Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-01-17
B. SAVANNAH TENNESSEE, THURSDAY,


twenty miles long, which it was neces-
sary to traverse every day. The traps
weighed three or four pounds, and
were like those used in catching musk
rats, nowadays. The traps were placed
under the water in the crossings OF the.
streams. In order to attract the beaver
powerful odor was used, such as the
oil of roses, bergamot, or the castoreum
of the beaver itself. The bait was
placed on stick, which was set in the
bank and connected with the trap by
rope. In it's effort to reach the stick
the beaver stepped into the trap, and
while struggling to free itself was
usually drowned. The traps were
provided with floats, so as to be easily
located the next day. The beaver
never goes abroad except at night, and
it was necessary to observe the utmost
precaution in order not to arouse his
suspicious, rs his power of scent are
beyond those of any other animal. We
were obliged to wade to the spot.
where the trap was to be set being
careful that the hand should not come
into contact with any part OF the ap-..
paratus exposed above water. Many
successful hunters were failures in
their efforts to catch beaver. The
game often escaped after being shared
by gnawing off one of its legs. At the
close of three months a successful
trapper was often able to show pack
of one hundred and twenty beaver
skins, weighing about one hundred
pounds. As he made two trapping
expeditions during the year, in the
spring and fall, he would show two
hundred pounds worth six dollars q
pound, as his years work. In addi-
ton to this the musk stones OF the
beaver were worth as much as the
skins, so that some men made $4,000 a
year as trappers. 1t was poor tra2-
per that didn't earn half as much"
"They must have become rich?'
"But few of them ever saved any
money. The traders from the States
charged enormously for supplies, and
Western men were inveterate gamblers.
Sugar was $3.50 q pound, coffee the
same, tobacco cost five dollars pound,
and common shirt could not be
bought for less than five dollars. With
-four at one dollar pound and
luxuries in proportion, it was a ques-
ton of but few days at the rendez-
vous before the labor of months was
used up. The traders were often
called upon to fit out the men upon
credit after a prosperous season"
Speaking of the sagacity of the
beaver, Mr.. Ward told of tame
beaver at Bent's fort, on the Arkansas
river. This animal was caught when
young and became perfectly docile,
being great favorite of the families
at the fort and of the trappers wher
they returned from their trips to the
mountains. The little fellow could
never be cured Of his instinct to builC
dams. He actually undertook to dan
the Arkansas river, and worked fol
months all night long, returning to The
fort every morning as the sun rose
: He cut down quite number OF large
, trees, but life proved too short for tn,
completion of his plans. While arount
the fort he was constantly turning
over every kind of vessel that con
, tanned water and collecting sticks t,
head it off rs it flowed away. On,
t night by oversight the beaver wa
l locked up in the warehouse. During
the night in nosing about he discoveries
O ten-gallon tank of molasses that hat
been left uncovered. That discover,
, proved poor Jacks doom. TIE mex
, day he was found gasping for life, hav
+ ing been caught in the sticky mass a
the tank was upturned. He never re
covered from the shock, and was ten
: derby buried in the presence of a larg
l circle of his former friends,