Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-03
TOMPKINs' ADVENTURES.

bringing His Tack Cat to the Ne,c York
Cut Sho,c-1 1Midni0ht Encounter IN a
-Woseun.
II read in the papers, said Mr., Tomp-
kins to a New York 7imes reporter, tthat
there was to be a great cat show at a
museum in New York and that handsome
prizes were to be given for the best CATS
Now, had cat that would take the first
prize, it was very large Maltese, and its
strong point was that it ate tacks. 1t
lived on tacks. 1t ate two or three papers
a day-eight-ounc ten ounce, no matter
what size, it ate them all [ knew
that cat would take the first prize, and ]
brought it down to New York. I had
never been to New York before, but I
went to Il hotel and went to bed. On
Monday morning before went out left
word with the waiter to have the ,cat
fed with tacks. He started at first as if
he thought was crazy, butt happened
to have two or three in my pocket, and
when I gave them to the cat. and the
waiter saw him eat them, he was satisfied.
So then I came out to see the city. At
dinner time, when / went back to the
hotel, went up to my room to see how
the cat was getting along. How do you
think he was? He was dead Yes, sir,
he lay stretched out on the floor, dead as
door nail. There were two empty take
papers on the floor. I sent for the waiter
and asked him about the cats dinner, and
he said, he had fed him the two
papers Of. tacks, just as had told him. I
picked up one Of the papers off the floor,
and then it was all clear enough. What
do you think that careless waiter'd done?
Yes, sir, he'd fed that cat tacks with
leather heads. OF course, that killed
him; it would kill any cat. You never
saw cat in your life could eat tacks
with leather heads, nor no other living
man. Well, it was all up with the cat,
and there was nothing for it but to box
him up and send him home"
''Did you get all these cuts and bruises
in misunderstood with the waiter?"
the reporter ssked
''No," said Mr.. Tomkins, II was coming
to that. It was late in the evening when
] got the cat boxed and ready to go to the
depot. and them Invent down to the cat
show. When I told the manager the
sack cat was dead he was the disappoint-
eldest man I ever see. I thought he was
going to cry, and he says to me: Go
right in, Mr. Tomkins, it shan't cost you
cent No man as has met such loss
as that shall pay me money. No, sir;
walk right in went in and looked at
the cats and things. 1t was pretty late,
and when was, in a room in the third
story all the lights, went cut like flash
turned off in the cellar, you know. There
wasn't no one elsein the room where was
and I thought it was abols time to go.but
when went to go down stairs there.
wasn't no stairs there. I'm sure went
70 the very same place where I'd come up
but the stairs was gone. So I was IN for
1t. What to do didn't know. I telt
around in all my pockets for a match.
Without any fooEn' I'd g gin half dol
lar for match. 1t must have been an
hour or more that l was trying to find
she stairs, and at last gave it up, and
Topped right down on the floor for a rest.
| don't know hesw long I'd sat there, but
I must have gone to sleep. All of sud-
den | was woke up by hearing the most
frightful noise close to my ear. Itsound-
ed like some wild animal. It went pref
ty regular, like breathin', and I was
afraid to stir for fear it would spring.
After while, though, put out my hand
to see if could feel it, and where do you
think my hand went? Well, sir, if my
hand didn't go straight into some wild
animals mouth, right between his teeth,
then never owned tack cat But he
didn't close on it quick enough, and I
jerked it out; you better believe. I got
away quick, and ran across that room.
I was bound to find the stairs, whether
or no. and l found them. / didn't find
them till struck the last step, though,
and that's how l got this bruise on my
cheek"
'you mean you fell down stairs?"
Cell down? Yes, that's it. Then /
didn't know which way to turn, and ]
went three or four steps ahead, very care
full like, and first thing knew touched
a mans arm. It was sticking out straight
and think he was waiting to grab me
! ] saw through in a minute. They'd
got me up there and turned off the