Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-29
EL KILLS A CAT.
4 Duel in n Conservatory Which Put
an End to IA Cats Fish Stealing.


In Central Park, west. says the New
York Sun, lives man whose pride is a
fountain which gurges in the centre of
his conservatory. In the sunken marble
basin of the fountain swim many curious
fishes and an eel two feet long, as
slender as a carriage whip and back as
the master of evil. There Is nothing re-
markable about the physical aspect OF the
eel, nor does ii belong TO any unique an
guilliform tribe, but IT is the hero OF one
OF the most singular ducls ever fought
by the creatures Of land or water.
"Squirms, as the children call him,
said the gentleman, referring 10 the eel,
lis very docle and seems 10 know the
several members OF my family. lie Will
nibble bits of fish food from the children 5
hands, and invariable acknowledge their
presence by a series OF manoeuvres which
he never practices at other times.
"Squirms tameness nearly cost him his
life a few days ago, and indirectly brought
10 an abrupt close the entire outfit or
eXistenceS of pet Maltese cat. The cat
in question dearly loved fish, and was
lowering around the basin or the foun-
tain whenever the opportunity offered.
Several of such opportunities she I'M
proved to purloin a dainty and much
coveted morsel. For these offences she
was debarred and chastsed, and a guard
was placed over the conservatory 10 pre-
vent repetitions But she could not con-
lance was relaxed. in she slipped, and
generally secured a tinny prize before de-
tected
Twice / caught her in the act, and it
was curious 10 watch her clever method
of fishing, although II involved the loss OF
my valuable pets. She would hang over
the edge Of the basin ana dip her paw
an inch below the surface OF the water
Instantly a commOtion would ensure
The fish would dart hither and thither
4nff TOT ion ~
as the cat remained motionless through
out the disturbance confidence was soon
restored and the usual condition or To-
pose again resumed its sway. Puss would
keep her paw hanging in the water with
out culver for three or FOUR minutes.
Gradually the presence OF an unknown
substance would attract the beguiled nsh
for they are as inordinately curious as
any land animal. Nearer and nearer they
would swim, until, thoroughly convinced
of the harmlessness Of the rigid paw,
they almost rubbed against 1t. That was
what puss evidently expected, and, Ike a
fash. the treacherous paw would Gluten
a too adventurous fish, crowd him
against the inner wall OF the basin, and
draw him out with remarkable deXterity.
The next move OF the cat was 10 beat a
retreat with the spells between her
teeth, to be discussed at leisure and in
seclusion.
but Puss's day Of retribution was at
agoniZed yowl issuing from the conserva-
tory, and surmising that the piferlng cat
had succeeded in raising the blockade
rushed in 10 protect my nsh As l reach
ed the door Of the conservatory ! was
fairly paralyzed by the spectacle which
greeted my sight. There few feet from
the basin Of the fountain was the cat.
whirling tossing, tumbling, and writing
like a thing possessed. Her jaws were
distended TO their utmost limits, her
"a as an nurl
her hair stood on end like porcupine
quills. She was making the weirdest noise
/ had ever heard from even the most re-
sourceful of vocalizing felines. IL was
not a yowl. or 'me-ouX' But sibilant.
rasping gasp. something like the escape
Of steam from an engine-pipe.
THE rapidity of her movements alb
sorbed the outlines of her body. and all
she presented at first was a blurred mass
OF wide-open Jaws staring eyes. kicking
feet. and RULED fur. But soon the con-
fusion took form, and showed me the
cause of her extraordinary performance
nothing less than an eel. tightly coiled
around her neck like a boa constructor
around a pig. The head and tail of the
eel were threshing the air wildly, but the
rest of his body was firmly impacted in
three coils around the neck. Just how
vigorously the eel was hugging l could
form an idea from the neck's unusual
elongation and the powerlessness Of the
cat 10 cry hlpANs
| ran to the oddly-assorted combatants
at once. but the terrible commissions of
the cat prevented me from separating
them. Gradually, however. her strug-
giles grew weaker, and soon she fell over
on her side and remained motioniess.
Then i stopped down and uncoied the
eel His skin was badly lacerated by
the claws of his antagonist, and the mo-
ment | removed him he gave a shudder,
and then became as void OF external signs
of life as the cat. l thought IL was all
over with him. but put him in a small
in order 10 give him a chance
TO recuperate, II there was the slightest
chance for him. A servant whom sum-
rnoned carried the cat into the rear yard.
She was still breathing and ] had no
doubt, being firm believer in the theory
of nine lives 10 a feline, that she would
recover. Indeed, she was SO far revived
after a few moments that she managed
to stagger 10 her feet, but was unable 10
make use OF them for purposes of loco
motion. The constructing force of the
eel. or rather the evidences OF II as ex-
hlhited by the cats neck. was pro-
found surprise 10 me. That little fellow