Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-06-11
The ereat ssarylapa Blaek ca. cas.

This tremendous case is now pending be-
fore iddcfaf tribunal of the Slate Of Ma
r. IdnE, IIsa 7teeents many remarkable fed-
tires OF the Ingenuity and speculative capaci-
ty ot the defendant n me cIsEy.
benefit of the legal profession and gentlemen
generally who may wish to enter a new field
of speculation, l will give u short history of
the case as | heard it
Some few years ago gentlen! n of Mary
land conceived the idea that an Immense for
tune could be realized by the rearing of
black cats for the sale Of their skins. The
principal obstacle to the plan the imPos-
sibility OF keeping the animals together and
preventing them from wandering off, as their
activity, assisted by the penetrating qualities
OF their claws, would enable them to defy
any inclosure; and at last after much think
ing. the idea suggested itself to his mind that
water was the only barrier that the cats would
not pass. Being in possession of an island
that appeared to be just suited for the exper-
iment, he found all obstacles to the success
OF his plan rem oved, ana set about organiz-
ing the affair.
He employed an agent, and put out Cir
cular, in 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 Chesa-
peak bay, and the negroes got hold of it
In yery short time all the black cats thro'
those counties were stolen by the negroes
| and sold 10 the agent, who had depots estab-
! shed at different convenient points. Old
| ladies' missed their favorite CATS, and mourned
them as dead-but the negroes, inciied by
| the price offered spared none. In this way
one hundred and fifty black cats were coll
| lected and transported to the island; and the
agent took ue his abode there like another
| Robinson Crusoe. as superintendent and
guardian of the cats. Those animals appear
ed to enjoy themselves vastly when first put
on the island. and spent their time IN either
playing with each other, or hunting birds oil
ground mice; but at last their game failed
them, and having no other supply of food
thew became hungry and desperate; ;atId roam
ed about the island in large bands yelling fol
food. They at last became dangerous, anL
the agent wrote to his employer a statement
of these facts, accompanied By request to
know how he was to feed them. He wrote
back for the agent to set couple OF negroes
to work to catch and open oysters for the
cats, which order was carried out. The catt
having the alternative to eat oysters or star
vation before them, very naturally chose the
former; but, not being accustomed to sucf
unnatural food, a species of cholera broke
out among them, ard one-ha1f died
This Calamity drove the sGF1iVors mad, ant
tHev either committed suicide, or, In TT o
desperation swan to the main land. FIT anl
rate, they disappeared, and were never hear
of more.
The agent thea wrote agaih' TO his employ
7 er TO acuuaint him with the result OF thi
new treatment, which news was accompaffie'
) with modest request for the payment G
} his waees-for this cat experiment occupied
u space of upwards of a year The latte
e was SO indignant at the conduct of both tn
: agent and cats, that he fatty refused, an
= the consequence of his refusal was a Sni
t brought by the agent to recover his wages
C This suit has been defended for some tw
: years, and during its progress have becom
acquainted with the facts.
}. AS far as the theory OF the speculation
e went, it was magnificent idea. The ski
of the black cat is worth in Boston 80 cents
: The cats, | am told, cost the agent just tha
r sum. 1t was supposed that they would II
+ crease exactly ten-fold per aunum, The
e say, first year, number of cats, 100; seeon
e year, 800; third year, $4,000; from whic
g there could be obtained 5000 toms for salt
e bringing $4,000. and leaving ten stock cal
k remaining, which, at the the above ratio {
n increase would give the fourth year the emo
= nous sum of 100000 cats upon the ISLAM