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April 18, 1996 - Tale of Two Cats: One Wild, OneTame10A • The Suffolk Times • April 18, 1996' Tale of Two Cats: One Wild, OneTame We have a cat that has been with us for over 14 years and like so many pets she has become part of the family. She's no special kind, just a good old- fashioned cat that lives her life curled up in whatever pleases her at the moment. She's never been a problem except on two very trau- matic occasions. Once was years ago when we sailed to Newport to see the America's Cup races and, of course, the cat was with us. Some of you might remember my telling about her getting off the boat and our spending two days looking for her and how relieved we were when we finally found her, scared to death, under a pile of stacked tables after she had spent the night in a construc- tion crane. Then just last week she got out of our camper here in Florida. How she got out is a sticky subject so we'll just skip over that. Both of these occasions were dev- astating, for she's always been our con- stant companion. We looked all over the campsite. It's a wonder we didn't get shot for we were out calling, "Here, Kitty- kitty. Here, Kitty- kitty" most of the night through, around, behind and under campers. The next morning it looked grim for she had not come back. Our evening's hunt had produced nothing. Then a ray of hope came from a camper down the way. She had seen "just a regular cat that night out- side her camper." Ah. She was still alive. Now Barbara got on the computer and with the miracle of big letters told of our plight: "LOST CAT," etc., and put notices up throughout the camp. but a beautiful tree frog that we later pho- tographed to add to our collection we were doing for the Army Corps. The day dragged on and we made more inquiries of each camper and one or two thought they'd seen her. Others were more positive but the description didn't fit. All were most understanding and sympathetic. By the end of the second day we were losing hope. Then at about 8 o'clock a knock came at our door and there was one of the rough- and-ready construction work- ers with our Kitty in his arms. Barbara was ecstatic! She took the cat and gave her hero a big kiss. The cat seemed fine and in no time was eating its regular meal. Then it curled up on the overhead bunk [hat it had claimed from the beginning. Since then we've traveled about with the cat and she seems to be none the worse for her two nights' outing. Speaking of cats, just last night we had a thrilling experience with another kind of cat. This time it was a real, live wild bob- cat. I was sitting in a comfortable beach chair outside just about sunset. It had the makings of a perfect evening after a hot day. A cool breeze drifted in over the prairie out back and I was being enter- tained by watching a ground dove forage in the grasses just a short distance away. It's something like our mourning dove, but smaller, and it has a reddish bill. All of a sudden I heard Barbara's controlled low voice saying, "Is that a bobcat out there ?" Being one of the many doubting husbands, I thought she had seen some stray cat or perhaps a mangy, old dog. But no, there was some- thing out there that blended in so well with the grasses and debris of the prairie it was hard to make out. I focused and refocused my binoculars and sure enough, there was the face of a big cat a mere 50 feet away, ears erect, stubby tail twitching. I could even see its eyeballs. I held my breath and hardly dared to Focus on Nature by Paul Stoutenburgh Cat Likes Construction The time we lost her in Newport we'd found her by a big construction crane. Could it be she might be down by the river where they are building a new fish- ing dock? There's a huge crane there. I stopped in and spoke to the men working on the job. "Sure, we saw that cat this morning," they said. Our hopes skyrock- eted. They gave us permission to search the grounds and said they'd keep an eye open for her. A search turned up nothing Photo by Barbara Stoutenburgh LOST CAT FOUND —Cats enjoy sleeping in just about anything — an empty box, an open suitcase, clothes left around, an open paper bag, a sewing basket or your most comfortable chair. They'll find it and be content. breathe. It moved just like a stalking gar- den cat. Each foot seemed to be meticu- lously laid down. Every once in a while it would stop. Its ears moved, trying to pick up sounds, then it would move on. I asked Barbara to bring my camera out, which she did, but when I looked through the lens I saw the light was so low I couldn't take a picture even though I had high- speed film. By now Barbara was as excited as a person on an African safari. She had already gotten her camera out and was in hot pursuit. Later she'd find out she had forgotten to put on her shoes and her bare feet soon told her her mistake, for there are fire ants about down here and rough gravel to walk over but it didn't slow her down. Her camera had a flash and she was determined to get a