Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1869-06-10
A Cat in q Cof11n-Re.
markable Scene at q
Funeral.
From the New York Star.

terday OF a singular event, which
created no little excitement among
the crowd of persons who wit,
messed it.
1t appears that on Wednesday
last an old lady named Jane Sim.
mons died at her residence in the
aboVe-named street, after a linger.
ing illness. Among the chief
mourners over the demise of the
old lady was a venerable cat, the
property of the deceased. Upon
the head of the feline the SHOWS
of 15 winters had fallen. Du-
ring this period she was a con-
slant member of the family of the
deceased. As might naturally be
supposed, "Old Tab" was held in
high esteem by the members of
the household, and especially by
the old lady, whose affections for
the cat knew no bounds.
Puss' love for the old lady was,
| also, Of the most ardent charac-
| ter, and this affection was accus-
toned to manifest itself in a va
riety Of forms. During the old
lady's illness "Tab" was a con-
| slant watcher at her bed aide,
and seemed to watch the progress
of the fatal disease upon the de-
crepit form of the old lady with
as much interest and sorrow as
did the members of the household.
The least undue noise in the old
lady's room was sure to elicit a
growl of disapproval from puss.
Did the shutters slam under the
influence of the night wind, puss
was the first to exhibit concern
thereat. Puss was old and her
joints were stiff, and a score of
rats might have executed a May
pole dance around her body with
out a thought of serious conse-
quences. Yet strange as it may
appear, old Tab became impressed
with the idea one day that little
stewed pigeon wouldn't do her
mistress any harm, and conse-
quently made a successful raid one
night upon neighboring rookery.
The captured bird was brought
carefully home and Deposited by
The bedside of the old lady, and
the next morning was con-
verted into soup by the cook, the
old lady declaring that she had
not tasted food half as savory for
months previous.
Well, the old lady died. Up
on the heart of the venerable fe-
line the blow fell with crushing
force. The remains of the de-
ceased were duly cofined and
placed IN the room so long Occu-
pied by the old lady. Yesterday
the funeral services over the re-
mains were being held, when an
event of a startling character oc-
Cured, which sent thrill of hor-
ror through the veins of every
mourner present. Just as the cof-
fin was being removed from the
house to the hearse, a sound, as if
caused by movements of the corps
was heard. The sound resembled
that made by person drawing q
board.
The coffin was placed in the
hearse, and the pail bearers return
ed to the house, where a consulta-
ton was held, when, after due
deliberation, it was decided to
bring back the remains and un-
fasten the lid of the coffin, for the
purpose of ascertaining the cause
of the mysterious sounds. This
was accordingly done. The coffin
lid was opened, but there lay the
remains Of the old lady, as tran
quill in death as when first depos-
tied in the box. The next step
was to remove the entire ton of
the coffin. Then the mystery was'
thoroughly solved. Upon remov-
ing the top board the mourners
discovered, lying at the feet of
the corpse, the dead body of the
old cat. She had crawled under the
lid of the coffin during the previ-
Gus night, and the noise which
alarmed the pall-bearers was her
death struggle. The animal had
smothered..