WILD CATS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1179, 4 July 1874, Page 22

WILD CATS.

An example of what may be done by lawless animals united together by a bond of what the Americans terra "pure cussedness," is afforded by the conduct of a gang of wild cats, which, according to the Vicksburg Times, the other day attacked the house of a Mr Powell, on Sunflower River, Mrs Powell and a coloured servant only being at home. The attack commenced by one of the cats jumping through the window as leader of a " forlorn hope," the doors of the dwelling having been closed on the approach of the invaders. The cats, however, had little counted on the resistance they would meet with. No sooner had their leader bounded into the room, than Mrs Powell gallantly threw a blanket over it, and pitched it out of thebaokdoor. Nothing 4au»ted ? the cats renewed the attack, when

another of their number came to grief, being killed by a small axe brandished by the hands of the intrepid Mrs Powell. The coloured cook had by this time become thorougly frightened, and, deserting her mistress, fled from the house. She had, however, proceeded but a few paces in her cowardly career, when she fell into the claws of the cats, and was " pretty well clawed" before she was rescued by a neighbour, who killed one of her assailants with a hatchet, and then rushed to the relief of Mrs Powell, who was beleaguered in the house. In attempting to save the life of this estimable Jady her defender nearly lost his own, for he was severely wounded by two large cats before he succeeded in despatching them. At length the cats were beaten off, with a loss of four killed and several wounded, nor had they by the latest accounts rallied sufficiently to renew the attack.