The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-11
Old TOMS SUICIDE
sad Fading OF n Fish that became Drunk
ard and CouIdn,t Reforn.

OLD TOMS SUICIDE
sad Fading OF n Fish that became - Drunk.
ard and CouIdn't ReforH.
| HARRISBURG, May 10..-Some queer hap
penings have been reported from different
parts OF this State during the past week. but
the dueerest OF the lot Is the dsRth OF a fish
that had become confirmed dfunkard. The
owner OF the fish, George SaIers OF Leidy.
Clinton county, declares that tao fish commit
ted suicide. The fish was an unusually large
brook sucker. II was caught in a net n year
ago this month, ana or account OF its
size 1t was kent alive and placed in a
small fish pond in Leidy's grounds. This pond
Is shallow. and contained. besides tho big
sucker. only n few goldfish and other orna-
mental fish. The sucker soon became used to
its new surroundings, and grew to be as tame
as the goldfish. Its manner OF feeding. by en-
tending its queer sncut and sucking In any
thing that came within it's reach. was cause for
great amusement to all who saw him. The
sucker was given the name OF Old
Tom. and one day Mr.. Sauers thought
he would try an experiment with tho
fish. He got small nursing bottle.
filed 1t with milk. and attaching a long tube
to it with the usual mouthpioce at the de-
tached end, dropped the tube In the water In
iIOnL Ol INC SutkeT nose. ne uSH RThuually
sucked the moithpiece in. He drew mouth
full OF the milk down the tube from tho bottle.
but evidently did not like 1t. for he spat ont the
tube and moved away Sauers then filed the
bottle with lager beer and tried Old Tom with
that The beer seemed to suit him. for he
sucked In moro than halt Of what was in tho
bottle before he gave up the tube.
Sauers says that tho sucker cavorted around
in the water as he mad never done before,
and had high inks among tho other fish
Tor half an hour or more. Alter that he moved
to one side Of tho pond. close to the bank. and
remained there all the rest of the day. scarcely
moving even when touched with stick
sauers was, of the opinion that the beer had
porins with The owin nsnt bowl, the same same
TSmy hH to be all Th rh next nd day s
was offered some more beer. He took it ike =" a
littls man. and this time almost swamped the
about the pond as full rs tick, and showed
his hilariousness by chasing the other fish in u
DIZZY sort OF way; and by coming TO the top
soree OF Old Toms did not seem to break him Inn
u as the first one had done, although that his
De took in q, milk punch, that sauers had had
thought S would set well !, on 2 his stomach. That
ag that made him ugly and he walt2ed around
The pond, knocking the unoffending gold fish
muss. This disposition on the part OF the in
.!riated sucker led him to grab by the tail one
u the pig erawish that that we're part Of the orna
mental life OF the little pond. Old Tom stuck
nut his snout and seized the crawfsh and tried
o suck him In. The crawfsh Is a creature
his one twisted itself around. shot out It's |
eft claw, and caught OLD Tom By, the jowl and |
With the other claw. The sucker droppei n the
;rawfsh like hot iron. but the crawtish didn't |
the Seest Fri of 99 ne
ARRIVING CONSERVATION to the staid and digni-
led goldfish, that Old Tom was able to shake
ec0 That "a ean an~ sssm snpuf 70
ODE , the ne. OLD ha,, fellow up and he Re,
emorseful contemplation until afternoon.
rhen he Sailed forth once more. and as he
where he had previously encountered the SO:
Iuctive rubber tube Sauers took it for granted
hat he bSsf sS5 Bs aS e he'd
implied the bottle. He came around looking
tther wlstful, next morning and took
auers mixed for him; Ever, since
hen; Sauers says, the big sucker has been on
wa path al he m around every
round the pond like wild man. Beer got
30 mild for him. aud for tho last three months
auers says he tried several times TO broaE
I'D Tom Of the habit he himself had thought
,SBly leu MN INTO by gradually weakening the
,,hiskey with water and finally quit the sun
ut and saw Old Tom. wild eyed. and
Violently filed with terror. shrinking back as
lr as he could in little hollow in the bank.
8 II trying to escape from somethlng that was
lenacinG him. Suddenly he rushed wildly
ut OF the hollow and tore like mad to little
lump, and got behind it, He peeked. out
round the stump and evidently saw the thing
lat was troubling him in pursuit. for lie drew
lck and actually crouched against the stump.
lille his eyes almost hung out on his cheeks
18th terror.
" He's got the Jamsw said Sauers. I've shut
Is liquor off too suddenly"
SAuers went and got Old Toms bottle and
ave him corker. After the old fellow had
ot three inside of him his nerves quieted down,
nd he came around all right. since then
T. he required more and more every day,
Dated condition. He swelled ur half as BIG ,
gain as he was in his sober days. and the gold
Nh and other fish In the pond long ago cut his
, mnany; II , he happened ito to get any
ould bounce upon him and ;, give him
10 bounce without delay He got to
al out-and-out bum. and began to feel
8 disgrace about week ago, Ono day last
eek, after he had been, drinking heavily, he
owed over toward the big stone at tho side Of
ID been .ostraciHed by society In the pond,
I'd gaHed at II in "A curious manner for n min
o or two. Then he made sudden and swift
ssh forward and hurled himself head first
;ainst the side Of the stone, The force Of tho
'ision throw Old Tom back more than two
Tsp. turned over on his side, and rose to the
Irface as dead "a a picked mnckerel
" He had committed suicide" Sauers SAYS
rs suro as his name was Tom" {