The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-12-12

begins, but it is useless. The trap noid3
with a steady "trip of iron and STEEL the
limbs of the victim are fearfully lacerat-
ed. nerves are broken ami bones cruplble
as the battle goes on. Then the trapper
comes out Of the alders ani heads
straight for the trap and its victim.
The Final Agony.
1t is the end, and the little creature
realizes It He turns and faces the ap-
preaching form. The silence which in
stinct imposed before is broken. and the
squeaking throat sends out Its notes OF
agony and fear-an appealing cry-ptr-
haps the initial manifestation Of nat
ural religion, cry for mercy to a higher
power which rudimental soul dimly and
unknowingly describes amid his terrible
surroundings. But there Is no mercy.
The blow descends. Another dollar is In
the purse OF the trapper, and another
patch added to the fur robe of tho fair
dweller in come distant horne of pride
and luxury.
In the trapping of the mink, the musk
rat, otter and all animals which frequent
the waer IN search of foods and amuse-
ment games which would delight the
heart of a child take up much of the time
of all the smaller wild animals) the pro-
cedure Is practically the same. But when
1t comes to taking the larger creatures
who make their homes on the uplands and
range over large districts, It Ia far cif-
ferent
The wolf is one of the most difficult
OF the woodland tribe to add to the prof
It's of the trapper. He traverse great
areas, sees much of men and their con-
trivances and as a consequence Is more
skilled In avoiding their snares The wolf.
like the others, is mostly caught in traps.
of larger pattern and even mere cruel
fangs. Poison is also largely employed.
But the total tally of wolf scalps 10 not
nearly as great as one would expect, for
he is much sought after. Tho state pays
a bounty Of SO for his destruction, and in
many places farmers associations add to
It Besides his hide is worth as much
more. Spurred by this incentive. the
quest for him is SO unremitting that 1t
behooves him to keep his wits about him,
and he does.
Catching tho Wolf.
The trap into which the outlaw of the
forest is expected to plant his big paw il
baited with a rabbit or some other
delicacy calculated to tempt his appetite.
and attached to the trunk of tree, so
that it will hold fast when the struggle
comes 1t is set out in locality known
to be infested by these ferocious crea-
lures, who prowl nightly for prey in the
everlasting effort to satisfy a hunger
sharpened to the cutting edge by a gal
lop through the woods which can tire the
fleet foot of the deer or the giant strength
of the moose as the lowing brute hangs
league after league upon the flying traces
of his quarry When the wolf comes to
the nicely baited trap he is not keen to
seize his repast, for ne has learned that
things are not wont to come so easy,
and that when something in the way of
free fare is offered there il Niger in
the fence. He wonders greatly at such
prodigalty when he knows that ever
since he was a pup II he could not get his
dinner by hard knocks he must 60 hum
CRY. The memory Of the innumerable
times when he was forced to appease his
hunger with field mice rushes back to
him, and while his half-famished nature
cries out to seize the proffered morsel, to
take what is at hand and ask no question,
he argues that 1t Is not the part of pru-
dence, and draws back. He circles the
spot stealthily for half an hour, inspects
every place where a foe may be con-
cealed, shifts the air for the scent Of an
enemy. and again approaches the trap.
Nearer, this time, he comes. He is within
a few yards of the rabbit now, and hum
ger crying more undeniably than before.
| The bait is examined with eyes as sharp
and nose as keen as the famine that is
torturing him, and IN spite of the call of
nature nine times In ten he trots of into
the forest leaving it untouched, for he
| has discovered something that warns him
that man has been there and that to eat
| Is to die.
The Fatal Mistake.
! But the tenth time is the fatal time. If
the trap has been laid with sufficient
care, If everything II as nature would
leave 1t, and the bait apparently the vic
| tim of accidental death, he approaches
within few yards. The traps are ranged
| in circle around, and before his long,
slim muzzle is within yard of the food
there is sudden click, the leaves swirl
away from thel ascending jaws. the wolf
makes a movement as II to leap but the
| iron has already clamped like wise upon
stout forepaw. He is caught.
Lobo does not submit tamely. There is
mad scramble. always in silence but for
the clanking of the chain. he tugs wildly
to get away, but another trap snaps as
he steps into it, and he IL held fast. His
savage nature Is now aroused, and he
bites the steel in an effort to break Its
hold. Often he will gnaw OF the captive
| paw and thus free himself, only to limp
into the woods and perish but If he has
become entangled in two traps there il
no chance for him to even gain tempo
rary, MANNED respite. and he il forced to
await the coming of the man with the