ADVENTURE WITH A WOLD CAT.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume X, Issue 581, 18 November 1880, Page 1 (Supplement)

ADVENTURE WITH A WOLD CAT.

Apropos of hunting - and--you ever hear of a wild cat taking possession of a spare bed in an inhabite(j£ca.lbrn ? Siich a case really occurred th"s*wn3ip: at the lierdhouse of Overholt' and CrtSgSe.'A Mr. Burns had been ieft'in charge, and for several nights after he had retired was disturbed by a scrambling noise in the chimney, followed by the sight of two glaring, fiery eyeballs in the opposite bed, and when he (Burns) moved or made a noise the low. fierce growl of some wild animal. This kind, of thing, occurriug for several nights in succession, so discomposed Burns that hue finally vamoosed the" ranche, and io'r some time the intruder had things his own way. With plenty of fat beef an/l venison in store, he must have come to the conclusion'that he had struck comfortable quarters. John ■Garrison, a miner, hearing of the circumstance, made his way to the herdhouse, determined to interview' the beast that had taken possession; When he arrived at the ranche, about four o'clock p.m., he was somewha surprised to find the animal In bed, and disposed to fight for the establishment; but at sight of the gun the miner carried he flew up the chimney and into the brush. Garrison hung around until dark, then went to bed, placing his gun where he could reach it, and quietly waited for Mr. Cat About ten o'clock he heard. a scrambl.ng in the monstrous chimney, followed' by the sound of footsteps across the floor, and the sight of the flaming eyes peering out at him from the spare bed. John carefully raised his rifle, took as good aim as he could in "the gloom and darkness at the shining orbs, and fired. The report of the rifle was followed by a short scream of agony, then the sound of struggling in the opposite bunk. The intrepid hunter struck a light, and there, sure enough, was his cat. fully five feet in length, lying in the bed, its life-blood slowly oozing through a bullet-hole in its breast, and bedabbling Tuth its crimson stream the blankets on which it had sought repose.