picture. Down the hill she went, then along the river bank. Every once in a while the big cat would stop and look at her and contin- ue on its way. I watched from above with my binoc- ulars. At one time I saw him stop, then `AII of a sudden I heard Barbara's voice saying, "Is that a bobcat out there ? "' 111_A690% i_wwiat Dwwi. YOB to Milluum ilYiis0M 75 Years Ago April 15, 1921 Islands to Secede from New York ?: The proposition of separating Westchester, all of Long Island and the entire city of greater New York from the rest of New York and then asking Congress to admit it as the 49th state is being enthusiastically supported by the Union Labor of New York City, Westchester and Long Island. According to Peter Brady, chairman of the Committee for Education of the State Federation of Labor, union labor in other sections of New York State will probably be for the new state, on the theory that the workers here are entitled to a square deal from their upstate associates, and relief from the burden of taxation they have been unfairly shouldering. 50 Years Ago April 19, 1946 A Belated Christmas Card: Like Mary's little lamb, a Christmas card mailed three years and three months ago from Mattituck followed Walter Courts from army camp to army camp and has at last caught up with him now that he's back home in Mattituck. He was discharged a year ago. Church Buildings Demolished: Contractor Clinton Hommel is demolishing the old St. Patrick Church and rectory buildings in Southold. The two buildings have been acquired by Dr. George Bergman of MaWtuck, who will use the lumber salvaged in the construction of a bungalow on the site which he purchased some time ago on the sound shore. 25 Years Ago April 15, 1971 The Greenport Village Board of Trustees was discussing rather complicated details of water survey Monday night when two boys walked into the room and one shouted, "Hey, what about this summons ?" They walked past other spectators, down the length of the board conference table and one boy held a piece of paper out for Mayor George Hubbard to examine. The mayor politely asked them to take seats and wait their turn. They did so. A few minutes later the mayor suggested the boys state their request. One of them said they had received a sum- mons for "standing on the street." Village Attorney George Stankevich told them the Village Board does not have the authority to handle their complaint and advised them to see the Police Justice. Both of them shuffled out, mumbling something to the effect that "it's not a free country when a guy can't stand on the corner." After they were gone, Police Chief Robert Walden confirmed the issuance of summonses to boys over 16 who persistently loiter on the street comers. The chief said the department has been receiving com- plaints from businessmen about behavior of young people on the business streets, and on the basis of the ordinance on loitering intended to issue summonses. pounce on something in front of him. His aim must have been good for soon I saw him lying down, eating his meal just like a dog eating a bone. At one point Barbara walked ahead of the big cat so that it came up over the bank right in front of her. She was so close at one time, she said later, she could actually smell him. It was just like the odor of a fox and for those who know that smell it's unforget- table. All along I could see her flash going off. She was bound to get that spe- cial picture. It was probably the closest hunt we'll ever get to and it was twice as exciting for we were able to realize after it was all over that Mr. Bobcat is still out there prowling around. This all started by my sitting outside with my binoculars and just enjoying the evening. I only wish more people would get to use binoculars. It opens the door for so many exciting and interesting events. Most people here in the camp can usually be seen walking around or sitting outside with their binoculars. If it's not a bird, it's an armadillo or perhaps a pelican flying by or just the boats that move up and down the river. There's always something to see, but it takes a little time and effort and the indispensable binoculars. A Garden Party For the Scouts BAITING HOLLOW —A garden party sponsored by the Suffolk County Council of the Boy Scouts of America will be held on Sunday, April 28, at Ivy Acres. Ivy Acres owners Jack and Alice Van de Wetering will treat guests to tours of the 15 -acre greenhouse complex on Sound Avenue, where some 10 md- lion spring plants will be on display. A gourmet buffet, catered by Jamesport Country Kitchen and fea- turing Long Island wines, will fol- low the tours at the Van de Weter- ings' home. Tours will be offered between 3 and 5 p.m., with the buffet available from 4 to 7. Transportation between both sites will be provided. Tickets are $200 per person or $350 per couple. Guests may take home as many flats of spring flow- ers as they can carry. All proceeds benefit county scouting programs. Call Bill Taylor (924 -7000) or Bill Coughlin (744 -9409) for tickets.