The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-11-27
TISSIE WITH Az OTTER.
4 Peunsy iSania Hunter VINO Set Trap
AMI Ganght . Lawsuit.

] = Fe0uss " AOla bhA1mtrE WIN NV sd"P
| and Canght . Lawsuit.
/ HARRISBURG. Pa. Nov. "a Wallace
I Dixon. trapper. residing in Bardwel!
| Bradford county. discovered signs OF an
otter in a stream near his home. something
he had not seen or heard Ut in many
year. said Col. Parker, who keeps track
Of the doings Of hunter folk in this Stat"
and tells about them so he lost no time
| in setting his long idle otter trap.
-Orville NJ. Billings. farmer. and lead
ing citizen Of the Bardwell neighborhood.
knew nothing about otter signs or otter.
and wasn't aware that wallace Dixon
had set a trap for one Of those creatures
along the Bardweil Creek Fhe morning
after the trap was act he discovered "A
large. very sleek and exceedingly angry
animal trying to make Roadway across
country handicapped by steel trap on
one OF its forolegs.
Farmer Billings determined to kill tho
animal. He got a club and approached
the beast with much confidence and 40
little watchfulness. for before he fairly
knew what was going on the otter had
taken firm hold OF his leg and with a
peculiar twist had Topped him fat IN the
snow.
ding thing was onto him and all over
him, IL seemed to him. before he had tim"
to think. gnawing and clawing and snap
ping and snarling and growing. like a
consumed wildcat AL mad dog both to-
ether
soon rs no could think little Farmer
rs made up his mind not to kill tn"
animal bu: to- &c, away from there ~ soo'.
a. he could He kicked and pounded and
thumpad until h. managed to make
opening of sufficient size between him
and the otter to enable him TO get to his
feet, Then h. turned In leave the otter
to itself.
The otter took positive hold OF III"
farmers leg again and absolutely re-
fused 10 let him go away. Farmer
Billings couldn Z GO without his leg. and
so he was forced TO STAY therr and resCu"
th, leg IL he could Farmer Billings was
Of the opin ion thai the work of rescue
lasted more than quarter Of an hour.
hut whatever The exact time might have
been. the snow was covered with the
min gled blood Of the farmer and the otter
when the work was done and the otter
Law pounded ont 81 existence.
-Shouldering the hard won trophy.
Farmer Billings limped with il 10 his sled.
turi bled the animal aud the trap into it
and drov. home. where he was promptly
pat TO bed and doctor was sent for.
When Trspper Dixon went out that
morning to look at his otter trap. hope
fully hut not confident. he was r.jolced
although his trap was gone. He knew
that the trap wouldn't have gone away
Of its own volition. and he knew there was
no likelihood that any other animal than
an otter could have got into IL and walked
on with it. No Trapper Dixon started on
the trail feeling more citation than any
trapper in that part Of the keyst one State
had had occasion TO feel in many a year
He followed the trail a long way and
at last came tn the spot where the maker
OF the trail had been intercepted nv som
on. saw the sanguinary evidences Of
thu ott.r's struggle with that some ona,
and woke TO the melancholy fact that
the some one had not only gone Oh with
Ihe otter but with the trap As well
But III foller him up. Trapper Dixon
declared. IN foller him and git that
him all over the State Of Pennsyivany'
Farmer Billings lived only two miles
from the scene Of his interference with
the handicapped wild beast and Trapper
Dixon traiied him straight home. IN"
doctor in the meantime had been Their"
and patched Farmer Billings up. But
the farmer was far from feeling well
-Trapper Dixon went into the house
and without delay said to Farmer Billings
that he had come after that trap Of his
and the otter that was IN il.
And I'm obleeged 10 YOU like every
thing. Farmer said he. fer stoppin Of
en- as they went
Farmer Billings thought tn. matter
over little and then he remarked IN
effect:
We'll. Dixon said he. ii that's your
trap you are welcome 20 H. but all I've
! got to Jay IL that you're mighty careless
leavin II layin' around where CrIttsr-
like that can git into IL II u hahn
been for me there's no tellin' where fh..i
! pesky beast would have mgged u 4"
And in re~cuin' that trap ] came iinE
your trar and welcome and you're l'3yky.
You want to he more careful with IL
Farmer Billings had the trap brouCn'
in from the woodshe,i and IL was handle
over To Trapper Dixon
But where's the otter; he wanted 20
I kI,ow
If that's the critser that was in 49,
trap replied Farmer Billing~ I'm gov
10 keep u for my trouble It's MINI. TT
| ketched il
And although Trapper Dixon .g.'
Farmer Billings before Squire CapH"lI
recover the otter Squire Capw.il d.rI.t...
that the farmer had right 20 the amin.
according In law and equity. and he -.
it, T"lt for more than enough To G"t
new sJ7It ~ Sunday gn-tC- meeting cIu'.
io take tr. place ~ th. -iiii the fight Sl'a
tn" otter put out 81 business
isiE salmon Caught with ~.
from no Fnh