The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-24
BEMIS'S COON STORIES.
Mr.. A. F. Shirts Says They Are Not Ac-
curate, and Gives Few Reasons Why.

To the Editor Of the Indianapolis Journal:
In your issue of June 10 you copy from
the New York Sun an article from the pen
of John Bemis claiming to be an early set
tier i'm Indiana, and, excepting George Pitts,
apparently claiming to be the great
est hunter and trapper of the time. Mr.
Bemis does not give the date of the Won
derful performances related by him. Pre-
sumably, however, it was in an early day.
My people were among the first settlers
of this and Marion county. and 1 naturally
read all Renaissance articles coming to
my notice. 1 do not propose to question
the honesty of friend Bems, but do chal-
lenge his recollection. He does not describe
the trap traps that he and Pitts baited
with wild turkey. Two kinds of traps were
used by the hunters and trappers of that
day. The most common was known as
the pole trap, for coon. Within the present
limits of the city of Indianapolis and over
the county generally numerous swamps
were to be found, some of them covering
an acre or more Of ground. Some of them
were called buttonwood ponds. Into these
ponds numerous forest trees from time to
time. had fallen, and many of them were
covered with moss. These ponds in those
days, were the natural home of the frog.
Now, if there was anything in the eating
frog; consequently, when springtime came
the ice was broken and the coon was ready
TO begin his depredations. The frog was
ready at evening time to pipe his music;
the coon danced upon the old moscow
cred logs in the pond. and very readily
made good meal on frog. These moss
covered logs were selected by the trapper
as the proper place for his pole trap. The
pole-trap outfit consisted of two saplings,
the proper size, each pole being trimmed
of its brush on one side, the remainder
across the old log, two stakes were then
driven securely in the ground on one side
then the second pole was laid on top;
large chunk of wood was thrown across
the ,bushy part of the poles to hold them
proper length, to insert between the poles,
holding the upper pole sufficiently high
What was called the string trigger was
then attached to a small thong or string.
of the stakes, the other end to the string
trigger. The string, in the setting, was
drawn tight, covering the log from side to
Of frog some part of his body was sure
to strike this string. This would throw
the trap, and the coon was caught. No
bait of any description was ever used. This
was the trap of the primitive hunter.
The other traps used were known as
to catch coon; they were used for the
wolf, the fox, otter, beaver, etc. Coon skins
!
but not in cash; it was trade. The hunter
got his whisky, his powder and lead, and
other trinkets for the household. Mr.: Be-
mis- forgets that the turkey supplied the
table of the pioneer with meat, and was
very valuable. Cows, at the time of the
Pitts trade, were worth from IS to $3.50
ever, did not matter, as it was simply trad
ing a COW and calf for a coon dog. Bernis
the manner in which Pitts lost his coon
dog. Uncle Abe Bowen. Col; Dan Heaton
the Brooks. old man Pogue and others
trapping. and who We're famous in their
day and time, would laugh to hear of los
ing a good coon dog by the porcupine's
carried in his Shot pouch a pair of steel
nippers TO remove porcupine quilts. and in
that line they were more expert than the
Pitts may have been a great hunter and
trapper. but if so the hunters and trappers
of Indianapolis failed to learn the fact,
as his name was not mentioned in that con-
nection around the hearth or campfire of
those known TO be hunters and trappers.
Bemis comes nearer the mark when he
he misses the time about fifteen years.
Abraham Bowen settled near Broad Ripple
i'll 1920. lived there many years, and was
a great hunter and trapper. If l am not
mistaken Mr.. Bowen claimed to have
caught the last otter ever caught in this
part of the State. AS TO muskrats / be-
could and did trap and shoot more musk
rats than any other man. To those who
are familiar with the lives of the early
sounds decidedly fshy, but he may have
concluded that all the old-timers but him.
self have gone. Be that as ii may, his
the easiest prey to the hunter craft whilst
the fox was apparently the hardest, Bemis
to the contrary Notwithstanding
Nohlesville Ind June