The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-07-01
BLACK BETSY.
Cat that Travelled in Railroad Presi-
dents Private Car.


\ certain American railroad president
has pet cat. who travels about in his
private car with him. Many patrons of
the line of which he is the head have
noticed Betsy curled up in a window, or
soberly washing her face on the rear
platform. She has a history of which
many hobos might well be proud, having
earned her present soft berth by merit
alone.
About two years ago the private car of
President Canniff stopped one cold win
ter night in the Union depot of Fort
Wayne, Ind. While the president was
in the city attending to some business q.
Berrell Taylor, the porter of his private
car was standing on the steps taking III
Il bit of fresh air. He says he saw com
ing about the homcliest cat that he ever
looked at. She was all bones and cor
ners, without an ounce Of meat that
would tell how the joints were moved.
The tabby yowled i'll such distressing
tones that the porter fed her, and vows
she ate as much as & man.
Betsy" was then invited to leave,
but insisted on staying, and finally had
10 be dropped overheard by a strong grip
on the nape of the neck. The train at
that time was making good Roadway out
of the city, and all expected that tabby
was bein. left far behind. This proved
of stuff there was under all those bones.
that had been the most conspicuous part
of the animal
Nhen the train got out to West Fort
Wayne one of the brakemen called Mr..
Iaylor's attention to a homely bit of
halr and bones on the truck of the car.
An examination proved that it was Bet
Sy If there had been any doubt in the
mind of the porter before it was dis
PEELED now, and Betsy was at once put
down as belonging to the hobo class.
She was thrown off into an ash heap on
the side of the road as the train started.
and this time all We're sure that Betsy
had missed her train. There was an
other surprise for them At Knox. some
distance, on, when the ear Taper came
along and found her royal highnesS hold
ing down a berth on the bumpers and
covered with snow from head to foot.
She again submitted 10 being tossed fur
ther than ever off into the siding, and
seemed to feel that this was to be IL part
Of her life hereafter. The rumbling of
the car wheels was no sooner heard on
the start away, however, before Betsy
was back on the bumpers again as big as
life. and there she stayed until the car
reached Stoney Island. 40 miles away.
The next morning when President Can
nltt got out to commence the days bust
ness he was introduced to the new Oc-
cupant of his car who nj that time was
putting on niue Dlt OF aNOlrdupOlS on
her very lean sides by means of some
bits of veal which had been selected
from the scraps Of the culinary depart
ment of the train ON which they had
been travelling all the night. Few eats
in the country have the record of three
times catching a Presidents private
car on the fly. and still fewer have the
record of having ridden 40 miles on the
bumpers of Il flying express train on
cold winter night. If this is true it is
also equally true that few cats have
performed feats which have recommend
ed them so strongly to the good graces
of the officials of a private car that they
are given warm and good berth on
board the finest coach in the land for the
remaindcr Of their nine lives.