Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-02-27

GAt btOry.
The st. Mchaels Cralbot county Md Comet
tells the following story, which sounds imposs-
ble but the Comet gives it as true and we give it
for what it is worth 3
An enterprsing Yankee has purchased an island
in the Ohio river and stocked it with black cats,
intending to oppose the monopoly of the Hudson
Bay Company in the fur trade. A similar expert
ment was tried many years ago by a gentleman
who resided In MARYLAND and with as much sue
cess as the Ohio river Yankee is likely to meet
with. We will state the circumstances as they
are related for the benefit of those who desire to
make profit from :" Cat Islands"
This Maryland gentleman took up the idea that
rs the fur trade was so very lucrative, it would be
more profitable and better TO raise fur bearing
animals nearer home than the frozen regions Of
the North, and accordingly purchased Poplar
Island, in the Chesapeake Bay-but few miles
from where we now write--and stocked it with
the blacklist of black cats. He paid extravagant
prices for the animals, and all the boys in the
surrounding country OF Bayside, Kent Island and
adjacent districts went extensively into the bisi-
ness of entrappng the unsuspecting felincs, which
were Immediately sent to the aforesaid island
The gentleman soon had lcgions of cats on the
island-a perfectly black, without even SO much
as one white hair
soon Obliged to employ two men to live on the
Island and fish with seine to supply them with
food At first the fishermen had an easy tiule,
and readily supplied iish in abundance for their
charge. But the number daily increased, until
vast legions of black cats trooped over the island
home devouring everything IN the shape of food,
and the fishermen found 1t impossible to supply
them with the requisite amount OF nourishmenI.
The two men at last became alarmed, and deter
mined to apply for succor from their perilous
situation. One Of them took u boat returned to
the main land, and reported the alarming state of
affairs.
During the absence of the messenger, the cats
became exceeding bold and the remaining party,
fearing his life, locked himself up in the cabin,
and prepared for siege. The enemy, emboldened
by this display of fear, and urged on by hunger,
surrounded the house. climbed up the sides,
staring at the aifrghted man through the win
dows and creviccs, keeping up the while most
hideous caterwauling. He carefully stopped up
every creyicc except the chimney but, hearing
and seeing an ominous falling of SCOT, which dis
closed determination on the part Of the besieg-
Ing force to effect surprise, he closed that OPEN
ing also and, Micawbet-ke. waited for some
thing 10 turn up" For two days and nights he
was kept in this singular prison, with the dread
full howls of iamished cats ever resembling in
his ears, and with savage eyes garng at him
constantly.
At length party arrived with guns and suc-
ceeded in reseuing the man from his truly awful
position, but so numerous Were the cats so fierce
their aspect and threatening their demeanor that
both the lescuers and the rescued were only tno
glad to leave this pandemonum of jet bla, K eats
The animals, 1t is stated, all persisted, and thu.
ended one of the most extensive cat rearing ven
lures ever recorded.