New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-11-08
BLACK CAT BES|EGES
APARTMENT JEWELLERS
Animal. Splitting, Scratching
and Yow|ing, Holds Scores
of Persons Prisoners.
ON STAIRWAY FOR HOURS
Policeman, Acclaimed a Hero,
Kills Rabid Monster After
It Attacks Women, jan
itor and Coal Seller.

A black cat of enormous size, supposed
~ suffering from rabies. kept the persons
living i'm the five story house at NO. ia
West 18th street from ascending from the
ground floor or descending from the upper
floors from o'clock yesterday afternoon
until 8 O'Clock last night when the cat
was shot and killed by Patrolman Lenane'
OF the West 18th street station.
The cat took a stand on the second moor
landing and sprang at each person VINO
tried to ascend. Persons on the upper
floors were similarly treated when they
tried to go to the street.
Those Oh the upper floors, TO reach the
street, had to go to the ROOF ana cross
! to the adjoining houses. while the two
families living on the second hoor were
unable to leave their apartments, and IN
order to get supplies for dinner were
Obliged to throw money TO the street ana
hoist catables by means OF baskets ana
strings.
The cat made an unusual entrance Hho
the house on Thursday evening. James
f. Smith. his wife, Anna, and their three
children were eating dinner, when they
heard the meowing OF cat a search
was made through the apartment ana IN
the halls. but the cat was not found al
though the meowing went on.
Further investigation showed that the
cat was hanging on the clo:hes.ine outslue
OF the Smiths window, with its front
claws buried in one OF Smiths shirts IL
either fell. Jumped or was thrown from
the roof.
Tho family held consultation as 70
the hest means If rescuing the cat
Smith loosened the shutter and held II
out to the cat which jumped on II ana
in that way was taken into the smith
apartment. The Smiths fed IT and then
put II out I'm the hall.
A few minutes after o'clock yester-
dav afternoon Mrs. Sarah Mccullough
who lives on the second floor, opened the
door of her apartment 10 go 10 the street
when the cat, which was crouched out
side the door. spat at her. When she
tried to chase the cat away II leaped
toward her The woman slammed the
door. grabbed broom and struck at the
animal II held its ground ana maze
several leaps at the woman before she
escaped.
Mrs Payton, who lives on the moor
with the McCulloughs, started To leave
her apartment and had a similar expe-
rlcnce. and re yeral OF the tenants In the
upper part OF the house were attacked
by the cat az they descended the stairs.
An Italian coal seller, carrying a bag
Of coal. also tried conclusions with the
cat with the result that he beat a hasty
retreat leaving the coal scattered all
over the stairs.
The siege continued until Joseph Mona
han. the janitor. came home. He went
up with stick TO rout the cat, but after
several vain efforts he finally sent word
10 the police.
Patrolman Leblanc went to the house
and when he reached the second floor
landing the cat sprang at him and he
struck IL a blow over the head with his
night stick. stunning II for a second. But
splitting and emitting terrible cries. the
cat again sprang at the patrolman, who
fought and kicked II of several times,
only TO have the animal renew the at
tack.
The patrolman's coat and trousers were
torn. but he managed to protect his face
and hands from contact with the claws
or teeth OF the animal. Finally Leblanc
succeeded In getting his revolver into
action and fired two shots at the animal
which, by that time. was frothing at the
mouth. Both bullets took effect and few
seconds later the cat was dead.
While the struggle between the patrol
man and the cat was going on the house
was I'm an uproar. Many women
screamed. which caused large crowd
to gather in front of the house. Leblanc
was acclaimed az q hero.