Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 November 1895 — Wildcat Whipped By Tabbiet [ARTICLE]

Wildcat Whipped By Tabbiet

A wildcat, was killed in Farmer Ephraim Htaynor’s barn, at Wheeler’s Farms, Conn., one night recently, in rather a remarkable way. Mr. Btaynor has a family of nine pure Maltese cuts, of which he has always been very proud. People from all over this region have heard of their ret killing accomplishments, and tried to buy some of the kittens, but he would nover pari with one. They are of an unusually short legged, heavily built breed, and though not large, are extremely strong. They seem to fear nothing, and two or three good sized prowling dogs have been killed by them within the last* year, and a farm hand who kicked one was set upon by the whole family of cats and barely escaped total blindness, receiving very severe injuries about the face and arms. Rats, mice, weasels, and skunks have been practically extinct within the limits of the Btuynoi farm slnoe the arrival of these fierce pussies. They live in the barn, granary and ■tables, and never come Into the house. The hired man, Patrick Nolan, hearing a fearful disturbance In the cowstable about twilight, ran in, pitchfork in hand, to see what was the matter. He merely took one look around the stable door, and Boeing a big wildcat crouched in the furthest corner ready for a spring, he slammed the door und ran to the house. Mr. Staynor’s wife and son Ben were the only ones at home, and the latter got his revolver and proceeded to the stable. There ne found the savage lynx engaged In mortal combat with the whole tribe of Maltese. The snarls, spittings, hissingß and growls were frightful, he ■ays, and when the wild cat saw him she attempted to leap for the door. He closed It all but an inch, thrust his revolver through the opening and waited for a chance to shoot. When he got it he hit only one ear of the beast, but that was fatal, for when the great cat raised her head a moment to see whence the blow came, Dinah, the old mother Maltese, sprang in and curled around her neck, sinking two rows of teeth in the jugular vein. A second of fierce struggle, of vain attempt to fling off the tame puss, and then the wild one gave up the ghost. She weighed fifty-one pounds, and is the biggest wildcat ever taken in this vicinity.