Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1876 — Battle with a Cat [ARTICLE]

Battle with a Cat

One of the strangest incidents that has ever fallen under our reportorial observation transpired at the Virginia Hotel i& this city last night. Mr. French, a member of the Thorne dramatic troupe, playing an engagement in this city, was the victim. He retired to rest at an early hour last night, and soon fell into a deep slumber. After the lapse of an hour or two he was aroused by a feeling of overpowering oppressiveness and suffocation, and was horrified to find that a huge cat was sitting on his breast and had its head inserted in his mouth, sucking away his breath. He found himself in an almost exhausted condition, so much so that be was unable to shake off the vampire fiend attacking him. Struggle as he would the cat only fastened its claws the deeper in his chest, and went on at its horrible feast. His groans and cries of agony, however, fortunately brought some neighboring lodgers to his relief, and he was rescued from his frightful position. Even then they were compelled to turn him out of the bed and roll him over and over on the floor before the cat could be made to release its hold and abandon its purpose. > Mr. French’s face ahd chest this morning bear frightful evidences of his terrible battle with the monster, and he will probably hereafter make special inquiry at his hotels as to the character of the cate belonging to the establishment.— M<tocrty EaUtprtM Monitor. —“ John,” said Sarah to her brother, “ you ate a good hand at guessing conundrums.; can you tell me the greatest hat that was ever made?” John did not Uke to be outdone: so he puutled his head a long time, but all to no purpose. At last hla sister quietly whispered: “The alphabet” * . • —According to mandates of fashion, ladies’ waists are worn very lottf.