Year: 1879

THE BEAR TRAP MAN.-Hanging on one of l the shade trees at the corner of Michigan ave- nue and Park place is the biggest, most evil minded, and malicious minded bear trap ever turned out by the hand of man. It standsfour feet high, has chain seven feet long, and it l takes stout man and lever to open the jaws The former owner of the trap arrived in De- troit night or two since, having come all the way from Toronto, and having offered his bear trap for sale toticket agents, conductors, brake men, travellers and landlords He was told that there was great opening and pressing need in Michigan for his lone trap, and he came on here to sell it by the yard, pound, or most anyway, and he was willing to take $10 down and a mortgage back to secure him for the other $15.

 About 8 o'clock in the evening the man with his trap took position on Michigan avenue, near Class street, and in ten minutes had crowd around him. He opened the trap and sprung it for the benefit of numer curious minded, and when the teeth came together everybody for three rods around felt his back hair lift up.

 ''This ere bear trap needs no enconiums from the press," explained the stranger as he pried open the ponderous jaws for a fresh spring. Clergyman furnish no testimonials as to its merits-almanacs haven't word to say in it's favor-I have never advertised it cents worth, but if thar's man in this crowd who thinks it won't hold bar just let hin put his foot on the spring pan! Are you troubled with bars? Then buy this trap. Does you neighbours dog dig up your pet strawberry plants? Bel old the remedy Does your hired girl have her uncle come to see her one night-her cousin the next-her brother the next, and so on? Then don't delay, but secure bargain while you may"

 The police drove him off the walk, but he took to the centre of the street and said:

 ''I'll warrant this trap to tackle anything that lives, from a burglar down to mousse If it ever fails to go off I'll walk 100 miles to return the money. It is better than lame husband for widow; it knocks the socks off a burglar alarm :; it gives a shotgun half an hour the start and catches up before midnight, and the price is"

 Right here came climax Somebody in the crowd encouraged a big spotted dog to wade in and chew up two peaceful Newfound- lands and in minute there was three cornered fight and hair flying in all directions. The crowd had to skip out and give 'em room, and the man with the trap called out:

 ''Shy lem off-shy 'em off! If they roll in- to that bar trap they'll be chawed to death in minute !"

 But they couldn't be shied Some one just screamed out that if his dog was chewed up It would cost the owner of the trap $50 bill, when the bundle of canines rolled between the jaws and the machine went off. In the rush and amidst the yell the owner of the trap lit out. They wildly called for him to liberate the bowling dogs, but echo answered. When it was proposed to wollop him he wasn't there to be wolluped. The police finally got the hang of the thing and gave the imprisoned dogs chance to limp away, ard the trap is now being held for it's owner. If this meets lis eye let nlm come in the night and take it away and convey it to Toledo, where COWS and pigs and bears and wolves and geese roam at will and ache for chance to put foot in it. -Detr Ott Free Press.