The New York herald., 1879-08-31
CAT HUNTING IN THE PARK.
HOW VALUABLE GAME HAS TO BE PROTECTED
FROM THE MIDNIGHT RAIDS OF MARAUpING


FROM THE MIDNIGHT RAIDS OF MARAUpING
FELINEs-sToRY OF NIGHTS SCOUTING.
little over month ago the attention of the Com
missoners of Parks was called to the destruction of
game in Central Park by large number of cats and
dogs that prowled through that during the
night Ned Tilford. old down East sport. was
then appointed gamekeeper of the Park. armed with
q gdouble barrelled shotgun and ordered to shoot
every cat and dog he saw. Up to the present time
about one hundred and afty of these animals have
met death ut his hands. few evenings since
HERALD reporter accompanied the keeper on one of
his shooting expeditions. The moon was just
rising when the pair atarted and the sky was clear.
81 never shoot at the Same thing twice." said the
hunter cts too darned early yet for shootn
Cats is queer kind of an animal. They don't liko
to stir till all the peoples gone, ye know know
what it III be blamed near 'leven afore we spy one
on en-"
( Presently thick hedge surrounding a restaurant
came into view The faint NEW of cat was heard
which caused Ned" to pull both triggers back to full
cock.
eve must do little scoutin'. now," he whispered.
motoning me to tread lightly.
"Nolseessly stealing through the bushes we sue
ceeded in getting sight of the cat. which stimuli
taneously caught sight Of us and turned tail. Bang
went the right hand barrel OF the dispenser of
death. and when the smoke cleared away the feline
was seen struggling with death behind an ash
BARREL
''Too late this time." said the gamekeeper. ad-
Hardly had the words been uttered when q corpu-
lent lady appeared on the tragic and identi-
fed the remains as those Of her "dear Jimmy"
"Oh, you heartless villain! You horrid man!
dead Jimmy!" she exclaimed.
Ned as he rammed another dose Of shot
down the empty barrel; "These pesky critters
park what ye could hardly step without treadin'
on en- Why sware II they didn't eat the game
fastor n it hstchsd used and rabbits with their
heads eat clean of m. and birds oil chewed pieces
Las night shot whopin' gig wild un over on the
west side. She were just iuggin' big fat rabbit
PArIENcM REWARDED.
AT eight o'clock. descending steep hill by rugged
path what seemed to be little village in hollow
was encountered. Four small rough board build
ings. piles of lumber bricks and farming imple-
ments gave it the appearance of ming town in the
Il never .r, struck this place afore, said the cat
h%n'es Ss4 v nos i sarn be here I'll
of this ere huntin' is y keep sharp
stretched Himself at full length ON .rss Goer
and the reporter took up commanding position
upon log. After watching and waiting for one
hour and not cat appearing the reporter began to
nod. when the report of the gun brought him to his
senses. The hunter dropped his gun and ran toward
Upon seeing the animal, which not yet dead, the
reporter at once proceeded to pick it up when TIL
ford sprang forward and exclaimed. don't touch
it. for Gods sakel"
"WhyY
"The bite Of cat or dog when dying is doubly
While scouting In the edge Of the bushes the sus-
picion OF one officer In gray uniform was excited.
hunters.
., moh, no! Ned by love- it's you. is it9 Well, to
couple Of rabbits" said the officer.
"Its cats and dogs we want" replied the hunter.
BAGGING TWO TADBIEs.
At half-past O'Clock in the morning Ned
seated himself upon bench near the Sixth avenue
entrance to the Park. and about two O'Clock there
was rustic in the bushes, and two large cats
stepped cautiously out into the rootpath The right
barrel of the shotgun again spoke and one Of the
animals lay down. The other barrel followed and !
the remaining cat lay down by the side OF it's
panion.
The gun was reloaded and, after carrying the cats
out to the edge OF the drive, the Seventh avenue
entrance visited. Presently large dog came up
the path. and about bidding adieu to the Park
Turning from the path he ran crashing through the
bushes. yelping and bowling with pain. 1t proved
thought that it frequent visitor. as he had OF
late found large number of rabbits dead.
A WONDERFUL CAT.
The moon was now going down. and it was be-
coming difficult to distinguish an object thirty feet
distant. While seated on bench the Seventh
avenue entrance large black and white tom cat
came the wall. and before it struck the ground
was apparently dead. Half hour later the animal
got up and trotted of down the path. The hunter |
brought it to u standsti second time with another
charge Of shot. Its head was fairly riddled. At
three O'Clock the same cat stood and walked three
ieet. gave u loud cry and died.
THAT Is the darnedest cat that seed - said
Ned. after making post-mortem examination of
the body. Il guess this IL his ninth life though. |
for see eight already tallyed on its back. He |
were too late this time though"
Business is gettin' darned dull.' said Tilford. |
I'D jis like fer Z get one more afore mornin."
Something white came rustling through the |
bushes 1t looked like large white cat and when 1t
came in range the hunter fired. Not a sound save |
the report OF the gun heard. On examining the
bushes the white object proved to be copy OF the
HERALD of the 10th inst. When the hour OF Ave ar
rived Med gave up his hunt. having killed ve
and one dog.