Evening journal., 1909-05-05
REBUILD HOME WITH MONEY
EARNED BY WOMAN TRAPPER

MILFORD. Del. May 5--rhad. Wind
sor. OF Milford. dealer in animal hides.
was driving over Sussex county on a
mission that had muskrat skins as its
special objective.
At a small farmhouse on Cave Neck
he discovered 800 or more skins. all nice
~ cured and ready for the market The
farm was that Of James =. Jones. but
when the buyer arrived he found that
Mr.. Jones was not az home.
Mrs Jones was az home, however, and
she promptly informed the buyer that
the hides were hers that she alone had
trapped the muskrats. and that she was
ready TO trade on satisfactory basis.
when the deal was concluded Mrs.
Jones had received something like $50
for the skins she had collected. That
amount she ioyfully announced. would
20 long way toward building the new
house she and her husband were plan
ming.
Mrs. Jones might be called tho cham
pion woman trapper Of Delaware. AL
though she does all tho houseworlS at the
farmhouse and attends 20 the needs OF
her three children. she hnds time TO go
out on tho marshes and trap musk
rats.
Two years ago James j. Jones, hard
working young farmer. arrived home one
day 10 find his farmhouse burned &C
the ground and all hiH possessions sweep
away by the Ore. II was then that thl
Young wife resolved 20 help. and som,
day. perhaps. have another home.
Not word or complaint was heard
The young man and woman went over tr
another part Of their farm, which COW
cred many acres OF the marsh land close
20 the Delaware bay. down IN what IS
known as Cave Neck and started "a
live once more IN the little one-story
tenant house which they had left when
they went 70 the better house.
II was last fall that Mrs. Jones be-
thought herself OF the money 10 be made
from muskrat hides. These little ami
mails. abound throughout that end OF
Sussex county. and all her life she had
been used 10 watching them and hearing
her father tell Of his prowess with the
traps.
The idea came 70 try her hand at the
work. and although her husband laugh
ed when she mentioned the matter, she
went ahead with her preparations and
finally. one frosty day I'm December, sci
her first traps
Every morning donning her rubber
boots and long rubber coat, with a wooler
scarf tied around her head and ears
she sailed forth 10 her traps Wher
the season was closed IN The middle OF
March. Mrs. Jones found that she had
over 300 skins 10 her credit, and wher
they were sold they brought close &c
SI5o In roadv money
Starting Their Home.
When n friend called 10 see her recent
ly. he inquired for her husband. and
with JOY I'm her eyes. Mrs. Jones answer
ed that he had gone TO Milton for load
or lumber, for, at last, the work had com
menced on her new house. They eN
pect Il 70 be finished by summer NJ
matter how small or how III favored
compared with brownstone mansions.
that house will certainly be a create
pleasure TO Mr.. and Mrs. Jones than an,
house ever built before.
Mrs. Jones Is slender woman, no
over 80 years Of age. with bright ant
pleasant face, Thinking nothing Of he
achievement she is exceedingly modes
with regard to her trapping powers. al
though admitting that she knew wher
to place the traps and had done bette
than any in the neighborhood.