The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-29
A KENTUCKY FELINE FEAST.
A Select Company Pay an Election
Bet by Dining on n House Cat.

bet Dy Dining on N House Cat.
From the Louisville Courier-Journal
Common house cats are good TO eat
They are as good as rats, frogs or mon
keys, and are not to be compared In the
same breath with last years birds-nests
This fact was demonstrated yesterday af-
ternoon when half a dozen of the most
prominent men of the East End devoured
a cat and pronounced it the most deli
cious meat they had ever tasted. But these
same men ate dog some time ago; some
time before this they ate a mule, and be-
fore that they ate a burro. Next Christ
mas they will eat a monkey. 1t may be
that their tastes have been impaired by
the mastication of such a variety of deli
cacies. At any rate the price of house
cats in that neighborhood has gone up
since that meal of yesterday afternoon.
Common cats, which before yesterday
were kicked and cuffed about and which
were worth about ten cents a thousand,
now bring fifty cents, and the demand ex-
ceeds the supply.
The cat meal of yesterday was the re-
suit Of an election wager. 1t took place in
the saloon of Val Weber, on the northwest
corner of Washington and Webster streets
Previous to the recent election William
Vogt OF the Louisville Sllvering and Bevel-
ing Company; John Rath, Of the Meyer q
Rath store fixture company, and Consran-
tine Georgel, also of the Silverin6 and
Beveling company, entered into an agree
ment: II Charles ID. Jacob was elected
mayor, Mr.. Vogt was to pay for dinner.
If Mr.. Todd was elected Mr.. Georgel was
to pay for the dinner, and If Mr.. Nall was
declared the winner Mr.. Rath was to bear
the expense of the repast. By the terms
of the agreement the dinner was to con-
sist of half dozen bottles of Rhine wine,
a plate of sweet-breads, some celery and
house cat No matter which man Won
all were TO eat of the dinner; the question
was simply to decide which man had to
bay for 1t.
The cat used yesterday was born about
ten years ago at the home of MIR. Rath,
which is out In the country. 1t was a
big Tom, of the Maltese variety. Its
color was that of grayish mouse To its
credit 1t may be said that this particular
Tom was always a good cat. II was sud-
den and fatal illness to any mouse or rat
which happened to pass its way. This
was also true as regards Mr.. Rath's pig
cons In fact, Mr.. Rath stated after the
meal that poor Tommy ate most of his
squads. This was the main reason this
particular cat was selected. He was
brought to this city alive last Saturday,
and Mr. Georgel, who is Frenchman,
and who says he has eaten cats before,
In France, superintendent the slaughter.
Tommy's throat was cut like hog. He
was allowed to bleed good and was then
hung on a nail at the side of the wall,
to remain over night to drip. Sunday he
was skinned and put in a picking pro-
cess, where the carcass remained until
yesterday forenoon. The cat was boiled
like a rabbit by the wife Of MIR. Weber
and the wives OF the bettors. A nice
sauce of horse radish and several other
ingredients was made, and this was
poured over the cat before he was placed
on the table. Besides Mr.. Weber and the
three men mentioned, Edward Pfafinger,
the pork packer, who furnished the sweet
breads, and several other men sat down
to the meal. They all nibled celery for a
while and drank Rudesheimer. The cat
lay peacefully in q large plate in the CEN
ter OF the table.
"It smells fine, don't it?" said Mr. Rath.
'Im going to eat a piece" replied Mr..
Vogt
At this point, however, one man was
taken sick. He was Charles F. Meyer
OF the store-ixture company, who had
come over to try a piece of the cat. He
| looked at II, and, In fact, drank q glass
OF wine, but a baby cried In the next room.
Mr. Meyer said that he always hated to
hear a baby cry. He was taken home and
put to bed
II imagine / am eating a piece now"
said one man as he took a bite of the
sweet-breads.
IT wouldn't eat piece for hundred
dollars" said one of the women from the
doorway.
why, you said a while ago that 1t was
too salty; how did you know II II you did
not eat anyT' inquired Mr.. Georgel.
Lizzie took a piece home with her" said
the woman.
eyes, and Ed took a piece home with
him"
II lose the wine; have to pay for It and
have to eat some Of the cat, too" unused
Mr.. Georgel.
"oh. thought you liked cats" said Mr..
Rath.
They were on the third bottle OF wine
All took piece together.
Come on, Dutchy, don't be afraid" adj
monished Mr.. GeorgeL and he chewed
morsel OF the cat
"This beats the dog" said Mr.. vogt, as
he swallowed a small piece.
1.-THE more you eat the better you like
It," said Mr.. George, Ms he reached for
another help
TITS as good as rabbit; I've eaten most
everything now"
Eyes. it's better than rabbit; 1t is not
so dry"
"Gee, I'm anxious to get at that mon
key next Christmas"
It was noticed that Mr.. Rath dld not
eat any cat. lie ate an abundance Of