THE BISMARCK DAILY TRIBUNE — FEBRUARY 16, 1908
IN THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
☆ A LEAP TO FAME ☆
In the Smithsonian institution at Washington is a case containing a stuffed cat. A card attached to the case, setting forth the reasons why this particular feline is known to fame, gives official sanction to a tale that is in every respect as remarkable as any emanating from the nature fakirs. The story of the cat is as follows:
Many years ago, while the Washington monument was still in an unfinished condition, an adventurous and patriotic cat ascended the interior of the shaft by means of the ropes and scaffolding. When the workmen arrived at the upper landing the next morning and began to prepare for the day’s work the cat took fright and springing to the outer edge, took the leap of over 500 feet to the hard earth below.
In the descent, which was watched closely by the workmen, the cat spread herself out like a flying squirrel, fell slowly and alighted, as cats always do, on all fours. After turning over on the soil a few times as if dazed she prepared to leave the grounds. She had proceeded almost beyond the shadow of the monument when a stray terrier pounced upon and killed her.
One of the workmen rescued the remains of the cat and turned them over to the Smithsonian institution, which caused the skin to be mounted and placed under the glass case.—Youth’s Companion.
From—Bismarck Daily Tribune. (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]), 16 Feb. 1908. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
