Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-06-09
SELECT MIS- CELLAN Y.
From the Washington Union.
Fhe Great Maryland Black Cat
Case.

inense fortune could be realized by the
rearing Of black cats, for the sake Of their
sxins The principal obstacle to the plan
was the impossibiity Of keeping the ami.
tials together, and preventing them from
wandering of, ss their activity, assisted by
the penetrating qualities Of their claws,
would enable them to defy any enclosure;
and at last, after much thinking, the idea
suggested itself to bis mind That water
was the only barrier that cats could not
pass. Being in possession Of an Island
that appeared to be just suited for the eE-
pertinent, be found all obstacles to the
success Of bis plan removed, and set about
organizing the affair:
He eppoyed an agent and put out
circular, il which he stated that he would
give so much head for every black cat
that could be got. This advertisement
was circulated through all the counties
bordering on the Chesapeake Bay, and
the negroes got hold oft. 10 short time
All the black cats through those counties
were stolen by the negroes and sold to the
Agent, who had depots established at diff
ferent convenient points. Old ladies mis-
sed their favorite cats. and mourned them
as dead-but the negroes melted by the
price offered, spared none. In this way,
one hundred and fifty black cats were col
lected and transported to the island; aud
the agent took up his abode there, like an-
other Robinson Crusoe, as superinte ndent
and guardian Of the cats. Those animals
seemed to enjoy themselves vastly when
first pat upon the Island, and speat their
time in either playing with each other, or
Aing birds or groundmice; but at last
the sthe failed them, and having no
other supply offood. they became hungry
and desperate, and roamed about the is.
land 10 large bands, yelling for food
They at last became dangerous, and the
agent wrote to bis employer a statement
Of these facts, accompanied by arequest to
know how he was TO feed them. He
wrote back to the agent to set couple Of
negroes to work to catch and open oysters
for the eats which order was carried out.
The cats, having the alternative of oysters
or starvation before them, very naturally
chose the former; but not being acoustic
med to such unnatural food, species Of
cholera broke out among them, and one
half died.
This calamity drove the survivors mad,
and they either committed suicide, or in
fit Of desperation swan to the main land,
At any rate they disappeared and we're
never heard of more.
The agent then wrote again to his en-
ployer to acQuaint him with the RESULT Of
this new treatment, which news was ac
cvmpanied by modest request for the
payment Of his wages-for this cat expert
rnent occupied space of upwards OF a
year. Tho latter was so indignant at both
the conduct of the agent and the cats that
he fatty refused; and the Consequence of
his refusal was suit brought by the a.
gent to recover his wages. This suit has
been defended for some two years, and
during its progress | have become acquan
ted with the facts.
As far as the theory of the speculation
went it was magnificent idea. The skin
Of the black cat is worth in Boston fifty
cents. The cats l am told cost the agent
just that sum. 1t was supposed that they
would increase exactly ten fold per annnm.
Then say first year, number Of cats, $50
tecond year, 1900; third year; $4,000,
from which there could be obtained 5000
tons for sale, bringing $4,000, and leaving
10000 stock cats remaining, which at the
above ratio of increase, would give the
fourth year, the enormous sum Of 100 900 |
CATS upon the island; after which, all the
surplus, over and above the last number,
were to be caught in box-traps, and the
skins sold to the Boston funiers. This
stock Of 100000 cats we're to produce l,
900, 900 per annum, aud the revenue con-
'sequently to be derived from the island
would be in the neighborhocd of $4,000,
900 per anuum.
The principal drawback to the enter
prise was the inability of the cats to organ.
ize or band together for the purpose Of as
sistiug each other, and thus facilitating
their hunting operations; SO, after deep re-
fection upon the subject, it was determi-
ned to import a couple Of wild cats from
South America, whose adnixture with his
cats would not only add strength to the
BODY dhd value to the fur, but whose ex-
'ecutive qualities might be brought to bear
in organizing the original settlers into
large hunting packs-and thus enable them
TO successfully pursue the squirrels and
ground. mice with which the island aboun-
'ded;-and in fact, to teach these unforlu-
nate animals, who. torn from the com.
PORTABLE freside, were; of course, ignorant
of the necessities of savage life, the myste-
lies Of the chase. He readily found
friend willing TO procure him thenew cats.
Tn afraidthis friend regarded the whole
matter dc a Joke, but at any rate be was
faithful to his promise, and as soon after
his arrival in Rio ganelro as possible be
set some natives hunting who caught two
young tiger cats of extraordinary ferocity,
which be placed in a case and shipped to
Baltimore.
When he had slmost forg,ti The t,at-
Ter, be was surprised by The receipt Of q
letter apprising him Of the arrival of these
wild beasts. aud was requested ito come
FORWARD. pay charges and take them away"
He hurried into town and found these
young tigers about the size Of a medium
'setisf deg, and bill OF charges ofseveral