New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-21

COLONEL. MARTINS CAT 'HENoVEs' HIS ENEMY
AT THE EXIENSE OF MERELY \ WItTTING.

COLONEL. MARTINS CAT "ITMOVES' HIS ENEMY
AT THE EXrrNsE or MERELY \ WETTING.
East Branch. ~ Y. April y (Speca0.-Colonel
Williams Martin. OF this yi.ase has "A BACK ca'
named Pete. Of which the whole town Is proud
Pete is a terror t. rats and mice. AMI is trick
performer of roa.y hrst-ratc ability but his other
accomplishments pale IN comparison with his rec
ord as a fisherman" lie has Jus: accomplished
feat that vii Silhouette his name forever on the
pages of cat history a.ong the heaiwat"rs Of the
East Branch Of the Delaware. 1t has been com
thing for Pete 70 catch his own h7h iot 'h'
last five years. and teamsters from Harvard ana
Downvile. farther up the river have grown used
TO seeing him sit on a particular rock a few feet
from the shore. when the water j. .oV, ana walk
patiently for a club. sucker or e m.un'" to come
within reach OF his swift right paw. Al such times
he leans down carefully. and with swish ih"
fish is tossed upon the 70 X. an instant aier To De-
borne through the grass IN the mouth Of Pete
who scamp.rs to the house. and laying the FISH
down upon the kitchen floor attracts Tho attention
of Coone Mrs. Martin 10 j..
Colonel Martin has private troIt pond midway
between his house and tho river hank. and in this
pond for years has lived big three-p pound trout
rpon which the Colonel has bestowed almost as much
affection as upon Pete. In thu sumner Colonel
Martin has been in the habit OF taking his guests
down to the pond and showing the trout. which was
as tame as d chicken. always swimming ont from
under biz rock for raw meat. mn worm or
grasshopper. ana sometimes allowing its back 10 o.
Pete seemed to grow violently j'a,ous 81
the attention paid by the summer borders
10 the trout AMI instead of fishing IN
the river he began sn"dkingly TO frequent No bank
OF the pond. one day last fall Colonel Martin saw
him make "A pass at something In the water ana an
Instant later fail into the water H. was on, again
in a twink,ing and galloped - tho house not stop
ping until he was under the Kitchen stove. 10
seemed to BE- in rage at some ihlnG. his eyes
snapped and his bciraggled tail mopIci 2 VET spot
In It's semi-crcular sweep on Mrs Martins spouess
floor
Pete wasn't himself for several days and spent
most Of rs time at the side If the trout pond. The
trout all not appear FOR week. and hen II Was
seen that ne had ugly bite Iu his back. AFTER
while winter came ON and foot Of ice introduced
an effectual ColIness between Pete and th" trout
Occasionally during the winter the cat would run
thing was frozen solid. After each visit h. wou.i
walk around in a sort OF trance "a-ldsh!n ~ his
tail" and 10 King unIttorable things
"Petel get that trout yet remarked Co.one.
Martin to his wife recently. Ana h. 3D.
After the ice had melted Pete went again %
the pond rs eyes greoncr and angricr than ever
Colonel Martin watching him carly Oh" nom
Ing The leaning over the cds" - IN" POM
when suddenly he dove into the water. Thotc "iS a
great commotion. and Ia" next thing the Colonel
saw was tho dripping pete emerging from th"
water carving in his mouth his ancient enemy.
trout on the kitchen floor and rubbed his w'' coat
against his masters trousers II" was IN An ''-ttCF
Of delight and didn't mind th~ water a Dit ~"
would step up to tn" trout and cuff i ana th'n
nip il with his teeth 10 max" i jump IN" 'oll'
regretted exceedingly the loss ~ his trout. bat Do
consOlel himself with the reflection that ne had ~"
smartest cat IN the county
Since then pete has been happy animal. II"
has discontinued his visits - tho trout pond ana
ife with him is as placid "A summer sea.