The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-26
WILDCAT EATS ANOTHER.
Fight I'm an Express Car Between
Two BIOOdthirsty Prisoners.

CHICAGO, Oct. 25.-Messenger W. d.
Gamble, Of the Wells-Fargo Express Com
pany, receipted for two wildcats at Kan
sas City Friday night. When he reached
Chicago yesterday he billed two wildcats
on east but there was only one cat to go.
The other had been vanquished in fierce
fight in an express car on the Santa Fee
fast train, and had been devoured by his
victorious and ferocious mate. Only few
tufts of hair and handful of wel-cleaned
bones were left of the beast that braved
a battle to the death with its savage part
ner of the California mountains. Messenger
Gamble declares that he went through an
experience that was worse than an attack
by train robbers. For two hours he sat
alone in his car and waited for and then
watched the encounter between the two
cats In his hands he held two revolvers,
every chamber loaded. He could not tell
at what moment the maddened beasts
would break the frail bars of the narrow
crate in which they fought and tier forget
their own enmity and transfer their fry to
him. When the growls, snarlS ana yeps
had ceased, and he mustered up enough
courage to make an investigation his m.nd
was relieved In place of the smaller beast
that had been consigned TO him ne found
the hair and bones. Standing contentedly
over them was the larger cat, Its rage and
appetite satisfied as it looked at all that
was left of its travelling chum.
The victorious animal with the canniDal-
istic instincts was the object of much curl
osity in the express room at the dearborn
station 1t was an immense specimen or its
kind and weighed fifty POUNDS. 1t showed
evidences of the conflict, one eye having
been scratched by the long claws of its adj
yersary, while deep wounds on its neck and
body were plentiful. The other wild cat,
Messenger Gamble says, was smaller and
weighed forty pounds. The cats had been
shipped from Fall Brook, Cal, TO Rein
Furbay, Martins Ferry, o., and had APP
parently lived in peace during the journey
over the mountains eastward until they
were transferred at Kansas City. Then
Messenger Gamble took charge OF them,
having been first assured by the messenger
and harmlessnesss But soon after the train
on the Santa Fe had left Kansas CITY
srovls and Kisses from the cage mace
Gamble wary and nervous. He decided 10
feed the animals. and, according 70 orders
threw into the crate a lot OF cooked DeeI
Tire beef aggravated the impending trouble
and in a few minutes the messenger was
nearing the sounds of a struggle or Zero
cious Intensity The slender bars on the
cage bent outward under the pressure OF
the fighting animals and threatened AT ev-
cry moment to snap and release their Dlooo-
thirsty prisoners. Gamble was ready 70 act
in case the animals were freed ana, forget
on him. Shrieks and bowls which seemed
to grow louder as the battle progressed
made the frightened messenger grasp ms
weapons more closely with the expectation
Of having TO use them at the next instant.
Put after awhile the noise grew FAINTER,
and soon all that could be heard was the
sound OF low snarls and the gnasnlngs OK