Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1894-09-19
WATCHMAN TOM.
A Cat the Guardian of the Own
er's Property.
HIS ONLY COMPANION is DOG BUM
Never Asleep at Night and on the Watch
all Day-A Big Offer for His Pur-
chase Refused.

AS rule the ownership of cat is
not considered of very great moment,
but there is one cat in the city that
cannot be purchased for good round
sum of money. There are no particu-
lar points of beauty about the animal,
nor is he given extra careful attention.
He looks like any other cat, and does
many things that others do, but he can
not be classed in the category of prowl-
ing cats. He always stays at home.
Tom, as he is known to everybody, has
traits that are remarkable, and while
everybody sleeps and enjoys rest, he re-
mains ON duty, guarding the property
of his owners with the same devotion
as trusted and well-paid Waterman.
Tom is owned by ,Messrs. Talo 81
Carrain.,, conducting business at the
corner of Howard and Fifth streets, San
Francisco. Two years ago the present
proprietors purchased the stand, and
the former owner took his departure,
| leaving Tom behind. When the change
was made the cat did not figure IN the
bill of sale, and, in fact, nothing was
thought about him at all. Just whether
Tom took offense at the slight attention
paid to him cannot be stated, but at
any rate, no sooner had Messrs. Talo &
Carraine commenced business than Tom
left his accustomed place in the store
and hid himself under the house. For
two weeks he remained there, and al
though repeated efforts were made to
get him out, failure resulted each time.
1t was finally decided to cut hole in
the floor, and in consequence Tom was
pulled out. He could hardly stand,
but after getting liberal supply of
milk h. rallied and remained in the
care of his present owners. The fact
that he was basely deserted by his first
ow,ier no doubt hurt him, and from
that day to this he will have nothing
to do with any person save the present
proprietors of the saloon.
1t 10 hard to find any member of the
common class of cats that cannot do
justice to meat of all kinds. Tom, how
ever, differs in this respect, and will
touch nothing but liver. A small sup
ply is purchased daily for him, and pre-
paratory to going ON watch he eats his
rations, walks around the place and
finally jumps to his accustomed seat ON
the desk, close to the Fifth street win
dow. For two long years he has been
the faithful Waterman about the place,
and there is not person passes along
Fifth street that Tom does not see. He
dose not make himself conspicuous by
any means He crouches low on the
desk ready for spring as soon as a
hand is placed on the grating outside
of the window. Every policeman and
hackman in the neighborhood has tried
time and again to CO tch Tom mapping,
and as early as 3 o'clock in the morn
ing an attack has been made ON the
window, with the result that Tom
springs instantly to the pane. The sud-
denness with which he jumps has scared
more than one person, and one woman
received such shock that she cannot
be induced TO walk ON that side of the
street.
What would follow should an en-
trance be effected by stranger is not
known, but there are several persons
knowing Toms habits who assert that
he would make it decidedly interesting
for few minutes. The cat has formed
an intense hatred for every dog in the
neighborhood. Large and small, they
all know the cat, and keep out of his
way. There is one exception to this
rule, however; Michael Mcneil, horse
sheer on Howard street, near Fifth,
owns a spaniel going by the name of
Bum Jack, and he managed to get into
the good Cruces of Tom, and both are
now friendly.
Beside watching the premises, Tom
has quite habit of finding different
articles ON the sidewalk in front of the
store, and invariably pulls them inside.
His last find consisted of little school
girls box, containing her pencils. slate
rags and small scraps of paper, with
the names of different books that the
child should have. When Tom espied
it he boldly tackled it, and with the
aid of his paws pushed it inside. The
only name that could be made out was
that of Georgia, and if the child who
lost it will call on Messrs. Talo & Car
raine, she can secure the property that
ni1ht-watchman Tom found.
In conversation with the owners of
Tom it was learned that much Roadway
had been made in instructing him by
watching his movements closely. 1t
was by getting him to leap over small
piece of string that Tom was finally in
duced to jump through Mr.. Talo's arms,
and it is a common thing to see him
make flying leap as soon as the arms
of either one of his owners are out
stretched. Any other person could
hold his arms out for year. but would
not have the satisfaction of Tom pass
ing through them.
Several offers have been made by
parties to purchase Tom, but all of
them have been refused. The last
amount offered was $25, but double
that amount could not purchase him.