mouse
Catcher, !" has filled this position since
1876. lie is native of Bavaria, a trap
per by trade" as lie calls it, and has
pursued his calling all his life. That he
has been successful in his calling is demon
strated by the fact that up to the begin
n!hg OF this month he has trapped and
terry alone.
|
Greenwood and inquired for Wagner. A
short man. we'll tanned, with grayish
whlskers, somewhat bent with age, hold
ing IN his hand short-handled spade, an
implement he always carries, was pointed
ont as the Mouse Catcher" or "Fritz,"
as he calls himself.
IL understand" said the reporter,
that you are the man employed to kill
all the animals in this cemetery? %
1ah,' was the reply, with q smile
which betokened pride in his "profes
sion," ~ kills 'em."
"Well," continued the reporter, 81
want to go with you on your walk through
the grounds to find out how you catch
these animals
Without reply, but with nod of his
head, Fritz" started off at funeral
trot, over tombstones and graves regard
less "! paths and NOTICES to "keep off the
grass"
How long have you been here ?" asked
the reporter as lie slipped and stumbled
over several graves.
"Ever since '7G. Ven comes here the
place vas just chuck up nit moles aud
mice and shipmunks. Now, der ist
hardly Won mole nor Won shipmunks.''
lie opened an IRON gate and walking up
to tombstone pointed to a hole under
meath one corner of the stone. Pulling
away little dried grass he disclosed a
steel trap at the entrance of the hole.
! Da,' said he, Strengthening himself
up, that's vat I ketch 'em nit. Dor
shlpmunks they get underneath dem
stones and they lOOsens der foundations.
One day man come to me, said he,
Fritz, der vas shipmunks in my grave
l gets my trap and vat you dinks-I ketch
fifteen shipmunks and Won skunk.''
What do you have skunks here ,"
Skunks % said Fritz, {. skunks and
shipmunks and cats and dogs and foxes
and plack mice.''
And do you trap cats and dogs ?''
Everydings. Ders nodings I can't
traps. see the tracks of cats-I follow
him up-rm bound to catch him."
Fritz }, then led the way to small
lot enclosed by hedge. A great many
cats and dogs get into the cemetery aid
kill the rabbits which arc allowed to run
at large there. They secrete themselves
behind these hedges and when opportunity
oilers . Jump on the rabbits. g Fritz -
pointed to large opening in the hedge
made by the cats.
L putsa big trap in front of that hole. and
tie tish's head to dat bush so dat it lust
hangs over dat hole. Der cats come.
reaches for dat fish. and shnap! the trap
has ketched him. Den comes along and
shoots him nit a puller. Cats is very
fond of cemeteries" Just then "Fritz"
stopped by the side Of grave, with little
tombstone to mark the spot. Putting his |
foot on the grave and striking it heavy
blow with his spade, as though he was |
afraid tho occupant of the grave might |
not hear him, ''Dere," said he, sis the |
grave OF the first mOuse-catcher in dis coun |
try
"But how about the black mice ?" asked |
the reporter, as he stumbled upon and |
nearly upset small marble statue. GLOW
many have You killed? ~
Fritz referred to little pocket diary
and then answered, "7,1S2. The oder
mornin' got 11S plack mice, cats and
dogs before breakfast. Some peoples gifts
SO oxclted bout mice. Der oder day a
gentleman cOmblains to der superinten
dent. lie writes big letter bout mice and
shlpmunks and skunks in his wife's grave.
set trap derc. l catch con shipmunks.
Peoples vas git SO oxcitedv'
But you haven't told me anything
about the moles. How do you catch them,
and after they are caught what do YOU do
with thcm?"
Fritz /" invited the reporter to his
house, little shanty just outside the
Cemetery fence Stepping down into the
cellar he rolled out two barrels filled with
mole traps. The "mouse-catchcr "
brought trap out of doors, dug hole in
the ground and explained how they were
set. 10 make them, cylindrical piece of
wood about eight inches in length is caro-
fully followed out. On one side is an {
opening about two inches square, through
which u plug is inserted in the opposite
sido of the cylinder. A string with t
knot in one end, running through this ,
hole and connecting with a spring outside.
is kept in place by this plug. A hole
equal in length to the cylinder, is dug in l
What is called the ''main road of the moe's
path. The greatest skill is required to dis t
tinguish tue main road - from anv a
which is only acquired by t
watching the habits of the animal. The /
cylinder, open at both ends, is then in Q
serted into this hole. connecting as we'll as y
possible the two ends made by the digging t
Of the hole. Before it is used the cylinder t
is filled with wet earth. Care is taken to 1
have the connections nicely made and t
the trapper uses tumbler to fill the CYL Il
nder tightly with dirt, less the mole c
should detect by the smell the presence of '
his hand in filling il. Then the earth is c
closely packed around the cylinder. A a
spring connecting with two fine wires '
carefully fitted into grooves at each end of u
lie cylinder is attached to the string con- 7