The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-22
TWO T0MCATS RUN AMUCK.
THEY TURN FLIP-FLAPs AND TER
RIFF THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.

Ons Attacks n BOY and Tries 20 Claw Down
= Policeman and the Other Scnttors the
Saturday Nursery Parade IN ramerc
Pnrk-Rrought Down with Reviewers.
A big gray tomcat, with tail ouS and hair
b%rlstling, bolted through 102d street yester-
day afternoon. Where IL came from nobody
knew. At the corner of Fourth avenue IL
bolted twice back and forth across the street.
leaped into the air, and turned Ave ~fip-fiaps be-
fore IL came down. Then IL rolled over nine
times and landed on its feet, all four legs
spread out as II IL was trying TO execute a split.
Robert Martin, Z years old, was one of the
boys who watched the cats antics. After the
attempt at the split the cat leaped at Martin.
1t landed o.. his right leg, and, holding to his
clothes with front claws and mouth, It jabbed
him with its mind legs. Every time either
leg came do wn there was n rip. and usually the
claws went through the boys clothing and tore
his flesh. The boy screamed with fright. His
companions were terrified. Half a dozen
grown persons ran out of stores near by with
sticks and stones. They we're all shouting.
The whole nelRhborhood was aroused.
A big mar banged the cat over the head with
q stick. Il loosened It's grip on the boy. and
rs 1t fell the man Kicked II over on the house
line. 1t fell IN the ground. leaped up, turned
five or six more flip flaps. and then disappeared
down a cellar stairway, It was still turning as
IL went. Inc CrOWO IOOkpn after IT,. DuJ IL
was nowhere in sight. 1t had taken refuge evi.
The boy. who was bitten was carried to his
Henry A. PfeIff Of the East io5th street STA
tion responded. He went down into the cellar
%yolving in one corner of the cellar in a wood
house, and he pulled out his pistol and aimed
gray " bali ne came nj shr T . t he' air fng at 'r biSm. f Foe
9, moment Pfeiff thought his time had come.
Tho next instant he recovered his senses; The
cat had landed on him and was clawing at
him like mad. The policeman had his billy
In. one hand. and he swung It, with all his
tween tho eyes. The cat fell off. It rolled
around on the floor moment, but before IT
hred three or four bullets into its body. it
thgopssS III issiin's thick clothing and he S was
Robert Martins parents took their boy to tho
Pasteur Institute on the superstition that tho
cat was mad and the boy might get hydro
a large grizzled tomcat, of uncertain age
Clement ~itH{ in Gra mere; PARK at about noon yes.
terday. Many small children with their nurses
are in and about the park at that hour. and a
them, hut this particular cat excited them by
but Gutting itshnesaasd az TP against ags rs wind windows, ta ao1v.
various other acrobatic feats not in the roper
t3irs OF the ordinary GEamercy Park tom. One
pede began. The other nurses screamed. and
the children wept and ran for doorways and
t asnsr DlPp ofiee% nj Tsfe GEcrr Of dhe the e0R Eaat Twens st.
second street station TO the scene: He whistled
for assistance, and Policeman Baker responded.
By this time the tom had reached the bal
cony Of 4 Creamery Park, This is the
Mayor Harper. On the balcony was Mary Nc
Cormick.. cleaning the windows. There are
double windows in the house, tho outside set
on hinges. When she saw the in
furiated tom approaching. she stepped in
eide. and with, rare presence OF mind closed
one of the swinging. sashes Just In time to
catch, the cat by the hind leg: The policemen
told her to release her captive. She did so,
and the cat started off again. There was more
scurryinR among the nurses and children, who |
by this time had gained a little confidence
and come out TO see What was going on. Once
shoot at the fleeing cat. Several shots wero
fired, but the cat went on. Finally It took
refuge In the sewer at the corner Of Twentieth
street and Gramercy Park. 1t did not get
quite all the way into the sewer, and the po-
emptied their rcvolyera ut the shad
owy mark presented by it. Some Of the shots
took effect, for a few low yowls
came from the sewer. and then all was quiet
again around Gramercy Park.