The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-22
WILDCATS INVADE POULTRY YARDS.
They Arc Keeping Pennsylvania Farmers
Busy Tripping and Killing Them.

They Are Keeping Pennsylvania Farme RS
Bnsy Frnpping and killing Them.
ROULETTE. Oct 2l.-George Perry a farmer
living on Potato Creek. Mexican county, heard
a commotion In his poultry yard Tuesday af-
ternoon. He discovered a big wildcat that had
stolen into the yard and captured. and was
devouring. one OF Perrys roosters. Perry
grabbed u pitchfork and pitched into the
wildcat. which beat O retreat carrying with
1t what was left Of the rooster Perry
followed the cat. 1t ran toward n piece OF
woods. and 1t happened just then that Frank
Meyers's shepherd dog was coming out
OF that piece OF woods and met the
wildcat going in. This dog is well
known In that neighborhood as a fear
less hunter OF ugly wild animals, and has
had many successful bouts with bears and
wildcats. When he fell In with this partic-
ular catamount, he unhesitatingly made for it
with the llercest OF intentions. The wildcat
turned and rushed back toward Perry's and
Perry was still advancing. armed with the
pitchfork. The catamount. still Keeping DOS
session OF its stolen dinner. attem cd to pass
Perry. but the farmer lunged savagely at it
and thrust his pitchfork through one OF its
hind legs, pinnlng the cat to the ground. Tho
next moment the dog was upon the cat and
soon killed 1t, the cnt retaining its hold upon
the rsnnant OF the rooster to the last.
The tragic fate OF this wildcat did not deter
ahother one from making u raid on Perry's
houltry yard not more than an hour aiterward
This time attracted by the Otion the
t siiannt took MS gun with HIN ana blew the
Killed and partly devoured a hen 1t had
Mrs. William Spcndor OF Indian Run lays
clalm TO lelhg the CHAMPION wildcat killer Of
northwestern lennsy!yanla. her record being
now nine all Killed since August. The Wild
cats Of Mexican an Elk counties seem to
have have consPEen against tho poultry yards Of
craft say lhnt tins indicates a scarcity Of
rheasants in the woods, More chickens have
PASSED from the possession Of tho farmers
than any ora reco!lccts for any previous time.
Mrs SEcnder RAISES a gaod many chickens,
or trlcs 10 amt keeps ,watchiul eye on
nakini: an effort to go. away With a chicken.
Mrs. Spend"r ,hastencd to the rescue Of fho
quicken armed with an HNe. and used it So
ynTd. Then the plucky woman caught three
wildcats IN traps she set md during tho past
three weeks killed three more. two with her
week she went out to feed nor chickens and
noticed that they We're huddled together IN
one corner OF the. yard in great trepidaton
she looked about tor u cause for this and
discovered in tree near by a big wildcat
crouching in crotch. and in a tree q rod
or so from that one another wildcat. both
snendcrs o"E Sac @ to the Mous ssUm and go
her gun, and Killed 9th wildcats. That same
day Mrs Spepder'S husband. while chasing II
hear That had been visiting sheep pastures in
. Jimmy Todd. aged -. set trap on his
father farm along Indian Kun tho other day.
aud big wildcat got into 1t. The boy attacked
cccdod In killing II. This Todd boy has trappsd
and killed six Wildcats this fall.