The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-09

sboon rancher near Ash Fork. Ariz.,
I II Abshire has discovered that Wild
cats can he douesticated and are then
as nice pets as any purring Maltese or
tortoise-shell Tables. He has one mat
follows him everywhere. acting as Doth
protector and companion. IT IS a Big
striped and spotted animal with siarihs
yellow eyes, whiskers like porcupine
quins. and a tail az glossy ana sihuous
in us winding as any jungle tigers.
How did ! happen to take wildcat
for a household pussy?' repeated Mr..
Abshire, during recent interview II
tell you all about IL.
was standing on the top OF a cliff. Look
ing down on ledge Of rocks projecting
from the cliffs below ] saw very large
Notwithstanding wildcat She had tas-
sells on her ears, and was lashing her TAN
from side TO side and glazing az me ana
growing angrily. l stood spehpouhu lor
a minute. and. not having any gun, l
was at a loss to know what 10 do. / spied
"A huge boulder on the edge Of the ledge
right over this cat. and using all my
strength. / pushed it over. She was too
quick for il and lodged When l looked
down again she had disappeared
II concluded there must be cave, ana
perhaps a nest Of kittens, so / lay in
wait a few minutes TO see II the cat would
make her appearance again. / was ready
for her this time. as | had secured a lot
of rocks. and intended 10 shower them
upon her ! did not have very long 10
wait. for out she came looking hercer
than before. ! let the rocks go. and that
time there were too many OF them for
her TO tOdgc. One struck her on tho back
and broke it. and after that / easily put
an end 10 her.
- then crawled down the cliff a short
distance and poered over as far as ! could.
and discovered there were two very small
kittens I'm the cavern. Their eyes were
not yet open. i made up my mind !
would have them. II took me some time 10
plan how ! could get 10 them, as the cliff
was almost perpendicular. II was with
great difficulty that I captured my prizes.
Il took off my coat and wrapped 10
around them and started home. When 7
reached there | laid them down ct the
base of a big Juniper tree. My large
hound, Adam, came bounding up. and,
10 my surprise. seemed as pleased over
my kits as ! was. He AZ once began 10
lick them. and laid down beside them.
The kittens crawled over him, and seemed
TO think he was good substitute for
their mother.
4 gave them Sleeps milk which they
seemed to thrive on They would lie all
day under the trees with the hound. and
he would never let my shepherd dog
come near them They grew very fast,
and We all became very much attached
TO my strange pets.
at sheep-shearing time We drove the
sheep into Ash Fork. / packed the bur
ros. and made a box for the wildcats
and dashed them on top. When we reach
ed town that evening ] let them out 10
run around the sheep shed. While Adam
was eating his supper a large dog came
in and killed one Of the cats. Next morn
ing, as we were passing down the street
with Adam and the wildcat following.
we created quite sensation. Some peo-
pie We're afraid of the cat-others were
anxious to pet him. seeing me caress him
but be objected to strangers. and would
arch his back and spit furously
while we were at saloon near the
depot the passenger train came in. Sev-
cral OF the Eastern tourists came rushing
over 10 the saloon for a drink They had
Just poured ont whisky all around when
they turned and saw the wildcat sitting
there looking at them. They started for
the train on the run, their whisky
standing and rot getting their change.
II shall try 10 keep him out of sight
or the tenderfOOt after this / don't want
10 scare them to death, but the cat is
all right and the finest pet ] ever had
! wouldn't part with him at any price lie
IS death on coyotes, and keeps all those
shecp-killing rascals away"-San Francis
co Examiner