Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-28
WILD CAT AND DOG FIGHT.
Brutal Exhibition in the Eastern
Part of the City.


Part of the City.
seyenty-fve sports gathered in an en-
closed lot in the eastern part of the city
yesterday afternoon to witness fight be-
tween bull dog and a wild cat. The
cat was beautiful creature, with a sleek,
glossy coat Of fur, tierce-looking whiskers,
sinewy limbs, and eyes that shone like
brIlliants. lJhad been in capt. lily about
ten days, and aside from some scratches
on its fore paws, trap marks. 1t was in
fine fighting trim. Ii was confined in a
wire cage not over feet high and per-
haps 10 feet long.
the battle was announced to
commence at 4:30 O'Clock, and the
crowd was there by that time. but the
dog was not. At the last hour the owner
decided that he would not fight his dog,
as some trouble might grow out of it. The
spectators, who had paid a quarter of
dollar apiece Tor the privilege Of seeing
the animals try to Kill each other, spent
half an hour IN siZiRg up the cat and
kicking at the respect of a pOstponement.
The dog expected is known as great
fighter, and wears the championship
medal for Savannah. Finally some one
volunteered to get another dog. About
the time it arrived an alleged agent or ex-
Cruelty to Animals put in an appearance
at the gate. Some parleying followed,
aud two or three OF the sports went out
side and walked around the corner with
the young man. When they came back
be was slapped Familiarity on the back
and was passed in. He walked
around among the crowd, and there was
no further delay except in getting the
white canine in the cage, The animal
=. Ia
and weighed 40 pounds He had never
been in any other fight than the common
street rows, which every dog has more or
less OF in his youth. "Jaek" did not
yearn for lite and death struggle, aud
he snapped and growled every time his
ebony colOred second tried TO get him in
the cage. He was put in though at last,
and the crowd began to yell "Sic him!"
The animals glared at each other sui
leniv for a few moments, and il they
could have had their way they would
have gone off in opposite directions with
out molesting each other. But the brutes
in the cage could not escape. for those on
the outside wanted to see fight. Neither
of the animals was disposed to be aggres-
siYe, but the cat would not permit any
attempt at forming a peaceable acquaint-
ance on the dogs part. Jack soon
| found out that he had vicious compan-
| ion in his prison, and he acted warily.
| First one OF the cats paws and then the
other would fly out with the rapdity of a
flash OF light and catch slack" on the
| jaws or body or flank. He gave
sharp yelps Of pain and tried tC
! get ME mouth on the cats throat. For
| several minutes ne was unsuccessful, and
at the end of the first two rounds he had
/ only managed to get a few sharp bites on
the cats flank and body. After short
rest in separate ends OF the cage the
| beasts went at it again and the tightine
WAS fierce and sharp. The cat bounded
from side to side and from end to end o
the cage as lithely as though its legs
were springs OF steel.
First one was on top and then the other
/ One minute the dog had a Vise-like grin
| on the cats throat, and the next minute
| the cats teeth were buried in the dogs
throat. The cat did very little lighting
lying on its back, which is the favortt
position of animals OF its family in light
Once 1t got strong grip on the dogs
/ under jaw, and it held on saw
agely. In 10 minutes it wa,
plain that the animal of nine lives wat
whipped. and in five minutes more il wa,
dead, with Its throat cut by the dogs
teeth. What little betting there was on
the fight was even. The crowd seemed
satisfied with the savage struggle and al
soon as the dog was declared winner The
| spectators quickly lett the scene OF To,
brutal sport. IL was rumOred that tn,
authorities would attempt TO break up III,
fight and the crowd was little shy fo
some time. half expecting a raid, bu
there was no interference, and the bruta
exhibition went on without any inter
| ruptiOn.