Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-11-16
MONEY FLEW IN A CAT FIGHT.

mONNG1 LIZ w 1AN N Va III IL .
A gsunt HOBO cat found mis- way We'd
nesday afternoon Into the bank of Louis
Schsrlach & Company at 362 Grand
street and caused more excitement
around there for q while than there has
been on the lower East Side since cleo
lion night. The Cat got into the Office
unnotced by the clerks some time in
the afternoon and went to sleep under
the safe. He remained there in peace
iul security until the well-fed office Cat
began to suspect the presence of an in
truder and went on tour of investiga-
tion.
Several Hebrew depositors were in
he Office, and stacks of American and
foreign money In coin and bills were
piled on the desks as tie clerks count
ed the days deposit when there was q
disturbance in tho rear OF the room
where the safe is. Isaac, the Office Cat,
hsd 10 ated the hobo and was trying
hard to dislodge him from his position
by reaching his claws under the sac
and striking out blindly. Both animals
were abusing each other in the worst
language cats can command and the
iur on Isaac's back was standing straight
up.
Max Lubiner, one of the clerks
thinking be knew better than Isaac
h0w- to get tre Cat out, reached his
hand under the safe. The hobo
promptly dug his claws 10 and Lubiner
nowled and drew bis hand out quickly.
Then the clerks got walking sticks and
prodded the hobo. He rushed out, and
as be appeared Isaac made spring for
him. The next minute there was the
widest kind Of time in the bank. The
cats jumped upon the desks and fought
there. scattering the piles Of money on
the floor.
"Lock the door! Lock the door,"
shrieked Lubiner. This command
wrought up the bewhiskered depositors
present, but the clerks were busy
chasing the cats, and fire shovels, um-
0rellas and brooms were brought
into requisitioD. The hobo cat eluded
them and there was no restraining
Isaac who was slmos twice the size of
The hobo Cat aud seemed aware that
when they cliDched it would be one
sided battle. The cats scampered over
the desks and the wide open money
drawers and gold and silver rolled over
no floor, the depostors outside the
rail watching it with bated breath.
None rolled outside, however, and
some OF the clerks quit pursuing the
cats TO save the money.
The hobo finally sought refuge 10 the
show window In which were spread ont
oils OF all denominations. Isasc fol-
lowed and cOrnered his enemy W no pre-
pared to make last stand. They
clinched aud there was a frst class cat
figot on the bed OF greenb cks. The
cats rolled over and over and the bills
flew like feathers in q gale. A crowd
gathered outside and bowling with de-
light waited for the window glass to
smash.
The hobo Cat finally managed to tear
himself away from Isasc's embrace.
As he hustled for the rear window
which had oeen left open for him there
was a cry OF alarm. The clerks noticed
mat several bills were fastened in his
Claws and were going for him. The Cat
reached the yard before he could be
stopped, but he was unable to go
| farther because the yard is surrounded
by high walls. The clerks ran at him
with sticks and be sought refuge 10 an
empty barrel. There he was captured.
A cloth was thrown around him and
by diplom alto maDoevrlng tie bills
we're snatched away. Then be was
thrown out by the front door.
During the rumpus in the back yard
the crowd outside had increased and d
rumor went around that thieves were
irving to rob the bank and were strug
cling with the clerks 10 the back yard
Somebody fetched Policeman Whitman
and he pounded on the locked bank
door. II was opened when the cat was
thrown out.
"Where's the thieves?" demanded
Whitman, pulling his cluo.
"There he goes" replied the clerks
pointing to the Cat which was making
tracks toward the Bowery.
"Hell!" said Whitman, and be buslec
himself in driving the crowd away
The clerks had to work overtime get,
ting the money together again and
counting 1t. They said, however, tns'
none Of it had got away.