The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1883-08-15
PUSSY SAVES A MANS LIFE.
A Sleeping Miner Warned of Danger by
Claws That Are Usually Unltind.


Vincent Morgan lives up at the head of
Grizzly Gulch, about six miles from Helena.
He keeps bach, and his only household
companions are a cat and a dog. few
evenings ago he was down TO Unionyille
until after night and while there drank
glass or two of beer, but not enough to
affect him. About eight O'Clock Morgan
went home, accompanied by friend, who
stopped and took supper with him. After
supper the two friends smoked aud talked
awhile and then the guest continued his way
to his own cabin, farther up the gulch.
Morgan washed his dishes carefully, put the
kitchen in order and then lay down On his
bunk to read. His cabin consisted of two
rooms. One of these was used for q
kitchen, and from this door led into back
room which was used as a sleeping chamber.
From the back room there was no outlet ex-
cept through the kitchen or else through o
email square window at ono side of the
room. Into this inner room Morgan went
and, taking off his coat, lay down upon his
bunk to read. His dog and cat went to
sleep in their accustomed places-the dog
under the bunk and the cat on pile of
blankets. Morgan was tired the room was
comfortable and in a few moments he read
himself to sleep.
How long he had been sleeping he does
not know, when he was partially awakened
by the cat scratching gently at his arm.
Obliyious to everything else except that he
was being disturbed Morgan drowsily push
ed the animal away and slept on. Again
the cat scratched him and again he pushed
her away. This was repeated several times
Finally the cat became thoroughly in earn
est and, springing upon the sleeper's breast,
began to claw him vigorously Morgan
awoke with start and, rising up in hrs
bunk, saw with CONSERVATION that his cabin
was on fire and that he was almost sur
rounded by the flames. The partition be-
tween the two rooms was blazing brightly,
and the kitchen-as he could see through
the burned door-was Redeemed with hot
glow, which showed that the fire had been
in progress there some time. All chance of
escape in that direction was shut off, and
the only remaining outlet from the sleeping
room was through the little square window
mentioned above and even this was sur
rounded on all sides by flames which were
spreading rapidly along both sides of the
room and beneath the roof. A moment
more and his bunk would have been on fire.
ALI this his eye took in at a glance, and
knowing that every moment lessened his
chances for escape he took the cat in his
arms, and calling the old dog, which was
sleeping peacefully beneath the bunk, he
dashed through the flames and sprang out
of the window-not, however, without be-
ing painfully burned about the face, head
and neck. The dog sprang after him. The
cabin, with all its contents, was consumed.
Mr.. Morgan related the above circum-
stances to reporter of the Independent
who met him on the street. He looked like
man who had been through a fire. His
hair and whiskers were singed, his face was
blistered and his ears were almost crisped.
He said he had come down to replenish his
wardrobe, for the fire had left him without
even coat. eyes" he said, everything
had was burned except the dog and the
cat, and as for the cat, propose to save up
enough money to buy her gold collar, for
II il hadn't been for her I would not be here
talking to "--Montana Independent.