The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-06-12
Ga. CasoAe,srt..

Cat Catolers.
-----------.--- 4----
1t was two hours before daylight
when a reporter. discerned an oddly-at
tired, humpbacked man sham6lino
through Mulberry street with a we'll
filled sack over his shoulder. Now AND
then q plaintive wall emanatod from
the bag, suggesting the idea of an inn
prisoned child, but although the curious
bit of deformity passed two patrolmer
he was not intercepted. Suddenly THE
man and the sack disappeared down q
damp cellarway. Resolving to fathom
the apparent mystery the reporter ven.
tured to express the opinion to an officer
that an abduction had taken place
under his very eyes. But this was re.
ceiyed with a hoarseE guffa from the
policeman, who dismissed the subject
with the remark, ttWhy, don't you
know him ? That's st9ld4Fuffy.' He
catches cats for living.
This certainly was q new phase of the
grim struggle for bread, and in order ia
learn the details Of this curious traffic
the reporter recrossed the street. hoping
to meet cold Fluffy ''Ewhen he should
emerge. After perhaps five minutes of
waiting the cellar door creaked dismally
on it's hinges, closed with a "bang. S'
and a moment later the old man slowly
climbed to the sidewalk. While he
stood wiping the perspiration from his
brow the reporter greeted him and ask
ed "hOw business - was:
every good, but awful tiresome, T
made good haul tonight, eleven cats
and all but one are black. But I nearly
broke my back again falling from wall
in Mott street."
"Then you . make asliving catching
| these animals 2'
"Well, don't work at nothing else,
so l suppose | make What you call q
living. But at this season of the year
have pretty hard scratching sometimes,
because most Of the east side folks keep
their cats in the house. at night, and q
fellow don't have much chance, But I
overcome the scarcity by little scheme
| OF my own, which find works very
well. Would you mind stepping into
my den a few minutes, and mi show
you how it is done ?"
The old man led the way down open-
| ed the door with some difficulty. and
ushered the reporter through narrow
hallway reeking with confusion of
odors, into room beyond. The walls
OF the apartment were lined with feline
skins arranged on stretchers," under
going the tedious process of '"season-
ing" rendering the atmosphere heavy
with foul efiluvia. Luz
There" said the old man, els nv
stock in trade. I branched out in this
business thirteen years ago in the city of
Glasgow, where I was! born. Before
that was rat catcher, but can make
more money by catching the rat catch
ers;, In the summer time I believe I
iUt'aiJ aV :" S1Os.VT arn,z pcUpIU
who like to sleep nights by bagging all
the cats can get my hands on. Busi-
ness is lively then. About this time /
have to breed the animals in order to
make living, and in the course of a
year l suppose l turn loose probably
fifty cats a month on an average. I
have place fitted up in the sub-cellar
expressly for this purpose, and there are
five litters of kittens down in the hole
now. Hear 'em squeal When they
are old enough to go alone, put doZ-
drop them in any likely garden where L
think they will thrive, and q few weeks
after gather 'em in. If I feed them
| all they would eat up all the profits.n
"What do the skins sell for 2"
All that's a leading question. But
L don't mind giving it away. Well, the
| skin Of black cat is worth all the way
from Is cents to 80, while a pure NAL
tese will bring about 40 cents. All the
| other varieties of brindle, yellow, tor
toise-shell, spotted, striped and white,
sell for from 10 to 20 cents each. 1t
| all depends upon their siZe."
Who are your customers ?"
The furriers. Of course, cat skins
are not used for furs, because the hair
pulls out easily, but they are in much
demann for trimming ladies' and child
ren's caps, clOaks, and hats.''
What becomes of all the cats you
i bring loIlo 20
~ dump them all in those barrels
you see standing over there. Each is
| connected with a hose to the faucet.
When they're all in l screw on the
covers and turn the water on. In ten
minutes the tragedy is enacted, but
allow them to remain twenty-four hours,
because water distends the hide and
makes it more valuable.''
" Are there many in the business 20
~ believe there are six now in the
city, but for time enjoyed mono
OpOly of the profession. don't know
how much they make, but if they all
operate as I do, they must fare pretty
well-say $700 a year"
| The reporter intimated before depart
ing that quite a harvest might be CLEAN
ed by appropriating the silver plate,
abOostcks, old shoes, and miscellaneous
paraphernalia thrown at these midnight
warblers, but the old man appeared
hurt and Indignantly repudiated SO low
q profession. mo-" he said on emerg-
ing again into the open air, !" 1 leave
that business to my immediate rivals
both Of 'em east side men,
| Fruit Growing In Russia.
An interesting fact about Russia is
that IN many Of it's coldest provinces