New-York tribune., 1908-10-25
A CORNER IN CATS.
One of the Queer Experiences Of the First
Importer of Felines in Frisco.

st2sa waiting in PS ts 9nIE Henry yeTE IN R Los
Angeles Times" The fat Mexican man OF all work
was Iazfly harnessfng the team Al -IasI an 80 =
nreiiInnarv null to test the metal of his rawboned
steeds. drove out the door into the austy nros
pect Of which good reports had reached us II
was Scaed upon 6ad lSnI Sfen 3osd Several days
fore to meet at the next town ana pinot uS ~
0ld Johnson was character in that section. The ne
story that he had gained tlte 70 Iuc f., ei eo9 @
remained that none in that section disputed S ms ms
known to be handy with his gun and not over
particular as TO his targets ,..o- - old 1obn
I've heard some rather tough stories about him.,
sag oh Johnsons all right when things his way
replied the Judge. But il may be as Wen net TO
Ioggng along at steady clip for the next half
and angular old man, hearing the rattle of our
vehicle. came to the door OF tfe 6lacksIn-th slop
After curt introductions all around and the stor-
man climbed into the rear seat, and, directing US
the turn to take. were of: IL,
on MaseF9 eS Seilsf st 9f he ' s tims and compss
to conpanionshp during ten-mile ride: ,- NJ
Johnson asked the judge
''Fust rate Longer I live the younger I git
How long have you been in California Mr., John
Just a little over fifty years, was boy when
I landed in San Francisco; 'Twasn't much OF a a
Strung along the sand hills. The ships comm in
from the States would De unloaded ana u the stun stun
but fact it safe from anything of that
sort, for it meant sure death, and quick one Tor
candles The main robberies goin on at that time
was in the games that was ynnln hadn't been
there through one whole night, though I'll | dis
covered that the biggest pest the place had was
from the rats and mice, with the Heas a close
second.
was bad that they'd into your tent. and
If your toes got from under cover they'd bite en-
1t was nothin' surprisin' to have EN- run across
your face in few minutes after the tent was dark
I went on down to Los Angeles where my
after had been there few days got to sizir'
things up bit 1t come TO me that II 1 played my
was an old fellow round there doin' all sorts of
odd jobs except hard work. but he was well
auainted. I tackled him; and. says I. 'What'n you
ketch cats for2'
. How many cats does yer want;' says he.
Wen. about hundred, guess says I
Don't make any difference bout that. so long
as they full size says l. Mustn't be any kit
'T'n charge you dollar apiece says he.
An t6nn I vent down into the river bed and
cut lot of long reeds and switches. Then 1 took
some rawhide and made up half dozen crates
brought his eats l paid him and put the cats in.
INSIDE of two days l had EN- all snug and tight
congregation, and l had my hands full Standin off
the Jokes, Jokes. - ,ass ..ro off fa~ r.,tb,t-,r .
Good ingrejents for catnip soup said another
But | never peeped word to my scheme
with the eats. 1t took me several days get my
w Frisco. but L fed my pets and got
fellow TO watch my stock and to keep EN- from
gettin' rambunctious- l took good specimen under
first. Well sir, talk about lively business and
quick dealSi Inside of two days I'd sold every cat
and when | hggered up returns found they'd
Il the first cat importer of Frisco"