The sun., 1896-08-30

TOMMY ToOD or goo TASHINGToN
STREET REFUSED 10 BE LOST.
ne Also Declined to Be Killed. Although
Dosed with ems md ToSued Into an
Ash Barrel tor Dead A. Nothing Like
His Doings Ever Known in bloomfield.

ne Also Declined to Be Killed, Although
Dosed with ems md Tossed Into an
Ash Barrel tor Dead - NothinE Like
HTS Doings Ever Known in Bioomneid.
Thomas Wood was one of tho many tenants
OF the big nve.story oriok building Mt 700
Washington street q fortnight ago. He had
his headquarters In the factory of the Amert-
can Wood Decorating Machine Company.
Thomas Wood is a big male cat, with Jet
black coat, as smooth and glossy us ebony.
He acquired his surname from Hines q Mans
field, produce dealers on the ground floor,
who designate the other tenants By floors coll
lectlve!y, as "rruit," rubber" wood" and
tin" according to their stock In trade.
Big Thomas was easily the most distin-
guished of all the many woods In the Decorating
Machine Company, and was known all over
the neiRhborhood as the champion fighter OF
the feline colony, which is rs large as II is
belligorent. Big Tom yowleu after he was
locked up ut night in the oompanys quarters.
because he couldn't get out to fight the
othor cats, that the neighbors who wanted to
sleep and couldn't threatened to complain to
the Health Board II no wasn't put out of the
way. Benjamin Haskell, secretary of the
company. was moved. therefore, TO decide
that the big black cat must 20. Mr.. Has
kell told yesterday OF tho altog. thcr unusual
complications that ensued when he endeavorvd
to carry out his edict OF exile. He in
sp'red TO tell this remarkable cat tale by read
ing In The sun the story OF the black Maria
cat with tho white nose that jumped five
stories at $40 Broadway TO the sidewalk and
scampered unhurt around the corner. Mr..
Haskell is q member of church. and no one
round his country home at Bloomfield. y. j..
ever hns Questioned his veracity in all tho
time he has dwelt there. MIR. iaskel,'s
story began with an order to his office boy,
Jimmy. Jimmy is known rs Jimmy Mood
TO the other tenants, and he lives In Harlem.
Take that cat up " Harlem and lose
him." said Mr.. Haskell, sternly. and Jimmy
said. sure"
Jimmy got an old basket from Hines & Mans
folds store, stuffed Big Tom into 1t. and rode
up TO Harlem, near the bridge. and released him
on u street corner. The cat ran into base
m-nt from hich the rmell OF savory cooking
Was escaping. and Jimmy went home satisfied
that he had carried out the older to lose Tom.
Four days later. however, when Mr.. Haskell
came over to business he found Big Tom sitting
near the elevator waiting for the work shop u
open. Jimmy came along moment later and
stared al the cat with eyes that bulEed with
amHzement
II thought. told you to lose that cat" ex-
laimed Mr.. Haskell.
II tired To hard enough" stammor ed Jimmy.
We'll, try again"
Jimmy borro we'd another old basket. and
lulS llVle lie uOWu lp"hGu li4t
He let The cat out on one OF the freight psers
below W Washington Market. Srrre "f the
p!oyees OF the rubber firm on the second floor
OF the Washington street buildIts found the cat
sitting ON the harrow wooden stai case when
they got there early the next morning. That
afternoon jimmy resolved TO lose the cat
third time He took Thomas W ood acros, TO
Fulton Market and chased hlm into the market
buildings. AS two days passed without any
sign OF the cats return, Mr.. Haskell congra.u.
lated himself upon being fairly rid OF him.
On tho third day tho dye sinker, who is very
fnpI 7 nHf. FII n
Mr.. Haskell, looked out OF the rear window
near his work bench ana saw Big Tom sitting
got into the adjoining hu Idiug, climbed 10 the
roof. and clnmbereT to the sill.
less TO try to lose the cat any more. so lie
called conference OF his employees TO deter
mine tine hest way OF eettrG rid OF the AM nal.
be too brutal. and al hands finally agreed
that asrhyxration would 10 the most humane
method OF de-patching MIN. The die s!nker got
d large tin box. not unlike bread box. and
punched hole IN the side. The cat was put
In tie box and the lid WAS fastened. Then
tho end OF - rubber g,s pipe lifted TO he
hbir and the gKs WAS turned on. Gas was al
Then it was turned on md the box wac orenea.
Tho big cat lay on his back with his eyes
closed. Il" remained .1ot3niess when lifted
shaking the the" cat, head. lie voia",esrea .
as soon as possible. He wrop2ed the cat mp in
an Old 3eHsp'per. Pp, II II -, .as' eeoSrd box
and tied down the llN IlgNtly WIN stout tN!F
Then he rode mp the corner or Birecker and
Thompson streets. and gcttinc Or the
slowed the hat box in an Olt ash barrel
He'll never come back again, | bet" said
Jimmy. trum?hanuy. when lie reported Tor
duty next day and told how effeutually he had
disposed ~ the body.
That was more than three weeks ago. Ten
days ago. just after he men hnd started TO
worE IN the morning the die s!uker. who had
owned Big Tom went out into the hall and
ran bnCk With his ewes di-trud"h.
"Here he IS" he shouted, calling all the EN-
ployecs to the door. He pointed toward the
elevator shaft. The men crowded around and
looked. There sat Thomas Wood. with hi.
black coat glossy AS ever giving his ct"ps
the customary morning wash with his sleek
paws. He had com" back fourth time. Jimmy
| looked over the shoulders NJ the dc -iNker.
We'll. I'll b, hiow"r.' he Easpcd and sank
| back limp against the shop wall Mr.. Ma -kCl
! arose and walked Ia u" door. He CaZed al III"
! cat, rubbed hts eyes and gazed again. Then
! he called the cat by name, and II omas trOtted
/ over and rubbed against his leg, purriug hap.
PLY. ,. ~. u..,..u
| founded emp! yces. Il think Ne W, uld lie safe
| in assuming that this is In all probability the
! most remarkable occurrenCr.that ever happened
ANYTHING Ike II in Bloomfield, OF that aul
! sure.
! confirmed Mr.. Haske!is conservative opinion
| OF the incident