The evening times., 1896-04-28
BLACK CATS PERSISTENCE
he Outwitted Trainmsn and Took
a Long Ride.
Twice Thrown Off II Cur PLATFORM,
But Came Back Each Time and
Finished His Journey

A singular passenger on train Oil OF
| the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which
! arrived here yesterday evening, was 4
| large coal black cat, with particularly
| large green eyes, one ear alertly cooked
| and the other, through some encounter,
| perhaps, with another Of his kind, droop
ing and detected.
| II wal an unwelcome and unpaid for pas
| senger, whose advent caused mingled sen
timents of amusement and superstition to
the officers in charge of the train
| The cat was first seen strollins leisurely
about the train yard of the Chestnut street
! station, Philadelphia. His curiosity seemed
attracted by train 511, and he gave it as
| thorough an inspection as the limited time
| OF its delay at the station allowed. When
/ the train began to move slowly out the
| cat gave a tremendous bound and landed
| on the front truck of one of the cars
There he settled down composedly, blandly
purring his evident satisfaction with travel
At Wilmington the black Thomasw was seen
parading up and down the front platform
of the first car, after the fashion OF an
experienced tourist. Not liking his osten-
tation, Conductor Louis Bennett, with firm
decision, grasped Thomas by the scruff of
his inky neck and pitched him into space.
After such rude treatment cat OF any
self-respect would. no doubt, have concluded
that his presence was unwelcome, and would
have retired with dignity. But either the
love of travel was too strong III Thomas or
his impudence and tramp instincts were un-
limited. for as the train steamed into Cam
den station. Baltimore, he again turned up,
TO the surprise of the trainmcn.
But I great deal of the braZcn effrontery
had been taken out of him. Between Will
mington and Baltimore trains do not stop
for water. but receive it as they speed
along. Thomas. in returning TO his favorite
position on the front platform Of the car
Just behind the tender. ha d not allowed for
this. and 4 5 consequence when he crawled
off the car at Baltimore he presented
sorry sight. with his sleek, glossy coat
drenched and dSordered.
Several llughs at his expense were en-
joyed by the trainmeD. and it was Thought
that after such discouraging experiences
he would decide to give up the road and
take up his residence in Baltimore. But
Tommy. apparently, had not seen enough
of the world or else was bent on the full
filment of some grave mission. He smooth
ed down bis dripping coat as best he could.
and when train oil pulled out for Washing
ton, soon after entering Camden station,
the cooked ear looked more alert than ever
as Thomas was seen b. Special Officer
Harry wingate to leap to his old position
on the platform and cuddle down to COM
piete the renovation of his soiled coat. un-
mindful of possible repetitions of the
drenching.
When the flyer from New York to
Washington pulled in yesterday afternoon,
Conductor Bennett alighted from his train,
looked all around, and his face gradually
broadencd into a smile. 1t was Of short
duration, however. for before the smile
had fairly settled itself on the handsome
railroad mans countenance ii suddenly
changed to a look of disgust, mingled with
astonishment. The cause OF the change
was the appearance of a coalblack feline
from under the Pullman car.
..well. III be- but the last part of
Capt Bennet's remark was lost in the
putting of Engine No Sill, which had
pulled the train from Philadelphia.
''If there amt that blasted cat again,
I'll he hlowed,'' said the conductor.
''Would you believe it, lie continued,
"I have put that Internal cat off of this
train twice, and was sure that was rid
of it, but. you see, it is still with me. I
don't know whether it's a hoodoo, or a
mascot; anyhow, 1t is mighty fond OF
rairoadng. 1t came into the depot at
Philadelphia, and attempted to get on the
train, but pushed it off Just as we start
cd. You can imagine my surprise when
at Wilmington 1t walked out from beneath
the cars, as 1t did here.
when we started from baltimore I
seated at it, and was dead sure I was
rid of it, but, you see, it has turned up
again.
AS there was no mishap on the Balti-
more and Ohio, il is fair TO presume that
Conductor Bennett will adopt the black cat
which yesterday evening walked out again
from under the train, and rubbed its inky
coat against his trousers legs.