Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-06-27
BLACK BETSY.
Cat that Travelled in Railroad Presi-
dents Private Car.

A certain American railroad president
has a 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 we'll 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 in
a bit of fresh air. He says he saw COM
ing about the hOmeliest 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 in such distressing
tones that the porter fed her, and vows
she ate as much as a man.
Betsy" was then invited to leave
but insisted on staying, and finally had
to 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 being left far behind. This proved
that they had not counted OF what sort
! that had been the most conspicuous part
of the animal.
When the train got out to West Fort
Wayne one of the brakemen called Mr.
Iaylors attention to a homely bit of
hair 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 tc 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 were sure that Betsy
had missed her train. There was an
other surprise for them at Knox, some
distance. on, when the car 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 to being tossed fur
ther than ever off into the siding. and
seemed to feel that this was to be d part
of her life hereafter. The rumbling of
the car wheels was no sooner heard on
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
nlft got out to commence the days bust
ness he was introduced to the new oc-
cuoant of his car, who at that time was
putting on a little bit of avoirdupois 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 cats
| 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 a
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 gwen warm and good berth on
board the finest coach in the land for the
remainder Of their nine lives.