Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 March 1913 — STORIES from the BIG CITIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STORIES from the BIG CITIES

Cat in a Long Fight Keeps Everybody at Bay

NEW YORK—A cat which had kept Mrs. Amelia Long out of her home, at No. 20 Jane street, all afternoon by attacking her every time she tried to enter lost all nine lives after Policeman John J. De Witt of' the Charles street station, had fought with the animal half an hour the other night and wrecked the furniture in Mrs. Long’s home. Mrs. Ix>ng had had the cat for five years and recently'had observed queer actions. She nursed the animal the last few days, but this did no good, and during the afternoon the cat sprang upon Mrs. Long, tearing her dress. Mrs. Long ran out of the house and closed the door. When she tried to enter a few minutes later the cat was waiting for her and drove her hack. The remainder of the afternoon

Mrs. Long spent in trying to get into her home, and at night went to the Charles street station and Policeman De Wit was sent back with her. De Witt went in and lighted the gas. His hand was not down from the Jet before the cat sprang from a corner and struck his arm. As he beat her off she bit his left wrist and her claws made furrows on his hand. The cat renewed the attack. She landed on hid knee and he struck her with his' club, knocking her across the room. Seizing her by the tail, he hurled her against the far wall. De Witt then threw a chair at the animal. She crawled out of the wreckage and was making another leap, when De Witt hurled another chair. In fifteen minutes the only article of furniture he had not thrown was the center table, and upon the cat’s next lunge he upset this upon her. But her nine lives served her in good stead and she was back in the fight in a second. The policeman wrapped the table cover about his arm and used strategy. He awaited the next spring and let the animal fasten her teeth into the covering on his arm. As she hung there he shot her five times.