HISTORY OF THE NEWHOUSE TRAP. 209 



or cartes de visite, but traps. At seventeen, Mr. Newhouse 

 felt this need, and in the absence of other means of obtaining 

 a supply, he set to work to make them. The iron parts of 

 fifty or more were somewhat rudely fashioned in a black- 

 smith's shop, and for the steel springs the worn-out blades 

 of old axes were made to serve as material. A mechanic 

 of chance acquaintance showed the young artisan how to tem- 

 per the springs. The traps thus extemporized proved, on the 

 whole, a success ; for they would catch, and what they caught 

 they held. After the season's use, they were sold to neigh- 

 boring Indians for sixty-two cents apiece, and the making of a 

 new supply was entered upon. These in turn were sold and 

 replaced, and thus the manufacture of " Newhouse Traps " 

 was launched. 



During the next twenty years Mr. Newhouse worked at 

 trap-making, sometimes alone and sometimes with a partner or 

 with hired help. The extent of his manufacture was from 

 one to two thousand traps per year, which supplied the local 

 demand, and procured for him a reputation for skill in what- 

 ever pertained to wood-craft. During this period he also en- 

 gaged to some extent in rifle-making ; and his amateur pro- 

 ductions in this line, being noted for their shooting qualities, 

 were considerably sought after. The working season was 

 generally varied by a trapping excursion to the " Brown 

 Tract " or to Oneida Lake, which improved his practical in- 

 sight into the details of trapology, and also gave the slightly 

 woody flavor to the man that is observable in his taste and 

 ways. At certain seasons he is still subject to a periodical per- 

 turbation, tending towards the North Woods, which, though 

 now but seldom indulged, is a sure sign that he has some time 

 been a liege follower of one of the three ancient Rods. 



O 



There are allusions made by the neighbors to feats of 

 strength in wrestling, running, &c., formerly performed by 

 Mr. Newhouse. Such is the traditional anecdote of a thor- 

 ough taming given by him to one or two big Indians who, 

 in a state of drunken pugnacity, forced a quarrel upon him 

 in the street. But, not having verified these stories, and Mr. 

 Newhouse being himself reticent on such subjects, they may 

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