The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-17
THE YELLOW CAT VICTIM.

Willie Smith Has IA Return of Violent
Paroxysms.
HARTFORD CRY. May 11.-[Special j
All over the country the newspapers have
characterized TIE SENTINEL correspondent
at this place as the Dakota liar, etc., on ac-
count of the report OF the very strange al
Fiction of Willie Smith.
Yesterday was fully demonstrated the
truthfulness of the reports given, and all
of the witnesses are ready TO subsIantiate
TIE SENTINEL's former report in their
story OF what they witnessed. Willie is
now staying with his grandmother on the
old farm, the same place where he lived
when bitten by an old yellow cat some
three years ago. He has only had one
paroxysIn for nearly a year, and THE SEN
TINEL correspondent faithfully and truth
fully reported the same. Now comes sew
eral persons that saw the poor boy yester-
day during one of the worst paroxysms he
has ever had, among them Sheriff Groves
of this city and Wildly w aters, both relia-
BILE citizens. They make the case out
even more mysterious and marvellous than
The SENTINEL reporter.
Mr.. Groves said 1t WAS one OF the
strangest and saddest sights he had ever
Witnessed in his life. The boy was seized
with an attack and at once ran for the
timber, and swiftly and with the agility
OF a cat ran up tree for fully fifty feet or
more, where he began to hiss. spit, purr,
froth at the mouth and gnaw at the tree,
end the sheriff AYERS that he gnawed the
bark from the tree until it can be plainly
seen from the ground.
He remained in the tree for fully three
hours. 4 score of friends and neighbors
collected aud every effort TO get him to
come down was fruitless. Whenever any
one would attempt TO climb the tree IN
pursuit he would start toward them with
his mouth open and snap. spit. hiss, froth
and meow like a cat. When the attack
left him he came down from lis lofty
perch and at once fell asleep and was con-
yeyed home, all unconscious of the immi-
nent danger that threatened him while
suffering from the mysterious and dread
maady that so seriously ana terribly
aillicts him, What is il?
THE SENTINEL reuorter believes the cat
to have been subject to fits and during
paroxysm the boy was bitten and became
inflicted with a specific poison, and it has
imbued his system with the virus or poi
son until it now produces these paroxysms
SO similar TO that OF the feline family
when suffering from an attack. First the
boy was bitten by an old yellow cat that
was mad, as ne expressed it. The first
paroxysm occurred about six months
afterwards. The boy had forgotten the
occurrence until his attention was called
to il by THE SENTINEL reporter, who be-
ing a physician, had been treating him.
Then he gave the history of
the injury as heretofore reported and
showed the scar on the index finger that
the wound had left. He acted like
vicious cat before his attention was
directed to the cat bite, so it had made no
impression on his mind.
The case is ono not for levity and sport,
and if the poor boy must endure the ter
rible trial OF these attacks. such men as
Sheriff Groves, Wildly Waters and host
of others can bear witness to the actions
of the boy when suffering from an attack.
There is nothing, no act of an enraged
feline that the boy does simulate and as
the paroxysm passes OF he turns about
in his bed as a cat would do. lies down,
puts his arm over his head, purrs for
while, then goes 10 sleep. On awaking
to consciousness he does not even remen-
bet single transaction that occurred
while thus afflicted.
Willie is boy of twelve years OF age
and of a good family. He is more than
ordinarily bright, hale, hearty and free
from any aftliction other than the par
oxysms reported. He sleeps we'll and
eats well. His digestion is good and he
is of an affable and social nature. What
is it?