The herald., 1894-03-04
FELINE INTELLIGENCE.
CHRIS EVANS CAT SURPRISES HI
RAPELJI.
Gts Camp Training Is Put to Practice.
Constantly on tho Lookout for
Danger, 1t Gives Warning at
Every Disturbance.

Fresno Expositor: Hi Rapelji is only
beginning to realize what prize he Sc
cured when he came into possession of
Chris Evans's black cat, which was
abandoned at the camp when Evans and
Morel fed, never to return. Rapelii at
first wanted the cat for the purpose of
sending it to the midwinter fair; but
since he has become better acquainted
with it he would not part with it on any
terms. 1t cost him more than $50 to
have it captured, bat he would not take
twice that sum for it now.
1t soon grew accustomed to its new
home, and when it found it was we'll
treated it made up its mind to stay, and
to all appearances it thinks as much OF
Rapelji as it did of Evans.
1t had not been domiciled at Mr.. Rap
elji's house many days before it began
to show its training. When it would hear
the least unusual noiso outside the houee
it would at once chow uneasiness, and its
bristlea would go up like the quills OF a
percupine, and nothing could quiet 1T
till some member OF the family would go
20 the door or window and look out then
it would become reconciled and begin 10
purr again.
The cat had learned this watchiulness
while Rt camp, and perhaps had re-
ceived some special training on the sub
ject. 1t WAS the sentinel that kept the
outlook for danger, and IL may be that
it was the cat that gave the alarm
which saved Evans and Morel the time
their camp WAS surrounded by officers.
But Mr.. Rapeji was to have greater
surprise than in the mere fact that the
cat raised its bristles when any unusual
noise took place. 1t could do more than
that, and by doing it. it displayed an
intelligence which possibly might have
been expected from dog but was GER
tainly not to be looked for from cat
1t was partly due to training in camp,
no doubt, but no amount of training
could have brought about the result ex-
cept the cat had unusual intelligence to
etart with.
Mr.. RApelji usually keeps his belt and
pietol on stand in one corner OF the
room, to have it near at hand in case he
is called out Homs night on the double
quick to 90 in pursuit of criminals, as is
often the cass. Two or three nights ago
Mr.. Rapelji retired as usual. In few
minutes after retiring there was fire
broke out in the house of John de la
Fontaine a couple of blocks away, and
some person gave the alarm by firing
three or four pistol shots in rapid sue
cession. This aroused Chris Evans
cat. Its bristles were up in moment,
and it's eyes were like balls of FIRE. 1t
jumped on the bed, and appeared ex-
ceedingly anxious for Mr.. Rapelji to get
up. When he did not do so, the cat
sprang upon the stand on the other side
of the room, caught in its teeth his belt
with his pistol, jumped off the stand and
began dragging the belt and revolver
across the room toward Mr.. Rapelji's
bed, and attempted to jump upon the
bed with its load, but the load was too
heavy for it.
This was certainly an exhibition OF
intelligence never surpassed in a cat. 1t
had observed no doubt, that whenever
there was any unusual noise outside the
camp, Evans always grabbed for his
pistol. and it concluded that Rapelii
would want his; and when he did not
get up to secure it himself, it tried to
drag it to him. Probably while at the
camp there had been at times reports
OF guns by hunters in the vicinity, and
Evans had shown such unusual interest
then, and had caught bis pistol up 90
quickly, that the cat had observed it
and when it heard the pistol shots the
other night it thought Rapeljl would
want his revolver at once.