Does The Demon Cat Still Haunt Washington's Capitol Hill?

I tripped over this story on Wikipedia this morning. It concerns a completely black cat of average cat size that came to be known as Washington's Demon Cat. This name was given to the ghost of (a) cat, one that is supposed to haunt the DC government buildings. 

Washington, DC Capitol Hill

Seems that back in the 1800's cats were being brought into the underground tunnels of the Capitol buildings where they lived in the basement killing rats. So far, so good, until... 

Tunnel connecting the US Senate to the LOC. What?  You were expecting something cave-like!

It started in the 1890's when a cat apparently and inexplicably vanished before the startled eyes of some Capitol Hill guards as they, presumably in fun, took a potshot at it. One guard, being so terrified by the sight of a disappearing cat, allegedly keeled over from a heart attack after witnessing this event. 

Tunnel that connects the House of Representatives to the Capitol

The Hall of the Capitol

What is now a accepted as a story from the past, states that this 'Demon Cat' is the one cat that decided never to leave and it now inhabits the basement crypt of the Hill, once intended for the burial chamber of President George Washington.... calling it home. Also in accordance with tradition, its said to often be seen just prior to presidential elections and disasters that transpire in Washington, such as being purportedly observed by White House security guards in the late dark hours before the assassinations of Abe Lincoln and John Kennedy. 

 

If it can be believed, these spectators tell a tale of a cat that 'swells' from pint cat-size to a whopping giant tiger-size ~ 10 by 10 feet when startled!!  Even more incredibly, it will either explode or pounce at the unfortunate that sees it, thankfully dissolving right before it reaches its victim! Personally, I wouldn't be waiting around to watch this transformation.

OK, so it is possible to have an enormously huge and possibly exploding cat!

The last 'official' sighting was in the 1940's when Capitol Police force officials were rather notorious for adding inexperienced relatives and friends of Congressmen to the payroll as a gift. According to one version told by the US Capitol Historical Society, a security guard was once 'licked' by a cat when he was in a drunken stouper on the floor; he thought he was still standing and was to all appearances very scared of the huge cat. 

This was enough to spawn tails of the Demon Cat legend and it wasn't long before other guards took up the story and learned they could achieve a day off (with pay??) if they saw the demon cat up close and personal. 

 

What do you think?

Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

Fleet of foot, the dark, striped tabby dashed along the perimeter of the once mighty facade of the fortress and quickly gained its lowest rampart. Sailor leaped up the side and over; he was inside the ruined castle. Night was falling, it was already dusk when Sailor reached the enclosure that had once been his home. The odor was old but still present, a vague recollection of his matriarch still rested in the air. Infiltrating the quadrangle Sailor made a cursory search of the area, having being satisfied that all was well he curled into a ball and relaxed as the sun began its decent. He felt himself waiting, waiting for an answer; perhaps the sudden reappearance of his mother who was so long gone from him or a comforting sign from the 'something' that seemed to live here... As he waited, dusk deepened into evening and still there was no disturbance. Sailor slipped into sleep as night approached. 

Catspaw 

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

For reasons Sailor didn't understand, he was reluctant to go any further. He didn't like that he heard no bird call and the fish, if there were any, were silent. Although he could detect no threat in the air the whole place made him feel uncomfortable. Finally after much deliberation he crept forward and hastily reached the other side. Sailor headed up the slope but lingered at the fence, sniffing it for any sign that another animal had past this way; nothing. It was as before, no living thing had left its scent and yet he perceived no danger, just stillness and solitude. Now the remnant of the once great tower and wall presented itself before him but he knew of another in and with the awareness that he was indeed alone here, Sailor no longer hesitated to move toward the castle.

The Mysterious Ruined Castle

Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

He had been born here a year ago but his mother and his siblings had simply vanished without a trace. The only sound that had reverberated off the ancient, human-made walls had been his hungry cry. Sailor had heard the noises, hearkened to them because he could not yet see. Something warm and gentle had lifted him and given him the milk he so desperately needed for survival before setting him down again to sleep. He always felt tired after the 'something' had fed him. It was strange that he had no fear of whatever force had its life within those walls. Now, he crouched just outside this same relic of a building once again. 

 Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle, Con't

He started off again picking his way and carefully jumping from rock to stone. At one point his hind leg slipped and went down into the estuary. Sailor hastily retrieved it and shook it wildly before licking off the rest of the moisture before continuing on. The sky was a pure dark blue as the ruins and trees reflected themselves in the waters below. Sailor paused a moment, squatting on a stone. As he pricked his ears to listen he heard nothing, absolutely nothing. No bird flew, no frog jumped, not even a cricket chirped. He look about nervously remembering the reason no one ever ventured this way.

Catspaw

Sailor and the Ruined Castle

Here is the story I've just started working on... As promised, I will post a part of it every day to every other day so come back again to read the next exploit in the adventure that Sailor undertakes in his journey to uncover the mystery of the ruined castle.

Chapter One

Sailor hesitated at the edge of the enclosed lake, from this vantage point he could see what he'd journeyed here for. The old dilapidated white fence was still leaning against some trees on the other side; it would be a small matter to attain the castle side of the briny, he just had to travel from rock to rock all the way around. It was late autumn and nature was browning up before winter struck, but there were still some trees with green left on them. The sun was so warm and soft as it illuminated the ruins of the baked and brown castle that Sailor felt himself starting to doze. But No! He shook himself awake, he had to ford the lagoon and reach the monument by nightfall at the very latest, everything depended on it now. 

Can you find the white fence?

 

Catspaw