The morning call., 1892-05-13
ANOTHER REMARKABLE CAT.
One That Is Owned by Edward A. Won
SCHMIDT of Baden In San Mateo.

One That Is Owned by Edward A. Won
Schmidt of Baden In San Mateo.
The story Of vegetarian cat, owned by
gentleman in this city, that was published
in THE CALL some time ago. has been maxi
ing the rounds OF the Eastern press, ana
two dozen or more owners OF cats nave
since the publication sent to this office let
tiers, in which they set up particular claims
for the feliIes they own. Among the num-
Der is one written by Edward A. Won
Schmidt Of Baden, San Mateo County, In
which he writes: After having read In
several issues of your interesting paper
about the digestive abilities of cats, think
the mental qualities of our Tom" should
have an Inning.
This cat, even then very large. was given
to the writer about six years ago by the late
Captain A. c. Freese Jr.,l shortly before that
gentleman's tragic death.
/ will not describe "TOm's" various
tricks, hoop-iumping and so forth, but will
at once come TO the evidence Of Bralas.
brains with a big B. Being of somewhat
naughty disposition, Tom, who by the
way has been nicknamed John l." on ac-
count of his summary manner OF knocking
out-0VerbOard from our dredger In one In
stance-all intruders, sought residence at
the captains home in Alameda, as sort OF
cHdDE6 IIOm Inc turmoil OF llle Oh Il uI6uB6s
A few days after taking up his new
quarters, John l. took morning constitu-
tiOnal down to the landing, half mile
away, he having found h0use-cat life too
tame. he accompanied the captain to the
landing and remained all day in the salt
marshes hunting crabs and met his master
when he started for home and stalked ahead
at an even pace as If showing the way 10
the house. This performance he continued
for many day. John Il always wanted
his breakfast before he left tha house,
and as he would not take 1t out
morning when he came mewlng at
the door. He used to come so early
that it was decided not to take
any notice Of him, but he was bound
TO make his presence known and have
some one come to the door. One morning
sharp raps were heard on what seemed to
be the front door. Some one opened it, but
there was no one there except Tom, who
walked in looking unusually proud. This
knocking continued for a week and the
servant commenced to talk of spirits max
ing these noises, 80 a watch WAS kept one
morning and the cause discovered The cat
was seen to raise the corner OF rail mat in
front of the door and let it fall three times
in quick succession in Imitation OF the
three quick raps given by the head of the
house. This assertion, / presume, will be
doubted by many, but 1t is strictly true, for
the act was seen by several persons. He
was returned to the dredge and has since
made it his permanent home. When the
dredge was at San Diego aud at San Pedro
he would go ashore with the crew and re-
main around the wharves until midnight
hunting for rats and mice, then he would
Jump into the small boat and walt until
some one came and rowed pack TO the
dredge. If by accident he was left behind
he would raise such row that some one
would have TO put off to shore for him.
Sometimes there are 20-inch pipes run
ming from the dredge TO the shore and by
this means he leaves and returns. He also
uses this as a place from which TO fish
for crabs and fish. He will plunge shout
der deep into the water after them and
when he catches smelt or other fish or
rat he will carry it on board and draw at
tention of some one TO the fact, even going
so far rs to wake some one up TO see what
he is making such row about. So much
for cat reasoning. Now TO cat manners. If
Tom has a piece of meat roughly thrown to
him he will not touch it, but will raise his
tail high in air, turn with look OF disgust
toward the thTOwer ana walk away. l
have known him after being treated in that
way to remain for three days in the coal
bunker and refuse 10 be coaXed out. he
has never been known 10 steal anything
even when hungry. The other night l
thrust John / rudely out of my cabin, and
the mate, who noticed the incident and OBJ
served the glare in the cats eyes, said to me
afterward: Captain, II that cat was only
big enough he would have knocked you
down, for he was mad" And mad he must
have been, for it was week after that be-
fore could induce him to take bit of food
from