The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-18
A WEATHER-WIsE CAT.
ConsuIts the barometer Before Co
ing Out Visiting.

COnsuIts the barometer Before Co
ing Out Visiting.
From the New York Mail and Express.
Forecaster Dunn has new pupil. It Is
a big black tiger cat of the Egyptian va
riety. plump and fat and an apt scholar.
In fact this cat has already acquired an
amazing amount OF knowledge pertaining
to meteorology. He has made such re-
markable Roadway that Assistant OBJ
server Howe awards Tom, as he has been
named, verv nigh mark for his range
Of instructive emotions. Scientists enum-
crate no less than eighteen active powers
possessed by the average cat, but Mr.
Howe claims that the scientists who are
responsible for this statement never had
an opportunity to test their skill on such
a remarkable cat as Tom.
Toms mental and physical powers are
so great that those credited to the ordln-
airy cat are almost wholly obllterated by
comparison. The extraordinary inteli-
gence of the railroad cat the sea-goinR
cat, the furry soubrettes of the vaude-
villo stage and all other clever cats have
been written about without limit, but
Foracaster Dunns rat Tom has been sad
ly neglected. Ton has had an eventful
life since he first made mis- appearance al
the United States weather bureau The
earlier history OF Tom previous to the day
when he was found a helpless wreck,
cllnFlng to a slight projection on the tower
on the Manhattan Life building IL a pro-
found mystery. and the wise men of Fore
caster Dunn's aerial abode who mystlfy
the residents OF Manhattan Island by their
wonderful predictions have spent many
an hour In a vain attempt to solve the
problem of how a cat could climb UP 30
feet of perpendicular brick wall
When you ask any attache of the bureau
to explain the problem he will invariably
reply: III he didn't, he must have gotten
his existence through some mysterious at
mosphereic conditions unknown to science,
and dropped on the tower. where he
slung." In fact they seem inclined TO put
more credenca In the latter theory than
they do In the former. The only other
probability discussed is that raining
cats" may, after all, have some founda-
ton in fact
There is no noticeable characteristic in
Toms appearance that distinguishes him
from the ordinary cat, except that he has
a natural brassiness about him that car
ries him through without qualm, and a
personal dignity that is simply over
whelming lie Is much larger than the
ordinary cat, but so far no traces OF blue
blooded ancestry have been discovered.
nc ~ very tuitlul III EclttAlbk us dHSD-
ciates and scorns with lofty dignity the
common stripe OF downtown cats that
brawl and squabble on the roofs OF build
ngs hundreds Of feet below him. Only on
one occasion did he venture down from
his dizzy abode 10 partake of the regular
midnight festivities Of the downtown set
but his reception was of such an unex-
pected and unfriendly character that Tom
Is now satisfied TO be an observer, but not
a participant. When Tom made his entree
the cats seemed paralyzed with fear. and,
bristllng their tails, scampered Off in hot
haste. This particular incident has given
rise 10 the theory that Tom has some
supernatural connections that are notice
able only 10 the feline race.
Forecaster's Dunn's stan are inclined to
regard him as wizard when they speak
OF his scientific inclinations and associa-
tons with New Yorks seat OF science.
Cats, 50 Assistant Observer Howe claims.
have always been vaguely superstitious OF
the Manhattan dome never falling to give
Il wide berth. II Tom was gifted with
speech he would probably unfold a re-
markable tale
Tom made his first appearance last No
vember. Assistant Observer Howe arriv-
ed at the department rather early. The
weather looked threatening, and at that
hight the wind was blowing with such
velocity that tho vibrations OF the tower
were distinctly percepuple. mlnBied Win
the shrieks Of the wind, Mr.. Howe could
clearly distinguish the pitful cries OF a
cat. This presented Itself 10 Mr. Howe as
a very extraordinary occurrence, as moth
ing but the whistilns OF the wind dsturbs
tho peace at that altitude. not even the
roar Of the traflc on Broadway being au-
dlbie. The continuation OF the sounds
prompted Mr.. Howe 10 make an lnves tiga-
ton He lifted q small window that leads
TO a little rotunda encircling the tower
and In popped the sorriest looking object
In the cat line that mortal being ever be-
held.
One eye was swollen and colored. bis
hide was laid bare where patches OF h1ir
had bcen acrnped or, and ho walked with
a pitiful limp. The outcast under atten-