The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1881-03-18
JAY GOULD's MOUSE-TRAP.
rr,rom an Interview with jay Gould in the
Herald.j

grrom an Interview with jay Gould in the
Herald.j
am not an old man Today"
said Mr., Gould, ssbut New ork, even
within my recollection, has EXPANDED
i'm the most marvellous degree. MY
first visit to New York was during the
CRYSTAL Palace exhibition. l was 4
mere boy. 1 was foil OF ambition, and
l brought little thing with me from
nv country home that thought was
pnint. to make my fortune and revOlu-
tioniZe the world. What do you sup
rose it was ?'
81 am sure ! do not know
ssIt was,'' laughing heartily, ga
mouse trap" That mouse trap was TO
me the greatest thing in New YORK.
1t was not very big, but TOOK SO
much pride in tit was so precious I"
me-that had very handsome ma
hopany box made in which to carry IL.
I remember very well getting on one
of the street cars-I think 1t was on
the Sixth avenue line. L was Il iittie
more unsophisticated in the way OF
New York then than l am now. !
was anxious to see the city. 1t was Il
wonder to me, and l stepped out on
the platform to look at its blocks and
left my mouse tray on the scat. When
l got 10 the street, where l wished to
get off, l stepped inside to get 1T, and,
to nv horror, found that my mouse
trap had disappeared. Turning to the
conductor said: "Nhat has become
of nv box ~ "rhat box that was on
this scat y" eyes, ssWas it yours"'
"Yes." "Why II man who got out and
turned down the street above carried ii
of. If you run you will probably
catch him." / ran and caught him.
He was great, strong fellow, but l
collard him. ! really regretted that
had done SO, and tried to get away ;
but the fact is, one of my fingers acct
dcntally got caught in one of the but
tonholcs of his coat, and before l
could get Off there was a crowd around
us and policeman, who took us both
off to an adjoining station-housc. The
statements of the policeman and OF the
thief and myself were all heard. The
magistrate drew some nice legal aud
technical distinctions which came very
near costing me my liberty. While
the thief who stole my mouse tral
was committed for trial, was given
| to understand that, owing to my ina
| bility to furnish bail-fOr i knew no
one in New York then--I should be de-
tanned as a witness until tho trial came
off. 1t was not Il pleasant introduction
| to New Hork, but 1 have never forgot
| ten it. and its recollection has often af-
fordcd me good deal of amusement.
| Fortunately for me, there was n de-
tcctive in the place who had been
hunting my mouse trap thief for years,
and who had Il requisition from, l
think, the governor of Pennsylvania
| or New Jersey. lie saved me. l for
got to say that when, in the course O.
the examination, the box was opened
to verify the truth of the statement
and the pur!oiner of my great inven
ton found it was only a nouse-trap
his face assumed such an expression 81
disgust that l really could not helI
laughing at him, although l was at
the time in one of the most uncomfOr
table positions l sad certainly up to
that time been placed in. That mouse
trap incident got, of course, into next
days Herald. l remember the title OF
| the article very well--sEIOw Il Mouse
Trap Caught Il Thief 1t was the first
appearance of Jay Gould in the pages
of the Herald. 81 have been studying
this city, continued Mr.. Gould,
sever since that mouse trap exploit
and great as has been its growth in tho
past / predict II still greater develop
| ment in the future"