The Unlikely Peace of the Port Townsend Wharf
A cat known for its hunting prowess inexplicably raises an enormous rat alongside her own litter of kittens.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
R. C. Hill has a curiosity on his Port Townsend wharf. A serene and handsome cat has there a litter of kittens whose quarters are in a comfortably arranged soap box. A few days ago, he entered the place and took up, as he supposed, a kitten to examine it. On bringing the animal to light, he found he had an enormous rat in his hand. It was perfectly tame and appeared not the least frightened. When put back into the box, the rat crept in among the kittens, which were being suckled by their mother, and made itself quite at home in its strange quarters. The most extraordinary part of the whole thing is that the old cat is a most successful and determined ratter and has almost cleared the barn of the pests. She, however, shows no animosity towards this particular rat, and it is a question whether she does not suckle it with her kittens. There have been quite a number of visitors to see this strange sight.
“The most extraordinary part of the whole thing is that the old cat is a most successful and determined ratter... She, however, shows no animosity towards this particular rat.”
While Seattle and Washington are often defined by the rapid displacement and economic competition of the 'great fire' era, this small anecdote from the docks captures a rare moment of local wonder. It remains a classic piece of Pacific Northwest human interest, echoing the way local news cycles still prioritize odd, community-bonding stories amidst the pressures of urban growth.
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