The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-23
CAT AND CANARY.
An Awful Yarn Spun by an Imaginative
Menaserie Keeper.

Aeeper.
! So many stories have been told re-
Gently of battles between tigers and
snakes, wildcats and elephants, eagles
and alligators and Goldfish and wild
hogs. that the following accurate de-
scrlptlon of an encounter between a
tom-cat and canary bird can not fail
to be interesting:
The tom-cat and the canary were the
property of an animal dealer on the
west side who has long had reputa-
tion for veracity. The canary was noted
for It's terceness. 1t is a female bird
bout three years old. with bright vel
low feathering. The tom-cat is quite
white, with four legs, and weighs-or
rather weighed-ab bout twelve pounds
During the morning it was noticed
that the canary seemed unusually saw
age. She paced up and down her cage
In great rage, gnashing her teeth and
glarlng at the poor cat. toward whom
1t turned out she had developed a fierce
antipathy.
The keeper secured the door of the
cage, as he thought, firmly. but during
a paroxysm of temper the canary
smashed the fastening and was free.
What a moment. The unfortunate
tom-cat gave cry of terror and looked
around for some means of escape. but
there was none. the door of the room in
which the carnivorous animals were
kept being locked The proprietor of
the menagerie could do nothing. Spell
bound, he watched the uneven contest.
fearing all the time that the fury of
the canary bird would be expended on
himself
With a piteous moan the wretched
tom-cat felt the talons of the canary
bird sink into his head. He raised him
self up and tried to fight her off, but
the bird parried mis- every blow and
fiercely pecked at his eyes.
Once the cat seized the bird in his
paw, but she got away from him in a
moment, with the loss of only one
feather. She returned to the charge
and rendered one of the cats eyes blind
with her sharp bill.
The fight had lasted five minutes
and the cat had all the worst of it. He
was painting. and every now and then
rolled over exhausted, uttering pitiful
cries Though he was valued at one
hundred dollars, the keeper of the
menagerle, who was armed with
sword and a shotgun, did not dare to
interfere to save him. The blood of the
canary was up and she meant to slav
the cat.
1t was not long before the awful :
work was accomplished. The bird, by
an adroit movement common to cana
ries when in conflict with quadrupeds, /
rendered the poor Thomas cat blind !
Then at her leisure. with a series Of !
fierce jabs, she penetrated his brain. |
and he rolled over completely dead.
The boss was embling for his own |
safety. but il now seemed that the saw /
age instincts OF the canary had been |
satisfied. for with jaunty air she re- |
gained her cage and began to warble a /
song of victory.
1t meant life or death to shut the !
door, but the brave boss crept courage
ously up to the cage and succeeded in |
this feat. Then he ran I
out into the street and tainted The
nerve pressure had been too great for !,
him.
Since then the canary's cage has been I
till now il is stronger
than safe, and the lions and tigers are
more restful, appreciating their IN
creased safety. But there viii not he
much real peace Of mind in that men
gerie until the canary bird has been
disposed Of for good.-N. \. Herald