Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-03-17
A Coon and Cat Fight.

After wandering around for about
an hour and not hearing Sans dog
"chirp." says a writer in Turf, Field,
Farm, / concluded to rest for while.
l found an old log upon forty or fifty
feet square of table land, near which
was a small pool, supplied evidently
from a spring above. My dog nestled
down beside me, and Sam went on.
l had not been there many minutes
when "Cal," the dog, made a low
growl. | looked around, and short
distanced from me was a black cat,
the largest / had ever seen. | silenc-
ed the dog and called "Tom" kindly,
and he came up to me. After strok-
ing and caressing him for few mo-
ments, / noticed that he seemed inter-
ested in small sapling hard by, and
almost Immediately coon sprang to
the ground, as if to make for his lair.
"Tom" was too quick for him to ena-
BILE him to get far, for with about
two bounds he was ON the coon's back.
The coon tumbled to his fighting po-
sition OH his back and at it they went.
| was dazed for moment or two by
the suddeness of the situation, but as
1 gained my self-possession l jumped
to witness the fun. The fighting was
terrific. / had never heard such
screams and yells before. "Cal''
didn't seem to "want any of it in his" "
but he danced around as if master OF
ceremonies.
The cat seemed to be skirmishing
all over the coon from head to foot
and around him so fast that he look
ed like Spinner jenny" revolving
on the central spinal vertebra as a
pivotal point. This stage of the fight
lasted for some time, but as the
strength of the two began to ooze
their unearthly screams seemed to
pass down the gamut until they had
nearly reached subdued sobs. Sud
denly both became silent. Evidently
the cat had encounted a new system
Of tactics, and although fighting with
such lightning swiftness, he seemed to
have had some very rapid thoughts
upon the subject, and had formed his
conclusions. AS suddenly as the noise
ceased the cat stepped back pace.
My conclusions for the moment were
that the cat had been whipped, but
not so. Tom reared his back and
slowly elevated his tail. He poised
it for moment, and then commenced
to wave the black flag at its end.
The arch slowly passed from his back,
and with deathlike silence he lowered
himself to a crouching position, and
there remained to gather breath.
The coon in the meantime lay on
his back, but after recuperating lit
tie he seemed to conclude that he had
vanquished his foe, and made sud-
den turn to his feet.
This was the opportunity that Tom
was awaiting. One strong, lightning
leap brought him OH the coon's back,
and in an instant his fangs were deep
ly imbedded in the back of the coon s
neck. The next movement was per-
formed SO quickly that the coon had
not time to drop to his fighting posi-
ton OH his back. He tried it all the
same, but it would not answer. Tom
held on, and they rolled and tumbled.
The coon rose to his hind feet, shook
himself, and fairly screamed. Toms
articulation was almost inaudible, and
and he was hugging the econ with all
four legs with deathlike tenacity.
The coon repeatedly, with all known
tactics, endeavoring to dislodged his
adversary.
Each attempt was weaker than the
last, for the weight Of the cat and the
deadly fangs firmly planted and as
firmly held in the neck, were fast tell
ing the tale. The coon's strength OF
body and Of voice had descended from
a high c to basso profundo cultural
He finally ceased his struggles, and
mildly and quietly stretched himself
upon the burning earth. The steamy
fog almost ebscured them from view
But there they lie, the cat embracing
the coon, spooning him as a child
does his mate in cold bed.
wondered what Toms next move
would be. He dared not let 60 to
commence any new scheme of tactics
They lie only a few feet from the pool
of water. Now or never was Toms
opportunity for a strategic moment
He was gaining strength, while bis
adversary was breathing slowly and
heavily, but spasmodically. As hi:
conclusions broke fully upon his mind
he quietly released his leg grasp, and
suddenly bounded with his prey for the
pool, and down they both went. They
were out Of sight for a moment, bu,
Tom came up first, and took a com
manding position on the bank. Tn,