The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-14
A PRIZE-FIGHTING CAT.
He Is on the Police Force in st. Louis
and whips Anything in sight.

and Whips Anything in Sight.
From the st. Louis Republic.
Capt Sam Boyd of the Seventh district
station claims he is the possessor of the
brainest, scrappiest. and biggest cat in the
city. This feline wonder is known as plain
Tom and nothing else. When quite young
he showed a decided penchant for rats
and mice. and after his sojourn in the
four courts Of two years, he had every
thing in the shape of a rat or mouse
on the run. He grew up big and strong,
and while at the four courts licked every
dog that tried to tackle him. Capt. Boyd
guarded him with jealous care, and woe
be unto the man who tried to injure Tom
in his presence.
one day Tom was sleeping in the boiler
room beneath Chief Desmonds ot1ce when
Ryan the engineer, sicked his Scotch ter
rier on the sleeping Tom. They both
pitched In and fought fast and furious for
fifteen minutes, at the end OF winch
Ryan's terrier was stretched out on the
floor badly battered up.
Every officer in the district chaffed
RYAN over the defeat of his dog, and 10
get even one day he brought another ter
rier down to the four courts, ana AFTER
Turing big Tom down stairs, he set both
dogs onto him. Tom stood his ground like
a veteran and fought the dogs until he
fell TO the ground exhausted and bleeding
profusely. Al this time Capt. BOYD had
been moved up to the Seventh, and tele-
phone message informed him that his cat
was dying. The captain hitched up MS
buggy and drove in all haste TO the four
courts. and the sight of his pet, cut and
bleeding, almost made him desperate. He
swore by his shield that he could lick the
man who was instrumental in inJuring his
cat. and Ryan took a vacation. Tom was
tenderly carried back to the Seventh and
A surgeon summoned. who, after exhaust
ing his skill on Tom, succeeded In saw
ing his life. He gradually became stron-
ger. and to-day he Is the cock OF the walk
at the station.
The captain, In speaking OF Tom to a
reporter tells very funny story OF how
he walked up the street one day last sum-
mer and found Tom living In front OF
the station dead with a rope tied around
his neck. He walked into the station, and
his anger knew no bounds. He lined up
every sergeant, officer, and clerk and
closely questioned them about the kill
ing of his pet. He then pulled of his shield
and dramatically said: The cur that was
cruel enough TO murder Tom Will have 20
do likewise with me. Step out here and be
a man and take your medicine" Not
man budged. and this irrtated the captain
more than ever. He walked into his Office
and for over a week he hardly spoke TO
his men. one afternoon, about twelve days
later Tom walked through the window
into the captains Office. The captain stood
up and gazed at the form Of Tom as
though In dream; IN fact. he refused to
believe has eyes; but there stood Tom as
big as life lie was taken up and caressed
by the captain who actually shed tears
OF Joy. IL turned out that the cat euppos-
ed TO have been Tom was a stray one
which some boys had killed and left In
front OF the station.
Tom struts around the station as though
he owns Il while the captain Ia around to
protect him, but when the captain Il away
Tom goes visiting, and awaits his return
at the front door. when he walks In proud.
~ ana takes possession OF the Office A
short while ago he splod strange cat ON
top Of the station and made straightWay