Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1902-05-15
SURE ENOUGH WILDCAT MINE.
wAat Happeaea when the Hole Was
ssShoto After the Method Of
Shooting an OIL Well.

Several mining men who CHANGED 60
meet in the Office of q hotel in this
city the other day were discussing the
various mines in q certain district IN
this state, when one Of them spoke OF
Wildcat mine. A logger who was
sitting near pricked up his ears at this
and Clipped into the conversation. He
said that there was the most produc-
tive wildcat mine he had ever heard OF
near the logging camp where-he had
been working on the Lower Columbia.
One of the mining men remarked
that his idea of wildcat mine was one
that yielded nothing but assessments,
and asked what this wildcat mine pro-
duced, relates the Portland Oregonian.
why, wildcats, of course" replied
the logger. He then proceeded to ex-
plain that many years ago some one
had run tunnel into the side of hill
in search of coal and had run number
OF short branches, and had gopheredS
about generally in the bowels of the
hill, but, finding no coal, had finally
abandoned the workings. There were
wildcats in that section, and the par
ties who had been prospecting for coal
left several cats at their cabin. The
wildcats and the tame cats had affil-
lated and had taken up their abode in
the tunnel and had increased in num-
bers.
Finally celebrated bear hunter Of
that region, while dressing bear, dis
covered the half-closed entrance to the
tunnel, and thinking that perhaps
some wild animal might be occupying
the place, sent his dogs in to investi-
gate. In few minutes the dogs came
out literally covered with wildcats,
and bowling like lost spirits. In the
dog and cat fight" which followed
the dogs were thoroughly whipped,
although, as the hunter said, he
thought any Of them could have
whipped his weight in wildcats.
While the fight was going on the old
hunter took hand to help his dogs,
and with his dubbed rife killed %
wildcats, but they. finally showed an
intention of attacking him, when he
used the business end of his rifle and
shot lot more. The cats were scared
at the reports of the rifle and finally
retreated into their hole in the ground.
The dogs could not be persuaded to
enter the tunnel again, and the hunter
did not care to enter himself. The cats
killed were curious mixture of the
colors of the tame and wildcats, and
had tails of all lengths, from the rab-
bit-like tuft of the genuine wildcat to
the elongated narrative" of the do
mestic Thomas cat.
Several attempts were made within
the next two weeks to clean out the
colony of cats, but to no purpose, as no
dog nor man could be found who dared
to go any distance in the tunnel. II
Finally, cold-blooded scheme was
put up on the cats. They were obliged
to go out at night to seek for food, SO
man was dressed up in half a
dozen suits of clothes which no cat
could bite or scratch through, and
furnished with several giant-powder
cartridges and coil of fuse, pene-
trated to the extremity of the tun-
mel.
Next day crowd gathered about
the entrance of the tunnel, and the
fuse was lighted. AS it burned along
into the tunnel the fame, smoke and
smell CT powder scared the cats and
they began to come out, and as fast
as they came in sight they were
shot down. The shooting and the
dead cats terrified those in the rear,
and they held back till the tunnel
was fairly choked with s,rging.
squalling, splitting army of cats, and
then the giant-powder exploded, and
several tons of cats were shot out of
the hole, and it rained fur, fiddle
strings and cats meat for the best
part of half an hour.
"Were there any cats left?" in
quired one Of the mining men.
"Nary a cat" said the logger.
'The mine was worked out, and was
closed permanently with rocks and
EARTH.
A Rainy Night I'm stageland.
Mr.. Richard Mansfield is not cele-