Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-02-16
JN0. W0MACK'S AGONY
A MAD CATS BITB CAUSES HIS TERRIBLE
DEATH IN ONE MONTH.
SPasms Came Upon Him and Be Fought Likss Wild
Beast Tearing Of HIS Finger Nails-HH
Wife Also Atacksd-Reef
in the Maidstone.

ATLANTA, GA, February Is One
month ago from last Wednesday John
Womack, OF Walton county, was bitten by
cat. The wound was a severe one on the
left fortfager. 1t healed up in week or
ten days, and the incident was forgotten.
Saturday, the 9th, Womack complained Of
a shooting pain in the finger. AT first this
was confined to the finger, then it reached
the elbow, then to the shoulder, finally en-
teriDg the body. He described the pain by
saying it was in the marrow Of his bones,
and felt like pins sticking. The shooting
pains became more frequent and severe.
On Saturday night he had violent fit.
The unfortunate man would jump like q
cat, heat his breast with his feet, lie down
upon the floor, and KICK until the bones in
his toes were broken. The fit lasted seven
minutes. After it was over Womack ex-
planned that he had been perfectly con-
scious the whole time, but was utterly un-
able to control himself Subsequent it's
were in every way like the first, except
more severe.
The fits continued at regular intervals OF
ten or fifteen minutes until Wednesday
morning last. Womack was then put in
room alone, "a he was getting evidently
lea able 10 control himfelf. His lower eye
lid AMI the muscles atout the cheek b1ne
begin swelling until the eye entirely
cloeed The lump under each eye wea
larger than an egg. Ii was first red, then
blue, finally almost black. The upper lips
contracted, exposing the whites Of the
eyes. When the spasms would come on
the eyes shone with a greenish glitter, like
those o! cat III the dark Womack WAS
locked in the room in hurry, and in the
confusion the baby was left on the he'd.
Womack had a terrible spasm, bat did
not notice the baby lying three feet
away. The mother Of the child Ian IN
and Ticked up the baby The spasm
had passed O A Womack took his wifes
hand, held it for several seconds, told her
goOd-by, and also several relatives and
neighbors. As the door was about 20 ne
shut again, he begged for his wife 10 come
TO him again.
Go back John" said a neighbor.
Womack obeyed. The door was shut.
Almost Immediately he jumbsd mp, twice
screaming, "0h. on" Then lie fell and
lsy quite still. The door wss opened, and
he was found lying on the floor, his head
propped against the bed. His heavy beard
was matted with white froth, and, after
he fell, q considerable quantity Of the same
froth fell from his lips, forming "A pool on
the flOor. WomGck's feet and hands were
terribly bruised and lacerated. His finger
nails were torn off, his breast Was black
and sore from beatingit
Ten days ago Mrs WOmlck was bitten
b. the house cat. II was known that the
strange cat that had bitten Womack had
also bitten the house cat Tuesday Mrs.
Womack complained of pains in her heel
similar to these experienced by her hus-
band, aud, as in that case, these painsd.d
not comme1ce until the sore had appar-
emily healed up. The country Was secured
for a maidstone.
Finally one was found. This and other
remedies, real or supposed, are being used.
The news that Mrs. WOmsck had died,
which Was published in the Georgia papers,
was incorrect. Mrs. Womsck ia applr-
emily IN as SoOu uehltu ao cNNii Na4Ao ~
usual, and the only symptoms are the
slight pains, starting in the heel, extend
ing to the ankle. She says the maidstone
ms eased these pains, though she still
feels occasional twipges. She is left with
four children, all girls, the youngest
baby at the breast. Her relatives and
friends are with her constantly.
MIS- Womack's case is being watched
with keen interest, and the identity al
ready shown between her case and her
husbands is causing general alarm. A
three year-old colored girl, the daughter
of Gus Starks, was bitten the day after
Mrs. Woaack was. The cat that bit her
was also bitten by the clt that bit Mrs.
Womack. Three or four days ago John
Parker, a six-year-old white boy, was bit
ten By another vicious cat. Several mules
and horaes have been bitten within the
past few days For time there was some
doubt in the minds Of the country people
about Womack's case, though the effect Il
none the less marked on that account
They have killed all the cats and dogs FOR
miles around.